170712-N-UX013-234 SHOALWATER BAY, Australia (July 12, 2017) Sailors lower a rigid-hull inflatable boat from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) during Talisman Saber 17. Ashland is part of a combined U.S., Australia and New Zealand expeditionary strike group, which is undergoing a series of scenarios that will increase naval proficiencies in operating against blue-water adversarial threats and in its primary mission of launching Marine forces ashore in the littorals. Talisman Saber is a biennial U.S.-Australia bilateral exercise held off the coast of Australia meant to achieve interoperability and strengthen the U.S.-Australia alliance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Clay/Released)