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Latest News for our Navy Network Read our January edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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31 January Semaphore 1/2022Australian Naval Anniversaries 2022 by Rob Garratt At various points during 2022 the Royal Australian Navy will pause to commemorate a number of significant anniversaries. 2022 marks 80 years since the dark days of 1942, a year which saw more Royal Australian Navy warships lost than any other. With WWII raging, Royal Australian Navy ships and personnel were engaged in theatres throughout the globe. We pause to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice made by those who would put the safety of others over their own, and who, when the night was darkest, shone a light that all Australians can aspire to. Lest we forget. We also pause to recognise other significant events, which contributed to the rich history of the Royal Australian Navy and laid the foundations for her people today. Read the full article on their webpage or, Download the file |
30 January Australian Defence Force Retirees Association Inc. DFRDB Update - January 2022 Email from Jim Hislop Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, This is an important Update we are about to go to court our case looks sound, but it will be up to the judge. Please register to watch the case the Update provides you with the necessary details and a large show of support would be delightful to see. Our presentation will last for about one and a half hours, and I assume CSC will take about the same time. Regards Jim Full details on how to register to watch the case..... |
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29 January 2022 Osborne House, Geelong The Inaugural Training College for RAN Officers |
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28 January Tongan
homecoming for ADF personnelWhen HMAS Adelaide sailed into Tongan waters on Australia Day, it was something of a homecoming for four Australian Defence Force personnel on board. Among the 630 ship’s company and other embarked ADF personnel on board, there were three Navy sailors and one Army soldier of Tongan heritage. All four are proud to return as part of the Australian Government response to assist Tonga recover from a volcanic eruption and tsunami on January 15. For HMAS Adelaide's chaplain, returning to his birthplace as part of Operation Tonga Assist 2022 holds special significance. More..... |
27 January ADF
supports Australia Day in SydneyAustralian Defence Force personnel joined Australia Day crowds in Sydney to help celebrate our national day. For the crew of HMAS Parramatta the day took on a greater significance when the ship replaced HMAS Adelaide as the backdrop for the 'Salute to Australia' on Sydney Harbour. HMAS Adelaide, whose motto is 'United for the common good’, left Brisbane last week loaded with humanitarian stores as part of the Australian Government response to Tonga following the volcanic eruption on January 15. Commander David Murphy, Commanding Officer of HMAS Parramatta, said it was an honour for the ship's company to join Sydney's Australia Day festivities. More..... |
January 2022
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27 January Recognising
Their SacrificeThe report of the inquiry into recognition for members and families of members of the Australian Defence force who are injured, wounded or killed in or as a result of service. Download the full 90 page report..... |
26 January Contract
to support Navy's survey vessels extendedBAE Systems Australia’s in-service support arrangements for the Royal Australian Navy’s hydrographic platforms in Cairns have been extended. The current support arrangements for the fleet will continue for another 12 months at a cost of $14.3 million. Announcing the extension in late January, Minister for Defence Peter Dutton said it would provide certainty for Defence industry while supporting 60 local jobs in Cairns. “This contract extension recognises the outstanding partnership between Defence and BAE Systems Australia as we continue to support the important work delivered by defence industry in Far North Queensland,” Mr Dutton said. More..... |
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26 January Warrant Officer of the Navy - Australia Day Message 2022 |
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26 January A
disaster relief mission he won't forgetA thick blanket of ash covered the water and there was no way to stop the relentless smoke getting into the ship. Fires were burning on the hills above Mallacoota when Petty Officer marine technician Paul De Keizer arrived aboard HMAS Choules on the morning of January 2, 2020. “I’ll never forget seeing them burning after the sun had set that evening,” PO De Keizer said. It was the beginning of several busy weeks for then Leading Seaman De Keizer, who worked to ensure the ship’s propulsion systems were always mission-ready. His efforts resulted in him receiving a Conspicuous Service Medal in this year’s Australia Day honours. More..... |
