File:US Navy 050610-N-4702D-024 Crew members assigned the 7th Fleet amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), man-the-rails while departing Australia after a seven-day port visit.jpg

Sydney, Australia [June 10, 2005]-- The crew of the Seventh Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), proudly man the rails while departing Sydney, Australia after a seven day port visit. Blue Ridge is in Australia participating in Talisman Saber 2005. Talisman Saber is an exercise jointly sponsored by the U.S. Pacific Command and Australian Defense Force Joint Operations Command, and designed to train the U.S. Seventh Fleet commander's staff and Australian Joint Operations staff as a designated Combined Task Force (CTF) headquarters. This exercise will focus on crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations. U.S. Pacific Command units and Australian forces will conduct land, sea and air training throughout the training area. More than 11,000 U.S. and 6,000 Australian personnel will participate in the training exercise. Blue Ridge is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. [U.S. Navy Photo by Photographer's Mate Airman William J. Davis]