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Latest News for our Navy Network Read our July edition of our newsletter BROADSIDE |
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29 July A
visit from ‘royalty’ and a last port callHMAS Parramatta recently concluded its last port visit as part of its regional presence deployment following a busy program of cooperative and independent training ... and a special visit from the deep. Members of Parramatta’s aviation department were put through their paces practicing winching personnel onto the frigate’s flight deck using the ship’s embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. More..... |
29 July Sailor
honoured to represent AustraliaLeading Seaman Alyssa Clark serves on board landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra, where she works as a flight deck marshaller and is part of a high-paced team that provides support to the ship’s flight operations. After missing Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020 due to illness, Leading Seaman Clark said she was thrilled to be selected to sail with the Australian Defence Force and take part in the first RIMPAC exercise of her naval career. More..... |
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29 July RAN and JSMDF dive on USS Midway during RIMPAC 2022 Clearance Divers from the Royal Australian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted a combined training activity, involving the clearance and removal of limpet mines, on the USS Midway Museum Ship in San Diego, California during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. |
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29 July New
testbed ship to enhance experimentation in Royal NavyThe Royal Navy today unveiled a unique testbed ship to support trials of the latest tech and autonomous systems. The 42m, 270-tonne vessel arrived in Portsmouth this week and is named after former Royal Navy sailor and Nobel Prize winner Patrick Blackett. It will be used by the navy’s experimentation and innovation experts NavyX who have been driving innovation across the service and testing new technology, kit and concepts, passing them quickly to the frontline. More..... |
27 July Wittman:
Australian Sailors Should be Underway on U.S. Submarines NowAustralia needs its officers and sailors to learn how to operate American submarines now instead of waiting for construction on the country’s first nuclear submarine, the ranking Republican on a key congressional committee said Tuesday. Rep. Rob Wittman, (R-Va.) and ranking member on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces panel, said Australian sailors and officers should be going to the Navy’s nuclear school and deploying aboard American submarines so they can learn how they operate at sea now. More..... |
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27 July Fundraising
begins to raise ‘Prince Charles’ warship’ as survey says HMS
Bronington can be savedRaise the Bronington! That’s the rallying cry of the team connected with the veteran minesweeper – best known as ‘Prince Charles’ warship’ – after a survey says she can be saved. A dive survey was carried out by marine specialists earlier this summer and found despite appearances, with some minor remedial work on the hull to make her watertight again, the ship is in a satisfactory condition to be refloated. More..... |
26 July New
Chief of Navy takes the helmChief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond is energised and eager to get on with the huge task he has been entrusted with to lead the 15,000 people in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). There is much to do, including growing the Navy to 21000 and ensuring they have the capabilities they need to succeed in a maritime environment rapidly increasing in its complexity. In our first interview with the incoming Chief, we asked him to look back on his 35-year career in the Navy and reveal some of the highs and lows of his life in a blue suit thus far. More..... |
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26 July The Deployable Geospatial Survey Team have been working alongside the US Navy Fleet Survey Team during RIMPAC to build shared knowledge and get the highest accuracy intelligence to make the best possible decisions. Watch to find out how we deploy Real-Time Kinematic GNSS to survey land. |
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26 July USNI
News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 25, 2022These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of July 25, 2022, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. More..... |
26 July Assistance
dogs and public places: be informedIt is important for veterans with a DVA assistance dog to be aware of their rights around legally accessing public places with their accredited assistance dog, particularly when using public transport such as buses, trains, taxis and airlines. If you have an accredited DVA assistance dog, you and your dog are legally allowed to enter all public places, including travelling on public transport and entering hospitality venues such as cafes and restaurants. There are some exceptions, including: More..... |
