Multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate

BAB EL MANDEB STRAIT (BNS): A multi-national maritime exercise involving the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigate, two Turkish naval vessels and French Mirage fighters has concluded in the Gulf of Aden.

Commanded by the RAN’s seventh Anzac class frigate, HMAS Toowoomba, exercise ‘Scimitar Exocet’ held between July 22 and 23, was aimed at contributing to maritime security in the Bab El Mandeb Strait in the Middle East.

NAVY PEOPLE: BURPENGARY GIRL SETS SAIL FOR A CAREER IN MARITIME WARFARE

Burpengary local Monique Hembrow was amongst a diverse group of 116 Australians who graduated as Officers in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) on Thursday 23 June 2011.

The Governor General of Australia Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, AC, reviewed the graduation parade while proud family and friends watched on from the stands.

The event marked the end of 22 weeks of initial entry training at the Royal Australian Naval College, HMAS Creswell, during which the graduates were instructed in areas such as leadership, seamanship, naval history, physical fitness and weapons handling.

NAVY’S NEWEST OFFICERS REVIEWED BY GOVERNOR GENERAL

The Governor General, Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, AC, formally graduated the Navy’s newest batch of Officers from the Royal Australian Naval College Today.

For the 115 graduates the ceremony, which was held at HMAS Creswell in Jervis Bay, spelt the completion of the six-month-long New Entry Officers Course which teaches the Navy’s next generation of leaders the fundamentals of being a Naval Officer.

The live-in course includes training in Leadership, Combat Survivability, Sea Survivability and Familiarisation, Small Arms, Boatwork, First Aid and Physical Fitness.

New Australian Naval Combat Helicopters

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced that the Australian Government had approved the acquisition of 24 MH-60R Seahawk ‘Romeo’ naval combat helicopters at a cost of over $3 billion.

The 2009 Defence White Paper committed the Government to equipping naval warships with a new combat helicopter capable of conducting a range of maritime misions with advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities and the ability to fire air-to-surface missiles.

Richmond honours the dead of Force Z

STANDING to attention on the flight deck of HMS Richmond, today’s sailors honour the dead of 1941 – and remember one the greatest shocks in the Royal Navy’s history.

The frigate broke off from exercises with the Australian-Singaporean-New Zealand and Malaysian navies to make for 3° 33′ 36″ N, 104° 28′ 42″ E – the approximate last resting place of HMS Prince of Wales.
In December 1941 the battleship – the newest in the Fleet – and her accompanying battle-cruiser HMS Repulse were the firepower of Force Z, sent to the Far East to deter Japanese aggression.

HMA Ships Parramatta and Ballarat visit Surabaya

A traditional welcome by local dancers and regional Navy officials was received by HMAS Parramatta (Commander Heath Robertson, RAN) and HMAS Ballarat (Commander Guy Blackburn, RAN) as they arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia, the first port visit on their South East Asian Deployment (SEAD).

The successful visit with our regional neighbours began with COParramatta hosting a luncheon with local dignitaries. Ballarat held a reception with ceremonial sunset for guests ranging of TNI Officers, local officials and expatriate Australians. Parramatta and Ballarat also welcomed Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore AM CSC RAN who visited the ships during their time in Surabaya.

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Australian Purchase of an Amphibious Ship Saves Taxpayers

Australia's purchase of an amphibious ship from the Royal Navy at the bargain basement price of A$100 million could save Australian taxpayers at least three times that amount, a senior defence analyst says.

The operations and capability director for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Andrew Davies, said A$400 million to A$500 million had been set aside as the probable cost of acquiring an amphibious ship for the Royal Australian Navy in the second half of the decade. He said yesterday's announcement that the cash-strapped British Government had agreed to sell Australia its five-year-old Largs Bay was great news for Australia.

RESERVISTS LEARN THE ROPES AT SEA

The words ‘public service’ and ‘high-paced profession’ aren’t often used together. My government job doesn’t include jets, submarines or driving an Anzac Class frigate – but I recently got the opportunity to see and experience these things up close.

