Soldiers in full kit will swarm ashore from the sea in Hawke's Bay next week in an international exercise to see how Australian and New Zealand navy ship crews work together.
Crew members from the navy's newest ship, the multi-role vessel, HMNZS Canterbury, would work with the Australiannavy amphibious sealift ship, HMAS Manoora, for several days off Hawke's Bay.
Troops from the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles would be off loaded onto the beach at Perfume Point using landing craft, said the Defence Force.
Canterbury has been involved in several exercises with the Australian navy recently.
In February it joined forces with the Australians in Exercise Sealion near Townsville and Great Barrier Reef. Last month it was part of a six-nations exercise in Noumea, Exercise Croix Du Sud 2008 which brought together military forces from France, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