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25 July EXPOSURE DRAFT LEGISLATION: TAXATION OF MILITARY SUPERANNUATION BENEFITS Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services The Albanese Government is introducing legislation to ensure that no veteran pays higher income tax because of the Federal Court decision in Commissioner of Taxation v Douglas (the Douglas decision). A draft bill, Treasury Laws Amendment (Measures for a later sitting) Bill 2022: Taxation of military superannuation benefits, and associated draft explanatory material, have been released for public consultation. The Douglas decision found that certain veterans’ invalidity pension payments in the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) and Military Superannuation Benefits (MSB) schemes are superannuation lump sums for income tax purposes rather than superannuation income stream benefits. More..... |
25 July HMAS
Canberra: On time, on targetExercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 has provided a plethora of opportunities for interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and the 25 participating nations. But it’s not every day that the United States Navy contacts your ship to say “kudos to the bridge crew” for planning highly complex movements down to the exact second. Maritime Warfare Officer Sub Lieutenant Thomas Watson was officer of the watch for flying serials between HMAS Canberra and the United States Navy's MH-60S helicopters that day. More..... |
25 July Riding
postie bikes for mental healthDressed like Wally from Where’s Wally while riding postie bikes around Australia, three former sailors are contending with 14,500km of road to raise awareness of PTSD and veteran suicide. One of the riders, Doctor Michael Davey, said the Wally outfits were symbolic of mental health sufferers. “People with a mental illness will [sometimes] hide themselves in plain sight, like Wally hides,” Dr Davey said. “They can be really hard to find until they commit suicide.” More..... |
25 July Aircrew
graduates receive their wingsThe first aircrew to graduate from 723 Squadron – Joint Helicopter School in its 70th year have received their wings and initial qualifications in a ceremony fittingly featuring a flyover of EC-135 training helicopters. Army’s ARH Tiger and Air Force’s PC-21 also joined the formalities, along with the Navy band and the 23 graduates’ families and guests. The graduates included four Navy and nine Army pilots, and two Navy and four Army aircrew, all from No. 723 Squadron, plus four remote pilot warfare officers from No. 822X Squadron. More..... |
25 July Multi-faiths
come together with common goalChristian, Muslim and Buddhist chaplains have come together onboard Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii with a common goal to understand how they can better support their military personnel. The two-day Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 International Chaplaincy Symposium offered an opportunity for several partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Republic of Korea and the United States, to discuss religious affairs during military operations. More..... |
25 July Australia
co-hosts 2022 Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense conferenceThe 24th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) conference will be held in Sydney from 25 to 27 July 2022. The conference will be co-hosted by Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus J. Campbell, AO, DSC and Commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral John C. Aquilino, providing senior military leaders with the opportunity to come together in the Indo-Pacific. The theme for this year’s conference is Promoting the Rules-Based Order in the Indo-Pacific. More..... |
22 July Japanese
Defense Minister: China, Taiwan Military Balance Shifting in
Beijing’s FavourThe military balance between China and Taiwan is shifting in China’s favor, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Friday. Speaking at his regular press conference at the Ministry of Defense, Kishi said the security environment around Japan is becoming severe at an unprecedented speed, as Japan released its annual defense white paper the same day, highlighting the threats posed to Japan by Russia, China and North Korea, while Chinese and Russian ships continue to operate around Japan this week. More..... |
21 JulyStatement
on sexual misconduct in the Australian Defence Force There is no place for sexual misconduct in Defence. All allegations are taken very seriously. Incidents of sexual misconduct do not align with Defence values. Defence acknowledges our previous failures to adequately handle sexual misconduct incidents. Defence is committed to doing better. Since 2012, Defence has established several pathways to address both current and historic sexual misconduct complaints in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). More..... |
21 July How
to bridge the capability gap in Australia’s transition to
nuclear-powered submarinesIn a previous piece, we examined the broad schedule of Australia’s capability transition from conventional submarines to nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs). In planning the transition, we shouldn’t just be focusing on the point when the first SSN enters service, which appears to be around 2040 at the earliest, based on statements from the government. There are later, equally significant milestones, such as when Australia will have a viable SSN capability (likely requiring three or four boats), when the Collins-class submarines can be retired and when the final SSN enters service. Those things will occur in the late 2040s, 2050s or even 2060s. The key point is that we need to manage the capability risk across the entire transition. More..... |