26 January Australia
Day honours announcedDozens of Defence personnel have been recognised for their outstanding service with this year's Australia Day honours list announced by the Governor-General. Commander of Defence Space Command, Air Vice-Marshal Catherine Roberts, has been made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service in her previous roles as Head of Aerospace System Division and Head of Air Force Capability. Also promoted to Officers of the Order of Australia were Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher and Major General Matthew Hall, both recognised for distinguished service in senior command roles. Rear Admiral Hatcher retired from Navy in late 2021 after handing over as Deputy Chief of Joint Operations at Headquarters Joint Operations Command on August 12. More..... |
25 January Seven
injured after ‘landing mishap’ aboard US Navy’s Nimitz-class
supercarrierAn F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, had a landing mishap on the deck while US Navy’s Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was conducting routine flight operations in the South China Sea. As informed, the accident happened on 24 January. The pilot, who is in a stable condition, safely ejected from the aircraft and was recovered via a US military helicopter, according to the navy statement. There were seven total sailors injured, while three of them required medical evacuation to a Manila, Philippines, hospital. The other four were treated by medical personnel onboard the ship, according to the Navy. More..... |
25 January New
Zealand Navy ends Arabian Gulf mission with $15M drug bustRoyal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has completed the Arabian Gulf mission with a seizure of more than one tonne of drugs from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman. Over the six-month RNZN Command of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150), 14 suspect vessels were identified and intercepted with a total New Zealand street value of $NZ3.05 billion of drugs seized and destroyed. CTF150 is part of a 34 nation coalition responsible for conducting maritime security operations outside the Arabian Gulf to ensure that legitimate shipping can occur freely. Its mission is to disrupt illicit activity such as the movement of people, weapons and narcotics. More..... |
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24 January The ADF is supporting Australia's response to Tonga The Australian Defence Force is supporting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)-led effort to support the Government of Tonga following the eruption of Tonga’s Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano on 15 January. |
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23 January 2 U.S. Carrier Groups, 2 Amphibious Ready Groups Drill with F-35s, Japanese Ships in the Philippine Sea USS Essex (LHD-2), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101), Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG-90), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH-181), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG-111) and America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) transit the Philippine Sea, Jan. 22, 2022. US Navy Video |
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21 January Royal
Navy warship joins UN sanctions enforcement against North KoreaRoyal Navy offshore patrol vessel HMS Tamar has joined the international effort to enforce the United Nations (UN) sanctions on North Korea. According to the Navy, the warship carried out a patrol of the East China Sea to prevent fuel or refined petrol from being delivered to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) under the sanctions imposed by the UN to target the country’s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. More..... |
21 January Royal
Navy to support disaster relief efforts in TongaA Royal Navy patrol ship will support international disaster relief efforts after a tsunami devastated Tonga. An extremely rare underwater volcanic eruption sent giant waves crashing into the Pacific islands, destroying homes and blanketing the area in volcanic ash. HMS Spey has been diverted to the islands from Tahiti and will be part of an international response to help people effected. The patrol ship is permanently stationed in the Pacific Ocean alongside her sister HMS Tamar and carries aboard vital supplies for Tonga, including 30,000 litres of drinking water and 400 first aid kits. More..... |
21 January Russian
Navy to conduct naval drills involving more than 140 warshipsThe Russian Navy has revealed plans to conduct a series of cross-country naval exercises which will involve more than 140 warships, 1,000 pieces of military equipment, 10,000 troops and 60 aircraft. According to the Russian Navy, the main focus of the exercises, planned for January and February this year, is interoperability of Navy and Aerospace Forces, as well as countering “military threats to the Russian Federation from sea and ocean directions.” Combat training activities will be held under the general supervision of the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Nikolai Evmenov. The operations will cover the entire area next to Russian territory. Specifically, this includes the territories in the Mediterranean, the North Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk, the northeast Atlantic and the Pacific. More..... |
