The land battle phase of Exercise Talisman Saber 2017 was launched on July 13, 2017, with the largest amphibious landing Australian troops had been involved in since the Second World War, with troops and Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles transported ashore via LCM-8 landing craft from an Amphibious Readiness Element including HMAS Canberra, HMAS Choules and HMNZS Canterbury.

The Talisman Saber series of exercises is the principal Australian and United States Military Training activity focused on the planning and conduct of mid-intensity ‘high end’ war fighting. It is the largest combined, joint military exercise undertaken by the Australian Defense Force (ADF) and provides invaluable experience to ADF personnel to improve combat training, readiness and interoperability, exposing participants to a wide spectrum of military capabilities and training experiences.

Exercise Talisman Saber was being conducted for the seventh time in 2017 and involves more than 30,000 US and Australian participants operating in the maritime, land and air environments.