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Latest News for our Navy Network Download the JULY edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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OUR AUGUST HERO ABTEL
Arthur William "Bill" WHITEArthur William (Bill) White was born in Winchester in the Carramar District of Western Australia on 16 June 1922. Bill enlisted in the RAN on 20 October 1939, before proceeding to HMAS Cerberus for recruit training and specialist training as a Telegraphist. His Telegraphist training was comprehensive, including morse code and maintenance of the transmitting and receiving equipment. On completion he was posted to RMS Aquitania then RMS Mauretania before joining the Modified Leander Class light cruiser HMAS Hobart under the command of Captain Harry Howden. After serving on the Australian Station, Hobart served in the Mediterranean campaign, however, when Japan entered the war she was back in Far East waters. Bill was still on board when she was involved in the Battle of the Coral Sea and was believed to be the last surviving member of that battle. After leaving Hobart, Bill spent many months working between the islands of New Guinea where he contacted Malignant Malaria and spent time in hospital at Cerberus. He was lucky he was back in hospital in Fremantle when his new ship Wallaroo was sunk following a collision. Continue reading - much of it in his own words - about this hero sailor..... |
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11 August USS
Theodore Roosevelt becomes first carrier with built-in
Unmanned Air Warfare CenterThe USS Theodore Roosevelt is now the first Navy carrier to be equipped with an Unmanned Air Warfare Center that will support the Boeing-made MQ-25A, the first operational carrier-based unmanned aircraft. The aircraft is intended to relieve the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornets of the aerial refueling role, freeing up F/A-18E/F aircraft to focus on strike missions. More..... |
10 August Drawing
strength from traumaServing as a boatswain's mate at HMAS Kuttabul, LS Christopher Hill’s role included ship maintenance, supporting day-to-day operations, small-arms responsibilities and developing core seamanship skills. “I’d been doing this for almost eight years but was medically discharged due to PTSD,” LS Hill said. Due to a range of factors, he suffered a nervous breakdown in 2023 and could no longer go to sea or serve on a ship. More..... |
10 August Wreck
of tragic Tiger found in Channel after 118 years as
Government strengthens historic shipwreck protectionA group of divers today announced the discovery of the long-lost wreck of Royal Navy warship HMS Tiger. The ship, which was lost at sea 118 years ago, will be protected under new legislation to better protect military shipwrecks which is currently being considered by Parliament. More..... |
10 August Hanwha
Makes $1B Bid to Acquire Austal USA, Shipbuilder Declares
$79.73M LossSouth Korean Shipbuilder Hanwha has made a $1 billion bid for the U.S. subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder Austal, Austal disclosed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday morning Australian time. Austal also revised its previous guidance from an estimated $77.6 million (AUD 110 million) in profits to a loss of $79.73 million (AUD 113 million) based on an accounting event around the Mobile, Ala., yard’s contract setbacks. More..... |
10 August Chinese
Army Drones Target Unmanned Surface Vessels in ExercisesThe People’s Liberation Army Ground Force trained last week to use armed drones against unmanned surface vessels, according to state media. A Chinese military media post on Thursday highlighted the armed KVD002 unmanned combat aerial vehicles engaging fast moving drone boats with missiles. The footage depicted at least 13 of the drones attached to the PLA’s ground force unit. More..... |
06 August Firestorm
Labs builds drones aboard USS Essex without shore resupplyA defense technology company produced 3D-printed drones aboard a Navy ship at sea using a containerized microfactory, aiding the Navy in its pursuit of easily built autonomous technology that can quickly boost a warship’s weapons capacity. Firestorm Labs manufactured more than 1,000 parts and 12 of its proprietary 3D-printable first-person view Squall drones aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex as it transited toward RIMPAC 2026 in Hawaii. More..... |
05 August Strengthening
amphibious partnerships at seaUS Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) recently undertook force integration training with HMAS Canberra. The embarkation of MRF-D elements demonstrates the ADF’s ability to integrate seamlessly with allied forces, strengthening combined amphibious capabilities and enhancing readiness. More..... |
05 August Trailblazing
Royal Navy trials bring drone armada step closer to fruitionAn armada of aerial and surface drones scouting ahead of the main body of traditional helicopters, jets and ships is a step closer to reality following trailblazing work by the Royal Navy last week. Using a specially-modified Wildcat maritime strike helicopter, aircrew, drone operators and tech experts showed it is possible for multiple uncrewed systems to work seamlessly with traditional air and sea power over considerable distances. More..... |
04 August Cooperation the name of the gameInteroperability is a cornerstone of combined and joint military environments. International exercises such as Pacific Partnership offer prime examples of interoperability in action. HMAS Choules, the RAN warship acting as the command and control platform for Pacific Partnership, is hosting more than 100 embarked specialist personnel from the US, Canada and Germany. More..... |
04 August Sharpening
their shot on the slopesAfter a slow start to the snow season, fresh powder finally blanketed the slopes of Mount Hotham as women from across the ADF gathered for the annual Biathlon Women's Development Camp (WDC). Combining cross-country skiing with precision rifle shooting, biathlon has its origins in Nordic military border patrols, where soldiers traversed snow-covered terrain on skis with rifles slung across their backs. More..... |
04 August Research critical to improving support for veterans
and familiesResearch plays an important role in helping DVA understand the needs of veterans and families. By understanding the real-world experiences of the community, we can continue to improve our services to provide the best outcomes possible for their health and wellbeing. The Longitudinal Wellbeing Project, established in partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), helps build a better understanding of the health, wellbeing and service experiences of veterans and families over time. More..... |
04 August The
transformative impact of Psychiatric Assistance DogsTo celebrate International Assistance Dog Week (3 to 6 August) the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) sat down with Army veteran Fiona Kuilboer to discover how her golden labrador, Hedwig, had transformed her confidence, independence and quality of life. After leaving Defence in 2007, Fiona experienced ongoing psychological difficulties resulting in a PTSD diagnosis. More..... |
03 August The
next phase of partnershipOn July 20, HMAS Choules arrived offshore of Sibolga in Indonesia to deliver more than 100 multinational military personnel for the US-led mission, Exercise Pacific Partnership. Established 20 years ago as a response to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, Pacific Partnership allows supporting nations to learn more about local natural disaster response methods. More..... |
03 August RIMPAC
2026 wraps up multinational exerciseThe biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest combined and joint maritime exercise successfully concluded, July 31. RIMPAC 2026, the 30th iteration of the exercise, began June 24 and brought together 30 nations, more than 30,000 personnel, 30 surface ships, five submarines, and more than 197 aircraft under the theme, Partners: Integrated and Prepared. More..... |
01 August Service
measured beyond medalsSandi Foley De Vincenzo stood before guests at the Women in Navy exhibition at HMAS Albatross with a story that reached well beyond her own time in uniform. Her speech was a profile in inherited service: a father who found family in the RAN, a mother who carried the weight of separation and hardship at home, and a daughter whose own Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) experience shaped a lifetime in health care and mentoring. More..... |
01 August Chinese
Navy Showcases Hypersonic Anti-ship Capability Aboard
DestroyersThe Chinese Navy’s most numerous class of guided-missile destroyers can launch long-range hypersonic anti-ship missiles, state military media announced this week. A trailer released on Wednesday for a docuseries showcased the launch of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from a People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 052D-class guided-missile destroyer. More..... |
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BROADSIDE - JULY 2026 Edition NOTE: To read Broadside in Flipbook form, click on the "Full Screen" arrows. |
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For all news articles prior to 01 August 2026 go to our News Archive page |
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