Navy Victoria
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Our mission is to provide a free, all-inclusive medium for the electronic exchange of information of interest, not just to the extended navy community of Victoria, serving and ex-serving, but also to the wider Australian navy community. |
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Latest News for our Navy Network |
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31 August Honouring our veterans who
served in Malaya and BorneoToday is Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day, when we pause to recognise and remember the 10,500 Australians who served in the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said he encourages Australians to acknowledge the service and dedication of those who fought in these post-Second World War conflicts in the Malaya and Borneo regions. More..... |
31 August Shooting for three more OlympicsAs two clay targets fly from the side and cross in front of Navy’s Lieutenant Paul Adams, he lifts his shotgun and fires, looking for the telltale powder that indicates a hit. In hot and humid weather, the Brisbane-based theatre nurse and reservist nursing officer started well in the Tokyo Olympics two-day skeet competition. More..... |
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31 August City of Perth grants Freedom of Entry to HMAS Perth In a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, a 'Freedom of Entry' was exercised by HMAS Perth to enter her home port and namesake - the City of Perth. |
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30 August Update
on the U.S. Navy’s MUSV and LUSV
ProgramsThe U.S. Navy’s future approach to capitalizing on the advancing technological progress of robotics, computers, software and hardware is building and fielding small and large unmanned systems. These unmanned systems will go into harm’s away, perform laborious dangerous mundane tasks, execute high-risk missions, and will have high endurance and loitering times. The U.S. Navy hopes that unmanned ships will bolster the “U.S Navy Ship Count” to complement and provide benefits to its manned surface vessels for Distributed Maritime Operations and Distributed Lethality. More..... |
30 August Turkish
industry unveils three new submarine
designsIDEF 2021, Turkey’s largest defense exhibition, featured a variety of submarine designs and concepts. STM, a Turkish defense engineering company, unveiled the STM500 small submarine just a few days before the show, and it also displayed the TS1700, a 1700-ton submarine. Dearsan, a Turkish shipbuilder that recently completed the delivery of a brand-new corvette to Turkmenistan, has unveiled a concept design for a light submarine. While the Turkish Navy’s research and development center has been working on the MILDEN (Milli Denizalti) National Submarine program in close collaboration with a number of defense companies, the studies on mini submarine concepts are the first attempts to apply the know-how gained to small-sized submarines. More..... |
30 August 6
Naval Task Groups From U.S., U.K.,
India, Japan and Australia Underway in
PacificSix task groups from the U.S, U.K., Australian, Japanese and Indian navies are currently on operational deployments in the Indo-Pacific region amidst an intense fall and early winter period of multilateral exercises. Currently operating in the region are the Navy’s Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and Japan-based America Expeditionary Strike Group, the U.K. Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG 21), Australian Defense Force Indo-Pacific Endeavour 21 (IPE 21) task group, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Indo-Pacific Deployment 2021 (IPD21) force and the Indian Navy Eastern Fleet task group. More..... |
30 August Australia to host French
icebreaker on Antarctic resupply missionAustralia will host a French polar patrol ship on its annual summer resupply mission to support research in the Antarctic. French Antarctic resupply ship L’Astrolabe will visit Fremantle, Western Australia from August 30 to late October to conduct essential maintenance at Henderson before continuing on its journey to the Southern Ocean and Antarctic waters. L'Astrolabe, which is crewed by French Naval personnel for this deployment, will then head to Tasmania, where she will be based out of Hobart over summer while conducting her resupply operations. More..... |
28 August US Navy Identifies Sailor Killed in
Kabul AttackA Sailor assigned to 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California, was killed during an attack at the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 26, 2021. Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak was killed while supporting Operation Allies Refuge. Soviak, from Ohio, enlisted in the Navy on Sept. 26, 2017, and graduated from Recruit Training Command, in Great Lakes, Illinois, November 2017. His other military assignments included Hospital Corpsman School in San Antonio, Texas; Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command in Guam; and Field Medical Training Battalion West, Camp Pendleton. More..... |
28 August HMAS Perth Freedom of EntryPersonnel from HMAS Perth (III) marched through the city streets this morning, exercising their right to Freedom of Entry to the city in a tradition that dates back to Medieval Times. With swords drawn, drums beating, bands playing and colours flying, the 140 members of the crew marched up Murray Street Mall and were reviewed by the City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas. More..... |
27 August Indo-Pacific Endeavour 21
