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Latest News for our Navy Network Download the FEBRUARY edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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25 March HMAS
Sydney's three-month journey through the regionSydney’s next three months of training and cooperation include Exercise Bersama Shield, alongside the Five Power Defence Arrangements nations Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Chief of Joint Operations Vice-Admiral Justin Jones said the deployments strengthened cooperation with partner nations across the Indo-Pacific region. “Regional presence deployments demonstrate Australia’s ongoing commitment to supporting regional security and stability and promoting a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” Vice-Admiral Jones said. More..... |
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24 March ADF
back to Solomons on survey missionAustralian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant deployed to Solomon Islands recently for vital survey work, reinforcing Australia's longstanding commitment to the Pacific. In her first deployment this year, Reliant embarked with a crew including members of 12 Chief Engineer Works (12CEW) and the Littoral Riverine Survey Squadron (LRSS), from the Australian Army’s 17 Sustainment Brigade. Personnel from 12CEW and LRSS conducted survey operations in support of a joint Australian-Solomon Islands project to complete construction of an eastern border outpost in Vanikoro. More..... |
21 March Aussies
buy $125 million-worth of Mk-48 torpedos to help counter
‘future threats’Australia announced today it is buying $200 million AUD ($125 million USD) worth of MK-48 heavy torpedos, which the minister for defense procurement said “will deliver a critical boost” to the country’s Collins-class submarines. The minister, Pat Conroy, said the weapons — designed for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare missions — will uplift “defensive and offensive capabilities” of the vessels and will also be fitted on Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines. More..... |
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21 March Vin hits the right note to capture the Anzac spirit in song Vin Healy is a master songwriter and teacher who honours veterans with works that tell the stories of Australia’s brave and fallen. On 13 March, in the lead up to Anzac Day he released a new song, Sister Ella Tucker, that pays tribute to the service of Australian nurse Ella Tucker on board the Hospital Ship Gascon off Anzac Cove during the Gallipoli campaign. |
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21 March Inspiring sailors recognisedThe 2025 Sailor of the Year program has recognised the outstanding service of eight sailors across the fleet. The nominees were chosen as their daily actions positively contribute to the success of Navy’s mission. Petty Officer Electronics Technician Stephanie Horswood won the program and thanked her HMAS Supply family for their support and nominating her. “I am incredibly honoured and humbled to be announced Sailor of the Year,” Petty Officer Horswood said. More..... |
20 March The
Hidden Costs of Caregiving: Meet the Kids Taking Care of
Wounded U.S. VeteransMore than 2 million kids live with a disabled U.S. veteran at home. Calls are growing to extend more support to these ‘hidden helpers’. It was horrifying every time it happened, every time Kylie Briest’s father choked on his food and started to turn blue, every time her mom, Jenny, sprang out of her own dinner chair to attempt the Heimlich maneuver on her husband. Kylie lost count of the number of times she’d called 911, making quick explanations to the operator while her mind was spinning in the background: wondering if her dad would survive this night. More..... |
20 March Australian
submariners gain engineer qualifications after serving with
Royal Navy Astute-class boatsThe first of the inaugural cohort of Australian submariners have qualified to serve on Royal Navy’s Astute-class submarines as nuclear engineers. The sailors from the Royal Australian Navy are the first cohort to qualify within the UK training system as part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to AUKUS, the trilateral defence and security partnership between the UK, Australia and USA. After two years of training serving at sea or on shore on the Astute-class submarines, this is the final step to becoming fully fledged Marine Engineering Officers (Submarine). More..... |
20 March Boost
to veteran pensionsVeterans and families are set to receive an increase in financial support when pension payments rise later this month, in line with the pension indexation process. Those who are eligible don’t have to do anything to receive the payment increase, it will be automatically applied to payments received after 20 March 2025; the first full payment at the new rates will be the payday 17 April 2025. The pension for payday 3 April covers entitlements for the period 18 March 2025 to 31 March 2025 and will be paid partly at the old rate and partly at the new rate. More..... |
20 March Nova
