Sharing a logistics supply chain at sea is vital to the Australian and US navies being able to operate together - a skill called 'interoperability'. The shared seagoing logistics chain has been tested in exercise Talisman Saber with HMAS Perth conducting a replenishment at sea with US replenishment ship USNS Charles Drew. At the same time, a Seahawk helicopter from Charles Drew conducted a vertical replenishment of stores, carrying pallet-sized underslung loads to US Navy amphibious landing ship USS Germantown and Arleigh Burke guided missile destroyers USS Chung Hoon and USS Preble.