launches from DarwinHMA Ships Canberra and Anzac set sail from Darwin last night, marking the start of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 21 (IPE21), Australia’s flagship regional engagement activity. Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said the deployment reinforces Australia’s strong and enduring partnerships in Southeast Asia. “The 2020 Defence Strategic Update underlines Australia’s commitment to security cooperation and partnerships in our immediate region,” Lieutenant General Bilton said. More..... |
27 AugustMurderous
atrocity demonstrates why our ADF were
fighting The events in Kabul are a murderous atrocity and if anyone was ever in any doubt about the righteousness of the Australian mission in Afghanistan this is a brutal reminder of the terrorists and criminals we were fighting against and the threats they posed to our national security and security of the world. I would like to acknowledge the men and the women of the Australian Defence Force, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs and our security agencies that have done so much to evacuate Australians and visa holders from Kabul. Over 4100 people have been evacuated, which is an extraordinary effort. Today we grieve with the people of the United States and Afghanistan and condemn the callous attacks on innocent civilians and American service personnel who were there solely to guard and protect the international evacuation effort. More..... |
27 August
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27 August Submarine Combat Information Center (CIC) of the Future A new and futuristic Combat Information Center concept for next-generation submarines was unveiled by the Turkish defense company HAVELSAN at the IDEF 2021 exhibition, which took place in Istanbul between August 17 and 21, 2021. |
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25 August ADF Vaccination Outreach Program launched in Dubbo In Western New South Wales, the ADF deployed around 60 clinicians and support personnel in five Vaccination Outreach Teams to work alongside NSW Health staff. |
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24 August Severn
resurrects wartime paint scheme as she
rejoins the Naval familyHMS Tamar and Spey may dazzle, but HMS Severn vanishes – that’s the theory as the patrol ship becomes the third RN vessel to revert to an historic paint scheme. The combination of blue-grey and green-grey on a background of white and light grey was first applied to destroyer HMS Broke in 1940 and was subsequently ‘worn’ by ships operating in the namesake approaches – extending about 1,000 miles from the UK into the Atlantic – to make it difficult for German U-boat commanders to spot them, especially in heavy seas. More..... |
24 August Australia back for Indo-Pacific
maritime Exercise MALABARThe Royal Australian Navy will join key regional partners India, Japan and the United States for Exercise MALABAR 2021. Anzac class frigate HMAS Warramunga will join ships and aircraft from participating nations for the high-end military exercise off the coast of Guam in the Indo-Pacific. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, said Australia’s participation in the multilateral Exercise MALABAR 2021 would strengthen our collective ability to contribute to regional security. More..... |
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24 August Cerberus Redevelopment Project Update Commander Cameron Eastman, OAM RAN presents a video update on the Cerberus Redevelopment Project underway at HMAS Cerberus. This update will detail the ongoing progress made since the last video update in March 2021. The following areas are featured: Electronic Technicians Training Building, the ADF Physical Training School, the Marine Technician Operator Qualification Building, Building 187 - Junior Officers Accommodation and the Junior Sailors Main Galley Extension. |
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24 August HMAS Ballarat arrives home from regional deployment HMAS Ballarat returned to her homeport of Fleet Base West in Perth at the end of her four-month deployment to South East and North Asia. As the Anzac-class frigate came alongside, waiting on the wharf to the welcome sight of the ship's company were more than 300 family and friends. |
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23 August Putin launches construction of
six warships and submarines for Russian
NavyOn the opening day of the Army-2021 military-technical forum and the International Army Games in the Patriot park near Moscow, six new warships were laid down at the enterprises of the United Shipbuilding Corporation on Aug 23 for the Russian Navy. The Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the command for the construction of six warships and submarines to three shipyards via video conference. More..... |
23 AugustMedia Statement — Young veterans
show support for our troops “Every single one of us that went, knows the difference we made on the ground when we were over there.” These are the words of one contemporary veteran who I met with following the unfolding events in Afghanistan. It’s been a difficult time for many in our veteran community however it is important to hear the voices of those who were there, on the ground, sharing their stories of the positive change they brought to Afghanistan. Last week I held a roundtable with our younger veterans, including many who served in Afghanistan, to hear and receive updates on the impact the events there are having on the mental health of our veteran community. More..... |
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23 August ADF supports Afghanistan evacuees The Australian Defence Force, together with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade established a temporary camp at Australia's main operating base in the Middle East to provide shelter and support to Australian citizens and approved foreign nationals evacuated from the Afghan capital of Kabul. The evacuees were housed prior to their transportation to Australia. |
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22 August HMAS Ballarat returns from