21 January Tonga
relief set to sailHMAS Adelaide has finalised the loading of humanitarian and disaster relief stores, equipment and personnel in readiness to aid recovery efforts in Tonga. Commander Joint Task Force 637 Major General Scott Winter said Australia’s contribution was part of a wider relief effort that included regional partners. “We are proud to work alongside His Majesty’s Tonga Armed Forces as well as other Pacific family partners including Fiji, New Zealand, Japan, United States, India, France and the UK as we start to coordinate this effort in support of a very important member of our Pacific Family,” Major General Winter said. More..... |
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20 January Nuclear-powered submarines for Australia: what are the options? The political and strategic ramifications of the AUKUS pact involving the US, UK and Australia continue to reverberate, but the details of how Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) have often been overlooked. There are daunting technical, industrial and financial challenges on the long road to joining that club. Even the acquisition of conventional submarines isn’t easy and projects completed on time and budget are rare. Nuclear propulsion adds another layer of complexity and cost, and the engineering challenge has been described as more demanding than building the space shuttle. There are good reasons why SSN ownership is limited to a small group of elite nations—the US, Russia, China, the UK, France and India. (With considerable French assistance, Brazil is on track to have its first nuclear boat in the late 2020s.) More..... |
20 January Opening
of Regional Maintenance Centre CairnsThe Royal Australian Navy’s fleet is expanding and will be able to further sustain its edge at sea thanks to the opening of the first of four Regional Maintenance Centres in Cairns this week. NORSTA Maritime was announced as the regional maintenance provider to deliver the Regional Maintenance Centre North East in Cairns. Speaking at the NORSTA Maritime shipyard after the contract signing, Minister for Defence, Peter Dutton said under the five-year $70 million dollar contract, NORSTA would coordinate, schedule and manage maintenance for the current and future Navy fleet based in Cairns. “NORSTA Maritime has an established regional presence and proven ability to coordinate the sustainment and maintenance of naval vessels,” Minister Dutton said. "Cairns’ naval precinct would play an increasingly important role in supporting the Royal Australian Navy into the future." More..... |
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19 JanuaryEmail
from Department of Veterans' Affairs re Defence Force Income Support
Allowance Dear Veterans, There have been concerns reported last week by veterans and their families via social media relating to payment changes with the recent cessation of the Defence Force Income Support Allowance (DFISA). I am writing to provide further information that will assist you in answering any questions you may receive from concerned veterans. Information in relation to the changes was provided via an email from the DVA Secretary in early December 2021 regarding the passage of the Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (Exempting Disability Payments from Income Testing and Other Measures) Act 2021. From 1 January 2022, the Disability Compensation Payment (formerly known as Disability Pension) became exempt from the income test under the Social Security Act 1991. Centrelink payments such as the Age Pension will increase as a result, removing the need for DFISA. In addition, Rent Assistance became available or increased for some veterans. Those who had previously received DFISA found that on the first payday of 2022, 13 January, part of the DFISA payment was reduced. On payday 27 January, there will be no DFISA paid. However, social security payments from Centrelink will increase accordingly. The part payment on 13 January is because the effective date of 1 January falls in the middle of a pay period. As Centrelink paydays differ for each person, they do not align with DVA veteran paydays. Veterans can check pay day amounts in their Centrelink online account and their DVA MyService account. Veterans and their partners do not need to do anything, as the payments will be made automatically. Unfortunately, some of the letters advising of the changes to veterans were delayed, meaning some veterans did not receive a personal explanation as to why their DFISA payment had been reduced prior to 13 January. We are sorry for any distress this has caused veterans and their families. Further information can be found on the DFISA page of the DVA website under “What’s New”. Warm regards Vicki Rundle PSM Acting Secretary Department of Veterans’ Affairs DFISA Talking Points..... |