21 July Spare hands to garbosWhen HMAS Canberra pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, the pipe sounded across the ship “all spare hands muster for garbos” as members on board made their way down to the large bins in mass numbers. ‘Garbos’ is the colloquial term used on board for garbage sorting – which for Lieutenant Somaia Ahmadi is an important ancillary duty she holds as the assistant marine engineer officer. More..... |
19 July Seaman
returns to floods at homeOnce posted to a ship, members of the Royal Australian Navy can go long periods of time before returning home. But Seaman Jordan Moscatt, a Boatswain’s Mate posted to HMAS Adelaide, had the unique opportunity to return home as part of the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) support to the NSW Government’s response to flooding. Seaman Moscatt hails from Taree, a small town on the north coast of New South Wales, part of a community of towns that were affected by heavy rainfall. More..... |
19 July American
MV-22 Ospreys move to Australian ship for RIMPAC exerciseTwo U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft are embarked on an Australian amphibious ship for the duration of the 2022 Rim of the Pacific exercise, advancing efforts to integrate the two nations’ amphibious forces for operations in the southwest Pacific. The aviation detachment comes from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 363, stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. This squadron has previously operated in northern Australia as part of the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. That integration testing and relationship-building have made this RIMPAC pairing possible, HMAS Canberra Commanding Officer Capt. Jace Hutchison told reporters aboard the ship July 13. More..... |
19 July UK’s
Dragonfire ship laser gun on trialsThe UK’s Laser Directed Energy Programme (LDEW) Dragonfire, led by missile defence company MBDA, has successfully conducted a series of trials to prove the accuracy and power of the novel laser weapon. Launched in 2017, Britain’s Dragonfire laser program reached a milestone by completing a set of trials. The trials were undertaken by the Dragonfire consortium, joint industry and UK MOD collaboration between MBDA, Leonardo, QinetiQ and Dstl. More..... |
18 July Connection
to heritageFor Royal Australian Navy maritime human resources officer (MHRO), Lieutenant Vicky Nguyen, representing the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Vietnam was a special experience. Growing up in Brisbane, but with both parents hailing from the Southeast Asian country, Lieutenant Nguyen was invited to act as the Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the Pacific Partnership 2022 Opening Ceremony in Tuy Hòa, Phú Yên Province. More..... |
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17 July Navy Cadets want you! Call for adult volunteers Australian Navy Cadets are looking for adult volunteers to lead and inspire young people as part of Defence’s leading youth development program. Australian Navy Cadets volunteer at TS Moreton Bay unit in Woody Point, Queensland, LEUT A.J Hughes ANC, says the program helps young people become more confident, capable and resilient. |
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16 July U.S. and Partner Nations Conduct SINKEX as Part of RIMPAC 2022 Live fire from Rim of the Pacific 2022 partner nation ships and aircraft sank the decommissioned ex-USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) July 12, in waters 15,000 feet deep, 50 nautical miles north of Kauai. Units from Australia, Canada, Malaysia and the U.S. participated in the sinking exercise (SINKEX) to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against a surface target at sea. |
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16 July Vice
admiral and two dozen others punished for USS Bonhomme
Richard fireThe Navy announced Friday it disciplined more than two dozen service members for their roles in the July 2020 fire that destroyed the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard in San Diego. Chief among the actions is a letter of censure issued by Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro against now-retired Vice Adm. Richard Brown, who was serving as the commander of Naval Surface Forces when the blaze was called away on July 12 as the amphib was undergoing maintenance on the waterfront. More..... |
15 July Australian
and New Zealand Hydrographic Teams Mine for Information During
RIMPAC SOCAL 2022Royal Australian Navy hydrographic surveyors aboard the San Antonio-class transport dock ship USS Portland (LPD-27) are working with surveyors from the Royal New Zealand Navy to locate inert mines along the coast in Southern California, USA as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 in Southern California. The partner nation teams are using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to assist explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) dive teams by searching for manmade objects that could represent mines. More..... |
14 July Industry
and defence must gear up to deter China’s military build-up,
says MarlesHarnessing resources from industry through to armed forces, Australia, the United States and their allies must together develop an effective level of military power in the Indo-Pacific to avoid ‘a catastrophic failure of deterrence’, says Defence Minister Richard Marles. Opening ASPI’s new office in Washington, Marles expanded on the warning he delivered this week that China was engaged in the biggest military build-up ‘anywhere at any time’ since the end of World War II. More..... |