regional deploymentThe crew of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has been welcomed back to Garden Island, Western Australia after four months deployed. HMAS Ballarat assisted with the search for the Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala 402, conducted Operation ARGOS, and participated in a range of bilateral and multilateral exercises, including Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 and Large Scale Global Exercise 21. Assistant Minister for Defence, Andrew Hastie commended the crew of 188 on their success and resilience after spending a prolonged period at sea. More..... |
21 August This Navy captain is now the
first woman commanding a nuclear
aircraft carrierCapt. Amy Bauernschmidt is now the commanding officer of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln — becoming the first woman to lead a nuclear carrier in U.S. Navy history. Bauernschmidt, who previously served as the carrier’s executive officer from 2016-2019, relieved Capt. Walt “Sarge” Slaughter of his duties Aug. 19 during a change of command ceremony in San Diego. More..... |
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21 August Saving MG99 | A refugee story with heart This is the story of the "luckiest refugees" — a boatload of people fleeing Vietnam in hopes of a better life. With their boat damaged irreparably in a storm, the group was preparing to die when the Australian Navy's HMAS Melbourne arrived unexpectedly. Navy photographers captured the night on camera, creating an enduring record as 99 people were lifted to safety. Forty years on, the survivors meet their saviours during an emotional reunion to share how the rescue changed all their lives for the better. |
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20 August Northrop Grumman Very Light Weight Torpedo (VLWT) at Sea Air Space 2021 Day 3 at Sea Air Space 2021, the Navy League's maritime exposition held in National Harbor near Washington DC. In this video, Washington-based naval expert Chris Cavas interviews David Portner on the Very Light Weight Torpedo (VLWT). |
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20 August Wrens wartime tragedy remembered
80 years on in YeoviltonOne of the darkest hours in the history of women serving in the Royal Navy was remembered in Yeovilton today – 80 years on from the tragedy. In August 1941 the SS Aguila left for Portugal and Gibraltar with nearly 1,300 tonnes of general cargo and almost 100 military personnel embarked. Among the passengers: nine female officers and 12 ratings of the Women’s Royal Naval Service, the latter all hand-picked chief wireless telegraphers assigned to the communications centre at the naval air station in Gibraltar. More..... |
20 August From gap year to greeniePetty Officer Electronics Technician Emma Barnett joined the Navy as a gap year sailor and is living proof you can do anything you put your mind to. Signing up for full-time service in 2008, her career began as an electronics technician, colloquially known as a 'greenie' because of the green stripes officers historically wore on their sleeves between their rank. Science Week is a chance to highlight Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related roles within Navy, many of which provide unique opportunities to explore other opportunities within an area of study. More..... |
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20 August Navy trains with US and Japan in Large Scale Global Exercise 21 HMA Ships Canberra and Ballarat joined USS America, USS Germantown and USS New Orleans from the United States Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN and also Japanese Ship Makinami for the opening phase of the US-led Large Scale Global Exercise 21 in the Western Pacific. |
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20 August USS
Ronald Reagan’s Super Hornets providing
air support over KabulPentagon officials confirmed Thursday that F/A-18 Super Hornet jets based off the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan have been flying overwatch missions during the harried and continuing evacuation of Americans and Afghan allies in Kabul, but they called reports that the jets had been flying show-of-force low passes “erroneous.” Ronald Reagan deployed to the Arabian Sea earlier this summer to provide such capabilities as U.S. forces continued their withdrawal from Afghanistan. But the past week has seen such overwatch missions take on renewed import with the Taliban’s seizure of the capital and a frenzied flood of Afghans seeking escape via Hamid Karzai International Airport, where more than 5,200 U.S. troops have arrived in recent days. More..... |
19 August Russian
Spy Ship Yantar Loitering Near
Trans-Atlantic Internet CablesRussia's secretive special survey ship Yantar raises eyebrows when she appears off Western shores. S he has previously been noted conducting operations off Syria, in the Persian Gulf and off Americas. And elsewhere. Now she is off the coast of Ireland, loitering in the vicinity of underwater internet cables. An Irish Defence Forces spokesperson said that the Irish Navy is aware of the ship. The ship carries a range of deep-diving submersibles and sonar systems and has been suspected of operating on undersea cables before. More..... |
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19 August Sea Air Space 2021 - Day 2 Day 2 video coverage at the Sea Air Space 2021 exposition near Washington DC. In this video we focused on Naval Aviation. We discussed the EMALS and MQ-9B SeaGuardian programs with General Atomics, JPALS with Raytheon and CMV-22B with Bell Helicopters. |
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19 August WWII
Veteran Returned Home After Being