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19 January Japan
and Australia strengthen security cooperationSince the signing of the Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation in 2007, Australia and Japan have grown closer through joint training exercises between the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF). And the Australia-Japan relationship has entered a new chapter in recent years. First, in 2021, JSDF units could protect ADF equipment, such as naval vessels and aircraft, with weapons. This was one of the major achievements in the series of security-related legislative amendments made by the then Abe administration in 2015, which established a provision in the Japan Self Defense Forces Law that allows the JSDF to protect the equipment of other countries’ armed forces with weapons. In addition, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer “Inazuma” was reported in Japanese media to have carried out a mission to guard the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) frigate “Ballarat” during a joint Japan-Australia drill in November 2021. This was the first time the JSDF provided such protection to anyone other than the US military. More..... |
19 January US
Navy’s last-of-its-kind aircraft carrier sent to scrapyardUSS Kitty Hawk, the US Navy’s last conventional-powered aircraft carrier, has embarked on its final voyage from Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton to a ship-breaking facility in Texas. On 15 January, the navy’s tugboats escorted the vessel to its final journey. The US Navy’s aircraft carrier, the first of the three Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carriers, departed for a 16,000-mile journey around South America. The vessel was sold in October last year together with aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) to a shipbreaking company for one cent each. More..... |
19 January Defence
Blood ChallengeWell done to all #OurPeople who took part in the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood 2021 #DefenceBloodChallenge. Together #AusNavy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and Defence Australia APS members made 10,698 donations, saving over 32,000 lives. #TeamNavy secured two Defence Service Award Categories:  Most
donations per capita- 18.7% Most
plasma donations per capita-14% |
18 January ADF
supports Australia’s response in TongaThe Australian Defence Force is supporting the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as it coordinates Australia’s support Tonga following the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai underwater volcano on Saturday, January 15. On January 17 and 18, two Air Force P-8A Poseidon flights and one C-130J Hercules departed RAAF Base Amberley and RAAF Base Richmond to conduct aerial surveillance over the central islands of Tonga. The Government of Tonga requested the flights to help determine the extent of the damage, particularly in more remote locations, and inform their future disaster support requests. HMAS Adelaide departed Fleet Base East in Sydney to pre-position in Brisbane, ready to provide additional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) support if requested by the by the Government of Tonga. |
15 January Taiwan
adds minelaying ships to defenses against ChinaTaiwan on Friday commissioned new naval minelayers to add to its defenses against rival China. President Tsai Ing-wen presided over a commissioning ceremony for the Navy’s First and Second Mining Operations squadrons, which will operate ships able to automatically sow large numbers of small but powerful mines at high speed without the need for divers. Such technologies are part of a strategy to deter any possible invasion from China, with its huge military and vast superiority in numbers of aircraft, ships and other weaponry. The initial order of four ships manufactured by Lungteh Shipbuilding is part of a drive by Tsai to revitalize the domestic arms industry and reduce Taiwan’s dependence on its chief ally, the United States, for defensive weapons. More..... |
14 January Work
in drug bust recognisedThe United States Navy has recognised the Royal Australian Navy’s Lieutenant Justin Mellross for his work in support of the counter-narcotics’ operation Unified Takedown in the Middle East. Commanding Officer USS Firebolt Lieutenant Commander Raymond Miller IV on December 21 presented Lieutenant Mellross the United States Navy and Marine Corps’ Achievement Medal. Lieutenant Mellross is deployed on the ADF’s Operation Manitou within the New Zealand Defence Force-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF150). Unified Takedown is the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet’s contribution to the CTF150 counter-narcotics and terrorism operation in the Middle East. More..... |