14 July USS
Ronald Reagan moves into South China Sea for the first time this
yearThe aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and its carrier strike group are operating in the South China Sea for the first time since deploying from Yokosuka, Japan, in May. The carrier strike group is executing flight operations with fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, maritime strike exercises and coordinated tactical training with surface and air units while in the region. More..... |
14 July Supply
ready for international debutThe recently commissioned HMAS Supply is ready to play its role as a range extender for an array of international war ships as the sea phase of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 commences in the waters off Hawaii. RIMPAC will be the first time that Supply-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ship Supply will engage in replenishments at sea with multiple international navies and will be an important milestone for the ship and crew. More..... |
13 July Marles
says ADF must quickly develop greater range and lethalityDeputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has prioritised the need to bridge the divide between the 2020 strategic update’s warning that Australia could face a major conflict within 10 years and current plans to strengthen the Australian Defence Force over several decades. In his first speech in the United States since taking office, Marles said the fresh force posture review he’d commissioned was to be delivered early next year in tandem with the report of the nuclear-powered submarine taskforce to identify the optimal pathway to obtaining eight potent submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. More..... |
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13 July Aligning Priorities in the Indo-Pacific with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles Over the last several years, Australia has emerged as a critical ally and partner of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. In late May of this year, Australia held federal elections, which resulted in a Labor-led government for the first time in nine years. This new Australian government confronts a significantly degraded regional security environment and will face consequential defense policy decisions. |
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13 July Fleet
Air Arm celebrates 75th anniversaryThe Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) hosted a black tie reception at the FAA Museum in Nowra as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations. Former Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, local Indigenous Elder Uncle Sonny Simms, Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley and past and present FAA members mingled with other guests on a viewing deck above the museum’s historic collection of Navy planes and helicopters. More..... |
12 July In
command – Ben’s submarine wishA 10-year-old's submariner wish came true on Sunday thanks to the Starlight Children’s Foundation and friendly submariners aboard HMAS Farncomb. Ben and his family were hosted for a morning of activities in Sydney, beginning with a tour of the decommissioned submarine HMAS Onslow at the Australian National Maritime Museum and then a visit to Collins-class submarine Farncomb at Fleet Base East. More..... |
12 July Port
visit reinforces Indo-Pacific relationshipThe strong relationship between the Australian and Indonesian navies was further enhanced recently with a logistics port visit and a cooperative training activity between the two nations’ warships. The Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth recently conducted a successful port visit to Jakarta, Indonesia for logistics and bilateral engagement while deployed on operations in the region. More..... |
12 July Navy
officials say Pacific exercise is not aimed at China, but it zeroes
in on defending TaiwanThe sprawling Rim of the Pacific 2022 exercise is not designed to counter or threaten China, according to the head of the U.S. Pacific Fleet — but it does focus on the skills and technologies that would be “most salient for potential conflict in the years ahead.” China has said publicly it wants to develop the capability to take Taiwan by force by 2027. The U.S. military’s support for Ukraine after a Russian invasion this year has raised more questions about the lengths to which the U.S. might go to help Taiwan if China invaded this decade. More..... |
11 July Rough
experience rendered safe by ChildersWhilst alongside Norship Dockyard in Cairns, HMAS Childers rendered assistance to a civilian vessel named Experience which suffered an engine failure. Childers crew members working on the upper decks noticed the civilian vessel rapidly drifting towards them and it appeared that the vessel was not operating normally. More..... |
09 July Navy
WWII vet Larry Storch, who found fame playing a soldier on TV, dies
at 99World War II Navy veteran Larry Storch, the rubber-faced comic whose long career in theater, movies and television was capped by his “F Troop” role as zany Cpl. Agarn in the 1960s spoof of Western frontier TV shows, died Friday. He was 99. Storch died of natural causes early Friday in his New York City apartment, according to his manager, Matt Beckoff. More..... |
08 July ‘Doomsday’
Submarine Armed With Nuclear Torpedoes Delivers to Russian