For one week during Exercise Triton Storm II myself and two fellow reserve officers lived and worked onboard HMAS Parramatta (Commander Heath Robertson). During this time we lived the life of a sailor at sea and took part in the crew’s daily routine.

Our stint onboard Paramatta was brief but filled with jobs to do and things to learn. Parramatta joined HMA Ships Ballarat,Toowoomba, Perth, Sirius and Waller as well as Ships Te Mana, and Te Kaha in anti-submarine and anti-air warfare, boardings and damage control training off the west coast.

Navies Working Together to Combat Terrorist use of The Northern Arabian Sea

In February 2011, the five nations that comprise Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) (Commodore Greg Sammut, CSC,RAN) conducted a focused operation in the Northern Arabian Sea to deter, detect and disrupt terrorist funding related narcotics smuggling.

Ships and aircraft from Australia, France, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States worked together to conduct almost 200 interactions targeting narcotics smuggling in the area.

“The success of this operation demonstrated the established capacity of CMF's contributing navies to uphold security and stability in the maritime environment.

“All ships involved engaged positively with the local mariner community, promoting legitimate use of the sea and stability within the region,” Commodore Sammut said.

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ANZAC DAY CARE PACKAGES FOR ADF MEMBERS SERVING OVERSEAS

Following requests from a number of community-based organisations and private citizens, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has established special mailing addresses for members of the public to send Anzac Day care packages to service men and women serving on operations overseas.

The ADF Joint Operations Command Director of General Support, Brigadier Dianne Gallasch, said she is moved by the desire among ordinary Australians to remember those currently serving overseas on the day the nation honours all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in present and past conflicts.

“To be serving on operations on Anzac Day is an experience no sailor, soldier, airman or airwoman forgets,” Brigadier Gallasch said.

“The significance of the challenges and sacrifices made by those who have gone before them is all the more poignant when they stop to commemorate Anzac Day on foreign soil. To know that complete strangers back home are thinking of them on this significant day and have sent a small care package is extremely heartening.”

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EXERCISE TRITON STORM 2/11 KICKS OFF

On the 7^th of Marh Exercise TRITON STORM 2/11 (TS 2/11) kicked off with a very busy day for the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS Toowoomba (Commander Andrew Quinn, RAN). There were a number of real life exercises including Anti Air Warfare, Boarding Exercises, Flying Operations and even a man overboard drill.

The purpose of Triton Storm is to ensure Navy personnel are appropriately trained and equipped for the year ahead. It also enables new personnel to be integrated into the ship’s company and apply their skills in practical situations.

TS 2/11 is a Navy led, joint combined training activity between The Royal Australian Navy, The Royal Australian Air Force, The Royal New Zealand Navy and The Royal New Zealand Air Force.

This exercise is being conducted off the coast of Perth as part of the RAN’s ongoing training program aimed at enhancing it’s capability to protect Australia and it’s interests.

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WARFARE SEMINAR A SUCCESS

On 22 Feb the Australian Naval Institute held a most successful inaugural Canberra Naval Warfare Seminar at the Australian Defence College. It was very well attended by around 140 members of theANI, the United Services Institute, the Kokoda Foundation, the ACT Naval Officers Club and course members of the ADC. Rear Admiral Ray Griggs provided an update on current maritime operations including the contributions that RAN members are to ADF operations across the globe from Afghanistan to the Solomon Islands. addressed contemporary naval personnel matters including the size and shape of the Navy workforce and the challenges that this presents. Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt discussed some of the broader issues regarding the RAN's future submarine project including the strategic operating environment and the unique challenges of our geography and the need to see a project of this scale in a broader national context.

The audience were actively engaged during Q&A and enjoyed some light refreshments in the ADC mess following the event. The format and duration of this seminar drew favourable comment, following the success of this event, Council plans to conduct a second seminar in Canberra later this year.