Identified Earlier This YearSailors assigned to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Raleigh rendered honors to a WWII veteran identified earlier this year as Navy Seaman 2nd Class Russell Orville Ufford of Kansas City, Missouri. Ufford was killed in action during the attacks on Pearl Harbor Sunday, December 7, 1941. The NOSC’s funeral honors team, consisting of eight sailors, met Ufford’s remains at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on July 15, 2021. He was ceremoniously honored with a water canon salute. A police and veteran motorcade escorted Ufford’s remains to Powles Station Funeral Home on Main St. in Rockwell, North Carolina. More..... |
18 August China conducts military
exercises southwest and southeast of
TaiwanChina announced Tuesday (Aug. 17) it was conducting military drills on the sea and in the air southwest and southeast of Taiwan during the day. According to the Liberty Times, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense stated it was well aware of movements in the waters and air around the country and was prepared to respond to any eventuality. A spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, Shi Yi, issued a news release about its plans for Tuesday, mentioning warships, anti-submarine aircraft, and fighter jets participating in exercises to improve their coordination. More..... |
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18 August Major Damage Control Exercise on board HMAS Ballarat HMAS Ballarat conducted a major Damage Control Exercise while transiting back to Australia from her recent Regional Presence Deployment. |
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18 August HMAS Supply Ship's Company - One Unit, One Team The ship's company of HMAS Supply, speak about the newly commissioned ship's first Replenishment At Sea (RAS). |
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18 AugustEx-Service Organisations convene support for Afghan
Veterans Ex-service organisations from across the nation have met with the Australian Government today to throw their support behind efforts underway to assist veterans and families impacted by the situation in Afghanistan. The Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs convened the extraordinary meeting of the Ex-Service Organisations (ESO) Roundtable, bringing together key players in the Defence and veteran community, to coordinate veteran mental health outreach and support. More..... |
18 August Warship USS Arlington, More
Coast Cutters to Join Haiti Relief
OperationThe Navy is sending the amphibious warship USS Arlington (LPD-24) to assist with the humanitarian aid mission in Haiti in the aftermath of an Aug. 14 earthquake, Pentagon officials said on Tuesday. The aftermath of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 1,941 and wreaked havoc across the southwestern Tiburon Peninsula. Almost 10,000 people are waiting for medical assistance, according to The Associated Press. More..... |
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18 August Sea Air Space 2021 - Day 1 Day 1 video coverage at the Sea Air Space 2021 exposition near Washington DC. In this video we focused on new designs. We discussed with Austal, Halter Marine, Raytheon and Saildrone. |
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18 August ADF supports VictoriaVictoria’s COVID-19 Household Engagement Program has continued its vital work over the past month, assisted by personnel from the ADF. Personnel are supporting authorised officers from the Department of Health to visit close contacts and returned interstate travellers to ensure they are aware of their status. About 40 teams are providing information to people who are in isolation or quarantine, and providing community members with access to vital services and resources during their time in isolation. More..... |
18 August Navy looks to the skiesCommunications, remote sensing and precision navigation and timing for warships and submarines is becoming more and more important – and satellite technology is making the process that much easier. The ADF is increasingly investing in satellite capabilities in space to allow Navy surface and sub-surface vessels to better assess the maritime environment and respond to potential threats over the horizon. More..... |
18 August Defending cyberspaceFor Staff Officer Navy Cyber Operations Chief Petty Officer Kathleen Price, no two days are the same. Working at Navy’s Information Warfare team, she ensures Navy has the right people, skills, equipment and resources to combat the growing threat of cyber information warfare to Defence’s warfighting capability. Chief Petty Officer Price said she was privileged to be part of a dynamic team. “Cyber is such a fast-paced and evolving field and with regularly emerging new capabilities and threats needing to be analysed and understood,” Chief Petty Officer Price said. More..... |
18 AugustVietnam veterans remembered Wednesday the 18th August is Vietnam Veterans’ Day - an opportunity for our country to pause and remember the service and sacrifice of the Australians during the Vietnam War, and to acknowledge the 55th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the Vietnam War was the longest conflict Australians were involved in during the 20th Century. “Over 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War, including over 15,000 National Servicemen. Tragically 521 Australians lost their lives and some 3,000 were wounded,” Minister Gee said. More..... |
17 August Landing a role on Baltic operationsThe Royal Australian Navy's Lieutenant Commander Josh Cowell gained amphibious warfare experience while recently deployed on operations in the Baltic Sea region with the Royal Navy Littoral Response Group (North) aboard HMS Albion. As one of two task group warfare officers on board the amphibious transport dock, he was responsible for directing operations and maintaining momentum on behalf of Commanding Officer Albion Captain Simon Kelly. More..... |