NavyA Russian Navy submarine armed with a strategic nuclear torpedo the size of a school bus was delivered to the Kremlin this week, according to an announcement from the shipyard. Project 09852 Belgorod is based on a Russian Oscar-class guided-cruise missile submarine that has been altered to accommodate six 80-foot Poseidon nuclear torpedoes that could be armed with a warhead of up to 100 megatons, USNI News previously reported. More..... |
08 July Boaters
rescued off the shores of DarwinAir Force and Navy have cooperated with Commonwealth and Northern Territory agencies to swiftly rescue three recreational boaters after their vessel capsized off Darwin. A RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft detected the vessel's distress beacon while flying to Darwin and located the upturned vessel with its three occupants wearing life jackets and clinging to the hull. Navy’s Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Maryborough was in the vicinity for routine training activities and arrived within 30 minutes of the initial report. More..... |
08 July Intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) integration capability
achieves key milestoneThe Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, is pleased to announce Defence personnel will now have access to a new computer interface that allows for better informed and faster decision-making. The interface allows analysts to search for and assimilate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data across multiple databases, delivering more complete information in a reduced timeframe. More..... |
07 July Australia’s
transition to nuclear-powered submarines could run into the 2060sIn our most recent article, we argued that the Australian government should widen the aperture of the lens through which it is scrutinising industrial strategies for acquiring and sustaining Australia’s nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) capability. We suggested that there are good reasons to consider building the submarines overseas. But the government, when taking all elements of the wicked submarine problem into account, may choose to build the SSNs in Australia. Building here may deliver significant sustainment benefits. It may be necessary to develop the expertise needed to exercise responsible nuclear stewardship. Our strategic partner in the US or the UK may not have the capacity to build submarines for us. These are all issues that the nuclear-powered submarine taskforce will need to assess in preparing its advice to the government. More..... |
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07 July Thank you for your service, Sir - Chief of Navy Farewell Video |
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07 July HMAS Canberra arrives for RIMPAC 2022 Approximately 1,600 Australian Defence Force personnel have joined twenty-six international partners to undertake the world’s largest international maritime exercise. |
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07 July UK reveals Royal Navy seizure of smuggled Iranian
missilesIn early 2022, whilst on routine maritime security operations, Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose seized Iranian weapons from speedboats being operated by smugglers in international waters south of Iran. The weapons seized included surface-to-air-missiles and engines for land attack cruise missiles, in contravention of UN Security Council resolution 2216 (2015). This is the first time a British Naval warship has interdicted a vessel carrying such sophisticated weapons from Iran. More..... |
07 July Japan
conducts exercise with US and Australia in East China SeaThe Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, together with the US Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, conducted a trilateral exercise in the East China Sea to East of Okinawa. As informed, the workout took place between 4 and 6 July. Japan’s lead ship of the Asahi-class destroyers, JS Asahi, partnered with the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey. From the Australian side, Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta participated in the drill. More..... |
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JULY HEROAble Seaman Reuben Joseph Edwin Mitchell DSM o/n 7476 The following story is of an Australian Able Seaman whom some military historians believe should have been awarded the Victoria Cross for his courage and compassion while under enemy fire from Turkish guns in the Dardanelles during World War I. The most senior survivor was Petty Officer Coxswain Robert Perkins, DSM who wrote in a report: ‘Reuben Mitchell acted most gallantly. He was on the conning tower with three officers, passing orders below to the helmsman. All the officers were swept off the bridge by shellfire and he was left all alone. Although the enemy had the exact range and he was clearly visible, he stuck to his post and took charge of the boat until it sank. When in the water, he then rescued the wireless operator who was unconscious from head wounds. There was no senior officer left to recommend him for his outstanding gallantry, and his only reward was the self-evident fact that he had done his duty.’Reuben Joseph Edward Mitchell was born in Ballarat, Victoria on 28 July, 1894. Having joined the Royal Navy based on the Australian Station, he served on several ships before joining HMS Challenger and sailing to England on the ship’s return in 1913. It was while at Portsmouth that he volunteered for submarines and on completion of his training at HMS Dolphin based on Fort Blockhouse, and at HMS Vernon, which included training in HM Submarines A6, A13 and E4, he joined HMAS AE2 to return to Australia as an Able Seaman. Read the full story in our Hero Section: https://navyvic.net/heroes/mitchell.html |
