US, Japanese, Australian Navies To Conduct Mine Training Exercise Off Southern Japan

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th November, 2018) US, Japanese and Australian naval forces will conduct a mine warfare exercise off the coast of southern Japan on November 17 to increase their proficiency in mine countermeasure operations, the US Navy said in a news release on Wednesday.

"Our continued work with the [Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force] combined with this year's addition of our Australian allies gives exercise 3JA a much more vibrant impact and allows for greater richness of training," US 7th Fleet Amphibious Force Commander Rear Adm. Brad Cooper said in the release.

The Navy said in the release that the naval forces of the three countries will practice various unit-level mine warfare tactics during the exercise, including sweeping, hunting and mine detection.

Australia's naval forces participate for the first time in the mine warfare exercise, according to the release.