17 August One
dream inspires anotherAs a child growing up in Lebanon, Lieutenant Commander Fatena El-Masri dreamed of being an astronaut, but she now has other dreams. Her love of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects is driving her new dream to set up a program to encourage children studying those disciplines. More..... |
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16 AugustSupport
available for Australians who served in Afghanistan This is a distressing time for many of our Defence personnel and veterans who served our nation in Afghanistan with courage, dignity and honour, and made such a significant contribution to the allied military effort. We must never forget the 41 Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Australia owes a great debt of gratitude to all our veterans who served with distinction and their families who supported them. More..... |
16 August Navy
personnel finalists in engineering
awardsTwo Navy personnel are finalists in their category in the annual Engineers Australia Engineer of the Year awards. Lieutenant Commander Wesley North is a finalist for the Engineer of the Year Award – Western Australia, and Chief Petty Officer Damien Richards has made the shortlist for the Queensland Young Engineering Associate of the Year category. The awards recognise innovators, problem-solvers, outstanding individual engineering achievements and the engineering professionals who show resourcefulness in their work. More..... |
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16 August Music selection grows Royal Australian Navy Band - Melbourne recently recorded a revitalised selection at Oaklands Studios, Melbourne, to ensure that in its absence from an event, the Navy music catalogue contains everything required to hold a memorial service all the way through to an International Ceremonial Sunset ceremony. |
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15 August Royal Commission into ADF Suicide (Returned and Services League - Victoria Branch – Sub-committee) It has been a long fight for so many of us to convince the politicians in Canberra that a serious crisis exists amongst surviving and former ADF personnel, although they still think that this is a new phenomenon distinctly part of the failed war in Afghanistan. But combat fatigue, shell shock, PTSD... have been around long before any of us were born. And the issue here is one of HOW service and ex service people are cared for. How well we assist regarding transition into that ''horrible'' thing called civilian life. Then the difficulty in finding work, in coping with the difference, the void between our training and our service and adjusting to so called normality. In combating alcoholism, drugs abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. ALL of these issues are directly relevant to the Royal Commission and we need everyone with any ADF experience, or the families of personnel, to write in and to make a submission. I was taken aback when my (dare I say) favourite CPO advised me recently how he almost took his own life, and why, and he is a Vietnam veteran. This Royal Commission is OUR chance to be heard, to force politicians, bureaucrats and even the public to face up to the realities of what loyal service in the ADF can do to men and women in a negative way. Then, to ensure that measures are at long last taken to reduce these tragic circumstances. BOTH sides of politics have ignored many past inquiries even though they tended to have identical recommendations. This time we will hold them all to account. Should any member of the NAA seek assistance in making a submission; I charge a cup of coffee. Ange Kenos () FRVAHJ Member – RSL Victoria Branch Executive Committee Member – Melbourne Sub-section, Naval Association of Australia |
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15 August Celebrating the science behind Defence capabilityBehind every great defence force is an army of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians, all working to ensure that those on the frontline have the best technology, knowledge and know-how to outwit, outperform and outsmart adversaries. The ADF is no different. If a soldier wears it, uses it, eats it, thinks it or has to defend against it, there is every chance a Defence scientist has done the science behind it. More..... |
14 August Chinese See U.S. Littoral Combat
Ship as ‘Powerful Tool’ in Future
Distributed ConflictsThe Chinese military sees the Littoral Combat Ship armed with anti-ship missiles as a key element of a U.S. distributed maritime force in the Western Pacific, according to a translation of a 2020 Chinese government research paper on the U.S. Navy’s distributed lethality concept reviewed by USNI News. Chinese researchers “compared the littoral combat ship (LCS) with other surface combatants, arguing that the former’s modularity, cheap price, high speed, and other characteristics enable it to become a powerful tool in future distributed lethality tactics,” reads the “The U.S. Navy’s Distributed Lethality Implementation Method” paper from the Marine Design & Research Institute of China (MARIC). MARIC is the central research and development arm for China’s shipbuilding sector. More..... |
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14 August HMAS Supply's first refuel at sea HMAS Supply, one of Navy's two new Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships, completed its first Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with HMAS Anzac off Australia's east coast. |
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14 August National Science Week 2021 - Defence Science and Technology Group This week Defence joins the rest of the country in celebrating National Science Week, an annual celebration of science and technology, and an opportunity to recognise the invaluable contribution of STEM professionals across Defence and around Australia. |
