Report – Pacific Partnership

The following had been recieved from the Petty Officer Radio Supervisor on HMNZS CANTERBURY, PORS Daniel Cousins.  I would like this opportunity to pass on to the rest of the fleet comments from my staff. HMNZS Canterbury is currently conducting Pacific Partnership 13 which is a multinational amphibious mission  The aim of the mission is to provide aid to remote area’s of the Pacific Islands.
ACO Patrick Wetere
As a member of the communications staff onboard HMNZS Canterbury I have contributed to the mission through a range of whole ship and departmental evolutions like LCM operations, managing communications systems and providing support to our army and US navy counterparts. On a personnel note I have tripled my protein intake and my GUNS are even bigger than before.
ACO Teatareva Isaia
So far PP13 has been an amazing experience for myself. I’ve been the communicator onboard LCM 01. My job on the LCM is to make sure it has Comms with the ship all the time and vice versa. I’ve also had to learn how to use the army’s PRC 150 which is what they use for HF voice, which has been our backup Comms on the LCM. I’ve gained quite a lot of knowledge on how to work the equipment which is pretty ‘cleaaah’. Being on LCM 01 has given me the opportunity to step ashore every day and mingle with the locals. Seeing the locals faces light up every day when we arrive to the beaches has been the highlight of my trip so far ‘Chuur the Comms
OCO Lauchlan McCann
What have I been doing you ask? A wide range of new things. Such as bringing up the voice circuits so the helo can talk to the ship, or reporting the helo to the officer of the watch, that’s mean! What else?  Well I went on the LCM the other day to help supply stores to a Beach side village, was pretty cool to interact with the locals and see how the other half lives! You have been busy McCann, What is life on ship like? Life on ships good, starting to get the hang of the day to day routine in the COMCEN, got a good bunch of mates onboard and the foods pretty good to. Wow that’s awesome McCann, your trip sounds mean.
OCO Joshua Taitua
For my first trip in the puss I have learnt a lot about life at sea and the sea life of a OCO whether your closed up in the COMCEN, hoisting flags on the signal deck or reporting the French puma in the hover 100m off the port quarter life at sea is hectic at times sometimes quiet. The first Port was an experience for starters I have never been out of NZ let alone the north island. Noumea was different, everything was in French there were no big bens or KFC but the beach was MEAN. Four tasks left and lost 5 kgs is the first 2 weeks I will be HMNZS Canterbury’s biggest loser CHUUR
OCO Nathan Lennard
I have enjoyed my time at sea so far I have learnt a lot about sea life and the communications used especially the radio side. I had an awesome time in Noumea and I enjoyed playing soccer against the French Navy.
While in the Solomon’s I have had the opportunity to go ashore and help unloading stores on the LCM’s we also got a bit of spare time for a swim which was awesome. I have also spent a lot of time at flying stations on the bridge reporting the helo which isn’t that exciting but at least I’m the man at it now. Since being on the trip I have made good progress with my task book and I have 6 tasks left to complete I am hoping to have it done by the end of the trip.
So as you can see the role onboard Canterbury is very diverse giving you a wide range of duties to carry out. I am very happy with the way we look from the outside in with Canterbury being the centre of the communications hub for all information and questions about Comms.
Working with US vessels is very different usually because they are just running there own routine and don’t work with any procedures this has highlighted and reiterated why we follow procedures it makes life so simple!!
I hope many communicators after myself get to participate in these operations as they are so different from anything I have ever seen.
Regards
Daniel Cousins
Petty Officer Radio Supervisor
Senior Communications Rate
HMNZS Canterbury (ZMCR)