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USS Blue Ridge Arrives in Sydney, Australia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070614-17
Release Date: 6/14/2007 2:44:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Bradley, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

SYDNEY, Australia (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and the embarked staff of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, arrived in Sydney, June 14 for a scheduled port visit.

While in port, the ship's approximately 1,000 crew and staff members will take advantage of the opportunity to sight-see, shop, enjoy recreational activities, and participate in friendship and goodwill activities such as community-service projects with their hosts.

The 19,000-ton warship is underway for its summer deployment. While underway Blue Ridge will participate in Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07).

TS07 is a U.S. and Australian led Joint Task Force exercise designed to demonstrate the U.S. and Australian commitment to our military alliance and regional security. The exercise also supports increased flexibility and readiness, which are force multipliers in winning the global war on terrorism.

“Talisman Saber demonstrates the seamless military interoperability of the United States and Australia,” said Capt. David A. Lausman, commanding officer of Blue Ridge. “Australia is one of our closest and oldest allies in the Western Pacific, and this friendship forms the cornerstone to peace and stability in the region.”

TS07, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command (DJFHQ), is designed to train the U.S. 7th Fleet commander's staff and the Australian Deployable Joint Force Headquarters staff as a designated combined task force.

Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7 and Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.