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13 August Advanced warships ready for
operationsThe Royal Australian Navy’s most advanced warships are now ready for operational deployment, boosting Australia’s capacity to work with our strategic partners and maintain peace and prosperity in our region. Navy’s Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyers have reached final operational capability after the third ship, HMAS Sydney, completed a successful test and evaluation period off the coast of the US and Canada. Chief of the Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan said the milestone ushered in a new era for Navy. More..... |
13 August Raring to supply the fleetHMAS Supply, one of Navy’s two new Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment (AOR) ships, has completed its first ever Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with HMAS Anzac. This first RAS marks a significant milestone for Navy’s refuel and resupply at sea capability, which is critical to extending time at sea for Australian and allied ships. More..... |
12 August Navies build skills on operationThe crews of Australian Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Glenelg and Republic of Fiji Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca have worked together to build the mariner skills of personnel. Glenelg was deployed on Operation Solania supporting the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). The two-week operation was part of the ADF’s contribution to Operation Island Chief, which is one of four FFA maritime surveillance operations held annually to detect, deter, report and/or apprehend potential illegal, unregulated or unreported fishing activity and vessels. More..... |
12 August Front-row seat to Vanuatuan celebrationThe ship’s company of HMAS Glenelg shared an unforgettable experience with one of Australia’s closest regional partners on July 30. The crew of the Armidale-class patrol boat had a front-row seat to the Vanuatu Independence Day celebrations at Port Vila while the ship was at anchor in the harbour. The celebrations marked the end of colonial rule by Britain and France in 1980. More..... |
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12 AugustSignificant
reforms to Australia's military
discipline system Minster for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs Andrew Gee has today announced significant amendments to the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 which will modernise and streamline disciplinary matters in the Australian Defence Force. “Our military justice system provides the Australian Defence Force with a unique Australian legal framework that is able to be applied on operations anywhere in the world,” Minister Gee said. More..... |
12 August Australia
and US partner to spearhead precision strike missile
capabilityThe Australian Defence Force and the United States Armed Forces will partner to develop a new precision missile capability to further interoperability and modernise both militaries. Australia’s participation in the US led Precision Strike Missile co-development program contributes to both nations’ strategic objectives, delivering on a key aspect of Australia’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update. More..... |
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12
August Submarine Escape and Rescue in Australia Webinar July 2021 A webinar that explores submarine accidents from the past and survivability. It covers the Australian approach to submarine escape training and rescue capabilities in a modern context. |
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11 AugustNew
data on veterans released day after census 373,500 Australians have served in the Australian Defence Force over the past 35 years, of which 59,000 are currently serving, according to new statistics released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the information contained in the report, along with the Census data collected last night, is helping to build a bigger picture of veterans in our community. More..... |
11 AugustRecognising the Australians who
served in the Indonesian Confrontation On 11 August 1966, a peace treaty was signed between the Indonesian and Malaysian governments, bringing to an end the Indonesian-Malaysian Confrontation. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the Confrontation was an undeclared war that began in 1962 involving New Zealand, Britain, and troops from Australia arriving in Borneo from March 1965. “This year marks 55 years since the end of the Confrontation,” Minister Gee said. More..... |
11 August Making the cut for charityTying her thigh-length hair in a tidy military bun is a thing of the past for Leading Seaman Musician Miriam Norman from the Royal Australian Navy Band Tasmania. Her impressive braid was cut off and donated to Sustainable Salons, a social enterprise that works with organisations like the Australian Alopecia Areata Foundation and Variety, to provide wigs for people experiencing hair loss as a result of illness. More..... |
10 August Cerberus personnel recognised
for blood donationsDespite the challenges faced in 2020 because of COVID-19, the team at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria defied the odds with a record number of blood donations; a record they hope to surpass when the challenge kicks off in September. The driving force behind their success was then Cerberus Command Warrant Officer, now Lieutenant Commander Michael "Chuck" Connors. More..... |
10 August New frigate radar systems hit IOCThe Navy’s Anzac Class frigate fleet is one step closer to operating next-generation sovereign air search radar technology. The SEA 1448 Phase 4B project — which aims to replace the SPS-49(V)8 Air Search Radar on the Royal Australian Navy’s fleet of eight Anzac Class frigates with a CEAFAR-2L phased array radar system — has officially achieved initial operating capability (IOC). More..... |