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69TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF SUNDA STRAIT

On February 28, 2011, a commemorative memorial service was held to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Battle of Sunda Strait and the loss of HMAS Perth (I).

353 of 681 sailors aboard were killed with most of the survivors becoming prisoners of war. The service was held at the Australian War Memorial.

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NAVY PEOPLE: MANLY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE RETURNS HOME AFTER TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Manly High School seems like a distant memory to Tara Longley as she and her 190 shipmates aboard HMAS Melbourne return to Sydney today.

They are just back from six months pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa. It’s been Tara’s first overseas deployment.

Tara, 25, now works as part of a highly trained team inside the frigate’s operations room, filled with radar screens and electronic warfare equipment.

Using information from this room, the ship’s command team prevented an act of piracy on a British flagged vessel in the beginning of January.

HMAS PERTH I CANVAS POW MUSTER LIST

A piece of awning canvas which memorialises the names of known survivors who went through the infamous Batavia Bicycle Prisoner of War Camp afterHMAS Perth (I) was sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait was presented to the RAN Heritage Centre yesterday.

Ms Sarah Seymour gifted the canvas to the Perth Association, which in turn presented it to the Naval Heritage Collection where it will now be preserved. Survivors Gordon Steele, John Wood and Frank McGoven watched on as the parchment was presented to CDRE Andrew Smith, RAN who accepted it on behalf of the Navy, and saw for the first time their names recorded.

MINISTER CONGRATULATES THE ADFA'S NEW OFFICERS

Representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon today, Gai Brodtmann, Member for Canberra, congratulated 350 midshipmen and officer cadets who were officially welcomed into the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) during the annual Chief of the Defence Force Parade.

Ms Brodtmann said the parade is a significant milestone for the cadets as it signifies the completion of their Year One Familiarisation Training.

“Over the last five weeks they have been forced out of their comfort zones, and they have had to adapt to working and living in a military environment, but their steadfast determination has allowed them to complete the first phase of their military training.

NAVY PEOPLE: BACK FROM PIRATE PATROL

It has been a while since Ben McGregor, 34, padded up and took guard at the crease at Miranda Magpies cricket club.

On 18th February he and his 190 shipmates aboard HMAS Melbourne returned from six months pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa.

Ben is a supervisor in the frigate’s Operations Room with the rank of Petty Officer. His job is to ensure the tactical picture is always up to date, using sensor information from sonar, radar and satellite.

HMAS SYDNEY FUND-RAISER FOR INFANTS’ HOME

HMAS Sydney (Captain Peter Leavy) strengthened Navy’s links with the wider community recently when she raised $5,000 for her adopted charity, The Infants’ Home, which is dedicated to giving young children an opportunity for happy and fulfilling lives.

Sydney hosted the launch of The Infants’ Home’s ‘Priceless Gift of Opportunity’ campaign, which aims to raise $6.5 million to build a state-of-the-art integrated Early Learning and Care Centre.

More than 80 VVIPs including the NSWGovernor, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir attended Sydney’s cocktail party and ceremonial sunset at Fleet Base East on February 24.

Chief of Naval Operations visits Bath Iron Works

Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead and Maine Senator Susan Collins in a recent visit to Bath Iron Works.

CNO Adm. Gary Roughead poses for a photo with the keel of the Michael Murphy, which will be christened later this year, during a visit to Bath Iron Works.

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817 SQUADRON TO FAREWELL GOOLWA

In the year of their decommissioning, three Sea King helicopters and personnel from 817 Squadron will visit their adopted hometown of Goolwa, South Australia this weekend.

About 75 personnel will conduct their final Freedom of Entry (FOE) Parade through the River Port town on Saturday 26 February 2011, from 1025. This will be their third FOE since 1987 when the Squadron conducted their first one.

817 Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Moggach said the opportunity to visit Goolwa one last time before the Sea Kings were finally retired from service, was an honour for the personnel of the Squadron.