Systems develops AI tech for AUV sonar imageryNova Systems said it has developed cutting-edge AI technology to process sonar imagery from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and detect unseen threats. Key defence stakeholders had an exclusive first-look at the tool, as part of Nova Systems’ Test and Evaluation (T&E) Advanced Practitioners Course delivered in conjunction with the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania. The AI tool processes and examines sonar imagery collected from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and notifies the operator if an unknown object or threat is detected. More..... |
20 March Separated
by decades, connected by KoreaAfter more than seven decades, 92-year-old veteran Able Seaman Colin Cherry received his medals for service in HMAS Sydney III during the Korean War (1950-53). The special presentation took place on March 5, in front of Able Seaman Cherry’s wife, Sue, and was made possible thanks to Lieutenant Commander (retd) Gavin Colgan. Lieutenant Commander Colgan met Able Seaman Cherry while volunteering with the St John Community Care Team and quickly discovered their shared service history. More..... |
20 March ADF
on the run for Legacy in Middle EastAustralian Defence Force personnel deployed to the Middle East have been on the run, and raising funds for Legacy while they’re at it. Personnel deployed to Bahrain for Operation Manitou and to the United Arab Emirates for Operation Accordion collectively ran the 480 kilometres between their respective bases to support Australian veterans’ families. Runners from the Australian Headquarters Middle East (HQME), located at the Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates, took to their five-kilometre running track, while Australians at the United States Navy’s Naval Support Activity – Bahrain gathered at the base’s Memorial Sports Field. More..... |
19 March Japan
and Australia can fill each other’s defence gapsJapan and Australia talk of ‘collective deterrence,’ but they don’t seem to have specific objectives. The relationship needs a clearer direction. The two countries should identify how they complement each other. Each country has two standout areas: Japan has strengths in air and missile defence and in shipbuilding, whereas Australia needs help in both; and Australia has strengths in cybersecurity and its distance from China, both of which offer advantages for Japan. More..... |
18 March 5
Chinese satellites practiced ‘dogfighting’ in space, Space
Force saysUS “near peer” adversaries are “practicing dogfighting” in space to simulate orbital combat in yet another step up their wide-ranging effort to develop capabilities to deny, disrupt, degrade and/or destroy US space capabilities, the Space Force’s second in command warned today. Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, told the McAleese annual Defense Programs Conference that commercial partners had provided space situational awareness data to the Space Force on a demonstration involving coordinated moves of five different satellites. More..... |
18 March All
or Nothing – Australia and its AUKUS submarine dilemmaThe Australian debate on considering alternatives to AUKUS regains traction. Naval News looks at perceived options for a “Plan B” and offers an assessment on plausible outcomes. The arrival of the second Trump-administration in the US prompted wider reflections over American commitment to its global network of alliances and partnerships. American partners in the Pacific region have also taken note of comments by officials of the Trump-administration regarding expectations on defence spending and frictions affecting the American military posture. Australia may be particularly exposed. More..... |
18 March New
lease of life for long-range submarine arrayWork is under way to overhaul a kilometres-wide and 300-metre-tall transmitter array in the remote West Australian town of Exmouth. The Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt is a US-Australian very-low-frequency transmitting station capable of sending messages to submarines deep underwater. In a town where the mercury reaches the high 40s, Australian and American subject-matter experts will collaborate with contractors to overcome extreme conditions and isolation. More..... |
18 March DOD
leadership firings spark concerns over support for female
officersIn the two months since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, his administration has cleared the military of most of its top female ranking officers, disappointing many women veterans and active-duty personnel. Trump touted plans during his campaign to flush out military leadership. And following a series of high-profile departures in recent weeks, the U.S. military was without a single woman in a four-star general or admiral leadership position. More..... |
18 March US
strikes dozens of Houthi sites in Yemen as broader campaign
beginsThe U.S. military has struck more than 30 targets in Yemen since Saturday, part of the Trump administration’s new campaign of airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels, a terrorist group that has halted international shipping for more than a year. The initial salvo, which began Saturday, targeted sites used to train militants, launch drones, build weapons and command operations, including some housing Houthi leadership, said Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the Joint Staff’s director for operations, in a Monday briefing. More..... |
18 March 110th
anniversary of Gallipoli landings the theme of Anzac Day