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13 January Navy One's preparation for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race 2021 The Royal Australian Navy has returned to the fight for 2021 the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Navy One - a Beneteau First 40 racing cruiser - skippered by Navy Sailing Team Captain, Commander Nathan Lockhart, RAN - has taken part in the annual Australian institution with a seasoned Navy crew experienced in offshore yacht racing. Navy One and her crew lined up for the race start of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on Boxing Day, 26th of December 2021. |
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13 January Last
Zumwalt-class Destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson Leaves Bath Iron Works
Bound for MississippiThe third and final Zumwalt-class destroyer pulled away from the pier at General Dynamic Bath Iron Work, Maine, on Wednesday. Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG-1002) departed the shipyard and is in the Atlantic after traveling down the Kennebec River after completing the first of a two-part delivery scheme for the Zumwalt-class. “Last November, the Navy formally accepted completion of production and test activity from BIW for DDG 1002,” according to a statement from the yard. “The Navy’s acceptance of Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) completion followed extensive tests, trials and demonstrations of the ship’s systems both at the pier and during sea trials last summer.” More..... |
13 January That
sinking feeling: the future of surface combatantsAt an ASPI conference a few years ago, I remarked that I thought that major surface combatants had been obsolete for many decades, and that the only reason we hadn’t noticed was that there hadn’t been a major naval conflict since World War II. Needless to say, that view wasn’t unanimously subscribed to by an audience that included many senior naval officers. But my instinct remains that surface fleets would face mortal peril in peer-on-peer conflict, especially when within range of enemy sensors, missile systems or aircraft. The disadvantages of surface vessels are easy to list: they are large and slow, their major defensive systems can’t be reloaded at sea, and they are confined to manoeuvring in two dimensions. Conversely, the threats they face are small, fast, numerous and able to manoeuvre in three dimensions. More..... |
12 January HMS
Victory marks 100-year milestone by preparing for her next half
centuryONE hundred years to the day that the world’s most famous warship entered her current home, work begins on preserving HMS Victory for the next half century. Exactly a century after Nelson’s flagship was moved from the harbour into Dry Dock No.2 in Portsmouth Naval Base to protect her for future generations, today’s conservationists start work on the next step in looking after the veteran of Trafalgar. A 15-year programme of work is planned on the legendary man o’war which will complete her transformation both as a visitor experience and to display how the great ship looked in her heyday more than 200 years ago. The £35m package involves removing rotting planking from her hull and replacing it with new oak, repairing Victory’s structural framework, and finally fully re-rigging the flagship. More..... |
12 January Commemorating
the 50th anniversary of the end of Australian involvement in the
Vietnam WarPlanning is underway for a range of significant events around the country to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War in 2023. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Andrew Gee, announced that the Australian Government has committed $6 million to ensure this important milestone is marked with appropriate respect and appreciation for all those who served and those who gave their lives in Vietnam. More..... |
11 January Vast
database catalogues over 500 years of Royal Navy’s losses at seaA huge database cataloguing every Royal Navy vessel lost – going back to the days of Henry VIII – is now available to the public. The Royal Navy Loss List is a free online database which lists 5,100 warships and auxiliaries lost in naval service since 1512. Created by the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust in 2011, it was originally intended to help legal and conservation experts protect Royal Navy wrecks around the globe. They realised it would prove of use and interest to fellow historians and the wider public, and have made it accessible to all. More..... |
11 January HMS
Prince of Wales begins journey as NATO’s flagshipThe UK Royal Navy’s surface warship HMS Prince of Wales has taken the role of the flagship for the NATO Response Force Task Group. On 11 January, the ceremony was held on board the HMS Prince of Wales to mark the Royal Navy taking command of the NATO Response Force Task Group. The ship will set sail from Portsmouth on 12 January on its 12-month journey as the command platform for Rear Admiral Mike Utley who will lead the NATO task group. |
11 January Slice