10 AugustAdditional mental health support
for white card holders Ten thousand veterans with complex mental health needs will have access to a network of qualified GPs nationwide, following the expansion of support provided by the Australian Government. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Andrew Gee today announced the Coordinated Veterans’ Care (CVC) Program has been expanded to provide additional support for DVA White Card holders with an accepted mental health condition. More..... |
10 August Music selection growsThe Navy Band will soon have a new selection of ceremonial music to support the fleet. Navy Band Melbourne recently recorded a revitalised selection at Oaklands Studios, Melbourne, to ensure that in its absence from an event, the Navy music catalogue contains everything required to hold a memorial service all the way through to an International Ceremonial Sunset ceremony. More..... |
09 August HMAS Paluma conducts final
Freedom of EntryThe RAN's oldest ship, First Lady of the Fleet HMAS Paluma IV, has conducted a final Freedom of Entry in the lead up to decommissioning next month. Twenty crew members of Paluma requested Freedom of Entry on Saturday August 7 in the main street of the ship’s namesake town, Paluma in North Queensland, about an hour and a half out of garrison city Townsville. More..... |
09 August Our sailors part of international task groupWhen Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) entered the Indo-Pacific region this month, it included two RAN sailors. Leading Seamen Matt Jones and Simon Betts arrived in the UK on their overseas posting in the midst of COVID-19 with high expectations, and the posting has not disappointed. They were among five RAN maritime logistic chefs and stewards embarked in the RN's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth during an exciting and challenging year. More..... |
09 August ADF supports NSW vaccination
effortADF personnel are working closely with staff and volunteers of many organisations at vaccination hubs across Greater Sydney to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the community. The NSW Government had requested an extra 300 ADF personnel on top of the 250 who were assisting on the airport and hotel quarantine programs. More..... |
09 Aug Sailor glad to help communityAlthough Seaman Jordan Parsons has only served in the ADF for just over 12 months, she is playing a big role in supporting the ADF’s whole-of-government response to Operation COVID-19 Assist. Seaman Parsons, of HMAS Kuttabul, has been helping out at a COVID-19 testing clinic at Wattle Grove, in Sydney’s south west, since the ADF boosted its support of the NSW Government’s efforts to control and stop the spread of the virus. Seaman Parsons said she was glad to do her bit to help the community. More..... |
09 August Frigate
kept busy defending task groupDefending a large task group comprising five nations was a challenge for one Australian warship – but with the assistance of her embarked helicopter, it was mission success. HMAS Parramatta joined forces with warships from Canada, Japan, South Korea and the US to conduct high-end warfighting serials as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre. Among the frigate's tasks were anti-submarine warfare drills, where Parramatta deployed its embarked MH-60R helicopter, which goes by the call sign Carnage, to pinpoint submarines below surface using its sonar-dipping capabilities. More..... |
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09 August HMAS Canberra I Memorial At Sea Today marks the 79th anniversary of the loss of HMASCanberra (I) during the Battle of Savo Island. The County Class Heavy Cruiser had been part of a naval force supporting the American landings at Guadalcanal and Tulagi when a Japanese task force attacked in the early hours of the morning. |
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08 August Our
August Hero:CDRE A.S. Rosenthal OBE, DSO and Bar RAN Alvord Sydney Rosenthal was born on 16 January 1901 at Lewisham, Sydney, second of three sons of Australian-born parents (Sir) Charles Rosenthal, architect and soldier, and his wife Harriet Ellen, née Burston. Alvord was educated at The King's School, Parramatta. In 1915 he entered the RAN College, at Jervis Bay, from which he graduated in 1918. When Rosenthal joined the College in 1915, his father was serving at Gallipoli, and his elder brother was at sea with the RN as a midshipman. CDRE Rosenthal's full heroic story is at: https://navyvic.net/heroes/rosenthal.html |
06 August Torpedo away! Poseidon tests
weapons to protect V-boat forceA Poseidon P8 from 120 Squadron dropped the practice weapon into the Moray Firth – the last act in a simulated attack on a submarine. It’s the first time the American-built aircraft – a militarised version of Boeing’s 737/800 airliner – has tested its primary weapon system. More..... |
06 August UK Defence teams up with ‘ethical hackers���British hackers have joined a US-based cyber security team in a bid to upskill in the fight against malicious actors. The UK Ministry of Defence has sponsored 26 ‘ethical hackers’ to participate in a ‘Bug Bounty’ program in collaboration with US-based organisation HackerOne. The 30-day program aims to identify and solve vulnerabilities in cyber systems, helping strengthen Defence’s resilience to malicious activity. More..... |
06 August Preparing
food hampers for the communityThe ADF is working alongside NSW Police and community volunteers in Sydney’s west to prepare hundreds of food hampers for people in need. It’s one of the many roles being carried out by the ADF after responding to a request from the NSW Government last week for an additional 300 personnel to support the efforts against the spread of COVID-19. More..... |