Schools’ AwardsEach year, DVA is proud to host the Anzac Day Schools’ Awards, a national competition recognising projects by students and teachers who engage with veterans and honour Australia’s wartime history. The theme of this year’s Awards is Remembering Gallipoli: 110 years. We encourage schools across Australia to investigate and learn about the experiences of those who served at Gallipoli to gain a greater understanding of Australia's role in the campaign, and our nation’s broader involvement in the First World War. More..... |
17 March New
uncrewed boat to boost Royal Navy minehunting operationsSailors will be able to identify and neutralise mines and other underwater threats in safer conditions thanks to the delivery of new cutting-edge countermeasure systems. The Royal Navy now has the use of a 12m uncrewed surface vessel (USV) called Ariadne, a sophisticated payload and remote command centre – all when combined will mean mines can be rapidly detected in a more cost-effective and safer manner than previously. More..... |
14 March HMS
Lancaster hits illegal global drugs network with £5.4m
seizure in Middle EastThe Royal Navy has struck a £5.4m hit to drug traffickers after HMS Lancaster pounced in the Middle East. In the navy’s first bust of 2025, sailors and Royal Marines from the Portsmouth-based warship seized – and subsequently destroyed – heroin and methamphetamine following a concerted effort which saw drones play a key role for the first time. It was thanks to the sharp eyes of operators on one of the new Peregrine remote-controlled mini-helicopters that suspicious activity was spotted on boats side-by-side in the northern Arabian Sea in the dead of night. That prompted the frigate to launch her Wildcat helicopter for closer inspection. More..... |
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14 March Navy Slang with the US |
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13 March Navy
bolsters on-board careNavy has undertaken the most comprehensive upgrade of its first response medical training in more than a quarter of a century. From February, Navy medics undergoing higher learning will now complete the Extended Care Medics Course. With this qualification, medics will be able to manage a critically ill patient or casualty for up to 72 hours in maritime, remote and austere environments in the absence of a medical officer. More..... |
13 March Navy
aviation technician cracks top 30Aviation technician aircraft Able Seaman Georgia Spulnik-Ross has been recognised as one of Australian Defence Magazine’s (ADM) 30 under 30 recipients for 2025. Able Seaman Spulnik-Ross was honoured for her technical expertise, proactive approach to problem-solving, and commitment to excellence in her field. More..... |
12 March Russia,
China and Iranian Warships Drilling Together in Gulf of OmanRussian, Chinese and Iranian naval ships are drilling together in the Gulf of Oman as part of an annual exercise. Meanwhile the Russian Pacific Fleet’s flagship, cruiser RFS Varyag (011) and corvette RFS Sovershenny (333) departed Vladivostok on Tuesday for a deployment to the Asia Pacific. The Maritime Security Belt 2025 drill saw ships from the Russian Navy, the Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army Navy, Iranian Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy gathering together at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Sunday before setting out on Monday for the sea phase of the drills. More..... |
12 March Sailors
save the day with first aidA routine run for three sailors in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens turned into a real-life first aid exercise, after they helped an injured civilian who had broken her wrist. Able Seaman Bharatkumar (Brett) Thumar, Leading Seaman Chris Hughes and Leading Seaman Allyson Marsh used skills they had learned in training to help Liz Cumming as they saw her getting out of a car. “She stepped out of the car and was clearly not in a good way,” Leading Seaman Hughes said. “She’d broken her hand and was doubling over in severe pain.” More..... |
12 March Honouring
their service, remembering their sacrificeThirty-six organisations across Australia will share in more than $575,000 of funding under Batch 2 of the 2024-25 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program. The funding will support 30 community-based projects and six major initiatives, all aimed at commemorating the service and sacrifice of Australia’s veterans and families and promoting and preserving Australia’s wartime heritage. These grants are not just about preserving history – they’re about strengthening the bind between local communities and the legacy of our veteran community. More..... |
12 March UK’s
first crewless submarine launchedPlymouth-based tech firm MSubs has launched the Royal Navy’s first crewless submarine at Turnchapel Wharf. The extra-large uncrewed undersea vehicle (XLUUV) is part of Project Cetus, named after a mythological sea monster. The goal of the project is to enhance the Royal Navy’s experimentation with autonomous underwater systems. It is the first step in developing an operational autonomous submarine that will work side-by-side with crewed submarines. More..... |
11 March Australia’s
Hunter-class frigates to feature Ultra Maritime’s