of family history handed downContinuing a family tradition, nursing officer Lieutenant Emma Barker late last year graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College, with her father Commander Nick Barker and sister Lieutenant Kate Barker proudly watching on. And with it came the handing over of a piece of family history to Lieutenant Emma Barker: a sword. The sword originally belonged to Commander Barker’s father, who passed it on when he retired from the Royal Navy. Commander Barker handed it to his daughter in anticipation of his retirement in February. “I couldn’t have been prouder of Emma’s accomplishment, and to have Kate in uniform beside us was special indeed,” Commander Barker said. More..... |
07 January From
diesel engines to dataA former Navy marine technician has swapped diesel engines for data, changing careers after 15 years to commission as an intelligence officer. Acting Sub Lieutenant Simon Middleton, who recently graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College, decided to switch jobs almost five years ago when a remark from his father-in-law stuck in his mind. “I was looking for a new career, because marine technician wasn’t the job I wanted to do forever,” Acting Sub Lieutenant Middleton said. “I didn’t think much about my father-in-law’s comment about becoming an ‘ink’ officer at the time, but when I spoke to my brother-in-law, who is an intelligence officer, I got an idea about the job.” More..... |
06 January PLAN
in motion: Chinese Navy’s Massive Ship Commissionings in 20212021 has been a fruitful year for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN or Chinese Navy). At least eight Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG), two amphibious assault ships (LHD) and one nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) joined the PLAN fleet. None of the surface combatants were assigned to serve in the East Sea Fleet, dedicated to the Taiwan Strait. Instead, the South and North Sea fleets, facing Korea, Japan and the South China Sea received the new vessels that will reinforce the PLAN on the high seas. Armed to the teeth with 112 VLS cells and considered a cruiser by NATO (Renhai-class CG), the Type 055 is the most powerful surface combatant in service in the Chinese fleet. Since the commissioning of the first ship-in-class Nanchang in late 2020, four more have been pressed into service last year. More..... |
06 January Chinese
Navy Piracy Patrol Shepherds Fishing Fleet Through Gulf of AdenThe People’s Liberation Army Navy 39th Escort Task Force carried out a three-day-long escort mission of Chinese fishing vessels through the Gulf of Aden, the People’s Liberation Army Daily reported today. Destroyer Urumqi (118), frigate Yantai (538) and replenishment ship Taihu (889), along with embarked special forces personnel and two helicopters, were escorting eight fishing vessels belonging to China Fisheries Co., Ltd. to the southern exist of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait when a suspected pirate speedboat approached the convoy on the morning of Jan. 4. Yantai proceeded to sound a warning siren along with messages via loudspeakers and a Very High Frequency? radio to the boat to turn away. A helicopter with special forces personnel was also launched, which resulted in the boat turning away without further incident. More..... |
06 January First
Woman to Serve as Commanding Officer of USS Constitution in Ship’s
224-year HistoryUSS Constitution’s first female commanding officer will take command of Old Ironsides during a change-of-command ceremony, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 21, at noon. As the 77th commanding officer of USS Constitution, Farrell will become the first woman to serve as captain in the ship’s 224-year history, dating back to 1797. “I am honored to have the privilege to soon command this iconic warship that dates back to the roots of both our nation and our Navy and to have been afforded the amazing opportunity to serve as USS Constitution’s first female commanding officer in her 224 years,” said Farrell. “I hope to strengthen the legacy of USS Constitution through preservation, promotion and protection by telling her story and connecting it to the rich heritage of the United States Navy and the warships serving in the fleet today.” More..... |
06 January New
lease on Navy careerStaring at a blanket of blue ocean for hours at a time, then-Leading Seaman Lawrence Sabadi pondered his life and choices. “Several hours a day on the bridge gives you a lot of time to think,” Midshipman Sabadi said. A retention presentation later made him question what would keep him in Navy. He realised personal growth and professional development were what he needed, so he took the plunge and commissioned. On December 2, Midshipman Sabadi and the rest of New Entry Officers’ Course 65 graduated from the Royal Australian Naval College at HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay. In 2022, Midshipman Sabadi will start a three-year degree at ADFA in pursuit of becoming a maritime logistics officer. More..... |
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06 January OUR JANUARY HERO: Rear Admiral Frederick Tickell CMG MID RAN  Frederick
Tickell, the son of Captain George Tickell, mariner and member of
the Royal Naval Reserve, and his wife Charlotte, (née Crabbe). He
was born on board his father's ship, a tea frigate named the