06 August Australian ships join US-led exerciseHMA Ships Canberra and Ballarat have arrived in the Western Pacific Ocean for the opening phase of the US-led Large Scale Global Exercise 21. Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton said Australia’s participation in the first phase of the activity followed the success of Exercises Talisman Sabre and Pacific Vanguard. “We have just completed some extraordinary training in and around Australia and now we have this exciting new opportunity to consolidate those gains,” Lieutenant General Bilton said. More..... |
05 AugustAn Unknown Australian Soldier of
the Great War Identified A previously unknown Australian First World War soldier buried in an unnamed grave in France has been identified. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the soldier was identified as 10778 Albert Nicholson, a Driver in the 14th Field Artillery Brigade of the Australian Imperial Force. “Albert, originally from Broken Hill, New South Wales, enlisted in Adelaide on 17 September 1915 and left Australia for overseas service on 5 January 1916. He was Killed in Action at Villers-Bretonneux on 3 August 1918.” More..... |
04 August Building a new maritime surveillance network across
the Indian OceanThe Indian Ocean is an increasingly contested strategic environment. A growing Chinese naval presence raises the prospect that Beijing may seek to challenge US naval dominance, potentially sparking a competitive naval arms race in the region. This would be of huge concern to Australia, forcing us to divert limited defence resources from other priority areas in the Indo-Pacific. Australia and its partners need to consider how to best leverage their strategic advantages to deter or limit China’s naval ambitions in the Indian Ocean. More..... |
03 AugustCensus
question to support veterans Have you ever served in the Australian Defence Force? One week from today, Australians will for the first time be answering this question as part of the 2021 Census. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the information will be invaluable in ensuring essential services are provided where veterans and their families need them most. "Presently we do not have comprehensive demographic information about our veteran community, including simply knowing the number of veterans living in Australia today,” Minister Gee said. More..... |
03 August Exercise wraps upAlong the coast from the Northern Territory to NSW, the dust settled and members of international forces started to catch their breath as Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 (TS21) on July 31 drew to a close. Seven nations sent military forces to test their abilities to operate together across the traditional operating domains of sea, land, and air, as well as on the new frontiers of information/cyber and space. More..... |
03 August Convict serves 1000 hoursHMAS Ballarat’s MH-60R, dubbed 'Convict', achieved 1000 flying hours while at sea during Exercise Talisman Sabre off the coast of Queensland. The MH-60R is a submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter equipped with highly sophisticated combat systems designed to employ Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and the Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedo. More..... |
03 August Member
commissioned to Shō creative talentsFor one of Navy Band’s rising stars, a passion for an ancient Japanese wind instrument has led to a share in a $90,000 ABC commissioning fund aimed at exploring and developing new Australian music. Leading Seaman musician Henry (Han Yi) Liang’s project is one of 15 out of 150 chosen as part of the ABC Classic and ABC Jazz Composer commissioning Fund. More..... |
01 August Brisbane’s
crew rolls into Sunday SeaThe thought of hurling toilet paper between shipmates might seem strange to some – but for the crew of HMAS Brisbane, it was the perfect idea for a friendly game at sea. In their transit along the Queensland coast for Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 (TS21), crew members from Brisbane put together a program of activities designed to boost morale, develop teamwork and provide some down time. Among the activities was a sport known as bin ball. More..... |
01 August Four
nations deter and respond together on the high seasAustralia, Canada, Japan and the Republic of Korea have united beyond the shared colours of their collective national flags during Exercise Talisman Sabre 21 (TS21). Australian frigate HMAS Parramatta, Canadian frigate HMCS Calgary, Japanese destroyer JS Makinami and Republic of Korean destroyer ROKS Wang Geon joined forces to conduct air and anti-submarine warfare serials off the coast of Queensland. More..... |
01 August FlyByA periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. August..... |
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01 Aug 2021 Murder, Mutiny and Political Controversy in the Royal Australian Navy Victorian Chapter of the Naval Historical Society of Australia's presentation by Robert Hadler. Robert’s presentation is based around his two books – “Dark Secrets, A true Story of Murder in HMAS Australia”, which deals with the military, legal and diplomatic fallout arising from a murder in HMAS Australia in March 1942; and his latest book “Mutineers, A True Story of Heroes and Villains”, which deals with the complex military, political and diplomatic issues behind the 1919 mutiny in HMAS Australia I and its aftermath, plus the personal and sometimes tragic human-interest story about the five young mutineers. |
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| News Archives: For all news articles prior to 01 August 2021 go to our News Archive page | |
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