hull-mounted sonarUltra Maritime Australia has been contracted to provide its hull-mounted sonar for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hunter-class frigates. Specifically, the company received this contract from BAE Systems Australia, the company in charge of building these vessels, to supply the frigates with its Sonar 2150. The 2150 Bow Sonar will be installed on the Hunter class frigates, improving their ability to detect and respond to underwater threats. More..... |
11 March Rheinmetall
begins local assembly of advanced MASS shipsets for the RANRheinmetall Defence Australia has kicked off local assembly of the first Multi Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) shipsets, destined for installation on Royal Australian Navy vessels. This cutting-edge, off-board countermeasure system is engineered to defeat incoming missile and asymmetric threats by generating decoy targets, thereby misdirecting hostile projectiles away from high-value assets. The MASS will initially equip six naval platforms, with potential plans to extend its use to future fleet vessels. More..... |
OUR MARCH HERO Captain
Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux DSC MiD U.S. Legion of MeritEmile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux was born in Launceston, Tasmania, to a Belgian-born father, Florent Dechaineux, and an Australian mother. He entered the Royal Australian Naval College, Jervis Bay at the age of 14, graduated three years later, and was promoted to midshipman in 1920. At the outbreak of World War II, Dechaineux was attached to the RN Tactical and Minesweeping divisions until April 1940. Then, as the commander of the destroyer HMS Vivacious, he made five trips to assist Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk. On 26 May the ship was allocated to Dynamo. At first, deployed from Dover, on 27 May the ship patrolled the beaches off Dunkirk, providing general anti-aircraft cover and protecting against fast E-boat attacks while scores of vessels crossed the mercifully semi-calm Channel in evacuation. The pleasure steamer Mona’s Isle, for example, now fitted out as an armed boarding vessel, was amongst the many. But her machineguns were no match for the attacking aircraft and occasional ship of the enemy: she was bombed as she reached the open sea outside Britain, and 40 on board were killed. This was the new and dangerous world of Dechaineux in action for the first time. The next day the destroyer made two trips from Dunkirk to Dover, bringing out 326 men in the first trip and 359 in the second. Continue reading about this outstanding hero..... |
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09 March Okinawan
bone digger searches for remains from WWII battleTakamatsu Gushiken turns on a headtorch and enters a cave buried in Okinawa’s jungle. He gently runs his fingers through the gravel until two pieces of bone emerge. These are from the skulls, he says, of an infant and possibly an adult. He carefully places them in a ceramic rice bowl and takes a moment to imagine people dying 80 years ago as they hid in this cave during one of the fiercest battles of World War II. His hope is that the dead can be reunited with their families. More..... |
08 March South
Korea pauses military drills after accidental bombingSouth Korea suspended the training flights of air force aircraft and all live-fire drills following its fighter jets’ accidental bombing of a civilian area, officials said Friday, posing a potential setback to its upcoming annual military training with the United States. On Thursday, two South Korean KF-16 fighter jets mistakenly released four MK-82 bombs each on a civilian area in Pocheon, a city near the tense border with North Korea. More..... |
07 March Sailors lift spirits with infectious positivityThe sands of Al Minhad Air Base are far from the comforts of a Royal Australian Navy frigate. But two sailors on a six-month deployment have bonded over daily banter and creative memes, infecting others with their positivity and humour. Leading Seaman Victoria Pipino and Able Seaman Lucy Cowan donned the green uniform and began their deployment to Operation Accordion, the ADF’s support mission for activities in the Middle East region, in June last year. More..... |
07 March Navy
Iron Man races for best storiesA young boarding officer-under-training sits in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat as it is lowered from the transom of its frigate, cutting through the saltwater below. At 4am, the night is at its darkest as dawn approaches. His helmet on, crowding his senses, saltwater smeared across the face shield, the young man wonders how, such a short time ago, he was studying philosophy at the Australian National University, with bleached-blond hair and two earrings to boot. More..... |
06 March It’s
time to ditch Virginia subs for AUKUS and go to Plan B
Earlier this month, the Australian government made its first payment of $500 million toward eventually obtaining US nuclear-powered submarines under the 2021 AUKUS agreement. Because the submarine deal is unlikely to overcome budgetary, organizational, and personnel hurdles, that payment should be Australia’s last. Rather than sacrificing much of its defense program to buy nuclear submarines, Canberra should instead adopt an AUKUS Plan B that would field new defense technologies such as uncrewed systems and hypersonic weapons that would enhance Australia’s security faster, and for far less. More..... |
06 March Riverina