Coldstream on 7 March 1857 while off the coast of Amoy (now Xiamen)
in China. He spent his early years in England and began his school
days as a boarder at the Marlborough School. In 1869, the family
migrated to Melbourne. They took up residence in Williamstown where
Frederick attended Williamstown Grammar school. He then attended
Scotch College from July 1870 to December 1875.In 1888 he became a Sub Lieutenant in the Victorian Naval Brigade. The Naval Brigade was a voluntary, part-time brigade established in 1859 to supplement the small permanent navy. It included many ex-Royal Navy personnel, trained in infantry and artillery drill. In 1897 Tickell was promoted to Commander and in November became commandant of the Victorian Naval Forces, a position he held until 1904. In 1900 the Victorian government offered assistance to Britain in putting down the Boxer Rebellion in China. With her navy all but defunct after a decade of neglect, Victoria could provide no warships, merely a naval brigade. Under Tickell's command two hundred men left for Hong Kong aboard the requisitioned liner SS Salamis in August 1900. The contingent was sent initially to occupy the captured forts at Taku and while the Victorians were employed as naval infantry they saw little action. A number of awards were made to the Australians participating in the military activities in China with Tickell being appointed as a Commander in the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for his services. In addition to these decorations, Tickell and Captain William Creswell were both Mentioned in Dispatches. In December 1900 he was promoted to Captain and after Federation became third in seniority in the Commonwealth Naval Forces (CNF) behind then Captain William Creswell and Captain CJ Clare. The full article can be read in our Hero section: https://navyvic.net/heroes/tickell.html |
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05 January Preparing
for battleAfter supervising naval gunfire at the West Head gunnery range, officer-in-charge Lieutenant Commander Peter Arnold goes home and continues shooting on the naval warfare game World of Warships. But unlike the video game, there is no reset button or extra lives when it comes to real weapons fire. “What the trainees discover is, you need time to prepare; these are not quick-reaction weapons,” Lieutenant Commander Arnold said. “They’re experiencing handling live ammunition, the smell, the smoke and the flash.” More than 10,000 personnel have been trained and one million rounds fired since the range in Victoria reopened after refurbishment in 2010. More..... |
05 January USS
Gerald R. Ford expected to deploy for the first time this yearThe aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford is expected to conduct its first deployment in 2022 — four years after it was originally scheduled to deploy. To ensure the carrier can deploy this year, the Navy has cannibalized parts from future aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy — a move that is not expected to delay the construction of the Kennedy, Navy Times previously reported. Such parts taken from the Kennedy include “HMI screens for stores elevators as well as motor controllers, power supplies, small pumps, limit switches and valve actuators for various systems throughout the ship,” said Navy spokesman Capt. Clay Doss. More..... |
04 January US
Navy avoided a 2022 ‘trough’ in submarine fleet size, but industry
challenges threaten future growthThis fiscal year was expected to be the first in which the U.S. Navy dipped into a “trough” in its submarine force, falling below the previous requirement for 48 attack subs and facing two decades of reduced numbers, with as few as 41 at times. Instead, the Navy is holding steady at 50 and plans to only grow the fleet, thanks to efforts to extend the lives of many aging Los Angeles-class SSNs by about three years each and to refuel five of them altogether for additional years of operations. More..... |
01 January Job Done!At 5:16am on 30 December 2021, Navy One completed the 2019 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, crossing the finish line in 99th place (line honours). The Navy yacht covered the 628 nautical mile race distance in a time of 3 days, 16 hours, 16 minutes and 44 seconds. Congratulations to the crew for this outstanding achievement in what is often described in yacht racing circles as the most gruelling yacht race in the world! Enjoy the Sailbration! This marks the first time the Royal Australian Navy has competed in and finished the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race in more than a decade. In doing so NavyOne has retained the Oggin Cup. 
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01 January FlyByA periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. January Edition..... |
01 January Happy
New YearTo all our members and families, we wish you a safe, healthy and happy 2022. |
| News Archives: For all news articles prior to 01 January 2022 go to our News Archive page | |
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