recruit flies high in Navy skiesThere’s always a positive feeling in the air when a warship pulls into an Australian port after being at sea, not least for members of the crew due to be reunited with family. As HMAS Arunta made its transit through Port Phillip Bay, headed for the Port of Melbourne recently, this was certainly the case for one young aviation technician. Able Seaman Phoebe Poole is a member of Flight 801, within 808 Squadron, based at HMAS Albatross in NSW. More..... |
06 March Sydney
visit a 'cutter' above for US Coast GuardWhen a mariner whose homeport is Honolulu, Hawaii, labels Sydney Harbour as “one of the most beautiful harbours he’s ever seen”, it reaffirms the old adage that Australia truly is the "Lucky Country". United States Coast Guard Lieutenant Jacob Behne is a combat systems officer on board USCGC Midgett, one of 10 Legend-class National Security Cutters operated by the US Coast Guard with a mission of maritime law enforcement, border security, search and rescue, fisheries protection, drug interdiction and other assigned defence tasks. More..... |
06 March More
recognition for transitioning personnelFrom March 1, all transitioning full-time ADF personnel will receive a testimonial to recognise their contribution before their final date of full-time service. The testimonial will provide details of the member’s performance, knowledge, skills and experience during their career and final posting. Director General Joint Transition Authority Air Commodore Kaarin Kooij said respect and recognition played a key role in supporting every member through their transition journey. More..... |
05 March Places
to go, counterparts to seeThe first regional presence deployment (RPD) for 2025 has opened HMAS Hobart to a number of training opportunities with counterparts from across the Indo-Pacific region. After departing Darwin in late January, Hobart participated in Exercise La Perouse, a French-led multilateral training activity in the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok straits around Indonesia. More..... |
04 March Stunning
memorial to HMAS Perth finally openThe stunning permanent memorial to the hundreds of brave men who died when the HMAS Perth (I) was sunk in 1942 was opened by WA Governor Chris Dawson and his wife Darrilyn. In acknowledgement of the sacrifice of the fallen, the Governor passed on this message to the families of those killed, and the team who made the memorial possible. More..... |
04 March US
carrier arrives in South Korea after North Korea missile
testA U.S. aircraft carrier arrived in South Korea on Sunday in a show of force, days after North Korea test-launched cruise missiles to demonstrate its counterattack capabilities. The arrival of the carrier Carl Vinson and its strike group at the South Korean port of Busan was meant to display a solid U.S-South Korean military alliance in the face of persistent North Korean threats, and boost interoperability of the allies’ combined assets, the South Korean navy said in a statement. More..... |
04 March Hegseth
halts US offensive cyberoperations against RussiaDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has paused offensive cyberoperations against Russia by U.S. Cyber Command, rolling back some efforts to contend with a key adversary even as national security experts call for the U.S. to expand those capabilities. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, on Monday confirmed the pause. More..... |
04 March Sailor
excels with allied navies in Middle EastAn Australian sailor has been commended by a senior United States Navy leader for exemplary service while deployed to Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain. Leading Seaman Summer Vardy received a letter of Commendation in February, presented by Commander of United States Naval Forces Central Command and Commander Combined Maritime Forces Vice-Admiral George M Wikoff. More..... |
03 March From
Yam Island to the Middle East and beyondLeading Seaman Roneld Baragud remembers Navy crew visiting his island home when he was just a child. The Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator (RIDC) for HMAS Cairns said it was his first introduction to Navy and something he would never forget. “They came ashore with guns and took us out on the RHIBs (rigid hull inflatable boats) for a tour. We jumped on the boat, barefoot, and they let us run wild,” Leading Seaman Baragud said. More..... |
03 March USNI
News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 3, 2025These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of March 3, 2025, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Ships Underway: More..... |
02 March The
tiny Japanese island militarizing on Taiwan’s doorstepThis tiny island on Japan’s western frontier has no chain convenience stores. Nature lovers can dive with hammerhead sharks and watch miniature horses graze on a hill. But the wooded mountain ranges now carry radar sites. A southern cattle ranch has been replaced with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force’s Camp Yonaguni. Japan and its ally, the United States, hold joint military exercises here. Plans are underway to add a new missile unit and expand a small airport and port. More..... |
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BROADSIDE - FEBRUARY 2025 Edition NOTE: To read Broadside in Flipbook form, click on the "Full Screen" arrows. |
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