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06 July Night-time
rescue of flood-stranded residentsA Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter has evacuated three residents from their home in the Upper Kangaroo Valley following threats to their safety from rising flood waters. The helicopter was tasked when a Defence liaison officer working at Flood Watch Sydney identified the State Emergency Services request. More..... |
06July Royal
Australian Navy welcomes new ChiefThe Royal Australian Navy has welcomed the new Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AM, RAN, during a ceremony in Canberra. Vice Admiral Hammond said he was honoured to assume command of the Navy. “The Officers and Sailors of our Navy reflect the very best of Australian society. They are Australians who are ready to defend Australia and its national interests in the maritime domain, and work incredibly hard to protect our maritime approaches and vital trade routes. More..... |
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06 July Chief of Navy Australia Change of Command Ceremony Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN formally handed over the weight of command of the Royal Australian Navy to Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AM, RAN during a Change of Command Ceremony at Field Marshal Sir Thomas Blamey Square in Canberra. |
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06 July Powerful ships arrive at Pearl Harbor for the biggest exercise RIMPAC 2022 Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. |
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06 July Navy
stands up Indigenous cultural performersThe Royal Australian Navy Band has established Indigenous cultural performer (ICP) positions within its ranks. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sailors of any specialisation now have the opportunity to fulfil one of two 12-month representational positions, and perform with the band at home and overseas. In April, Able Seaman Aviation Support Lynton Robbins, a Gamilaraay man, took up the inaugural ICP position attached to RAN Band Sydney as a yidaki/didgeridoo player. More..... |
05 July Body
of Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams Will Lie in State in U.S. CapitolSpeaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the body of Medal of Honor recipient Herschel Woodrow “Woody” Williams will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda. Williams, 98, was the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient. The Marine Corps veteran was awarded the nation’s highest award for his actions on Iwo Jima. He died Wednesday, June 29, surrounded by family, at the VA Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va. More..... |
05 July New
details emerge about the 2020 Bonhomme Richard fire, ahead
of censure of three-starThe initial response to the July 2020 fire that destroyed the multibillion-dollar amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard was uncoordinated and hampered by confusion as to which admiral should cobble together Navy and civilian firefighters, according to new information from the then-head of Naval Surface Forces. The discombobulation in those early hours meant sailors may have missed a small window to contain the fire in a storage area. One admiral who said he lacked authority to issue an order pleaded with the ship’s commanding officer to get back on the ship and fight the fire, when the CO and his crew were waiting on the pier. More..... |
04 July Firing
a first for SupplyHMAS Supply successfully completed a first-of-class firing trial of the Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) during a regional presence deployment. Electronic Technician Leading Seaman Sam Chiswell said the training performed on board before a firing ensured the ship’s procedures were safe and efficient. “In my role I maintain and operate the CIWS and prepare it for firings; this includes all safety checks, pre-firing and loading the live ammunition,” Leading Seaman Chiswell said. More..... |
04 July Patrol
ships remember daring WW2 raid in NormandyPatrol ships Dasher and Pursuer joined French counterparts at 80th anniversary commemorations of one of the greatest ‘snatch and grab’ raids of World War 2. The capture of a German radar system at Bruneval, near Le Havre, in 1942 is regarded as one of the most daring – and successful – commando-esque raids of the war. More..... |
04 July HMAS
Brisbane to the rescueTwo sailors from a capsized yacht were rescued in extreme sea conditions by the crew of the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Brisbane on July 2. The two experienced mariners' yacht rolled about 15 nautical miles off Wollongong on the NSW South Coast at about 1am. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre reported the vessel missing and initiated a search shortly after 1pm. Brisbane responded to the call, reaching the 60-square-nautical-mile search area about an hour later. More..... |
02 July WWII
Navy Nurse Corps officer and Bremerton resident feted on
102nd BirthdayIt was during the early days of World War Two that Bremerton resident Anna Marie Cole departed her then Michigan home to support her country in need. She joined the Navy as a Nurse Corps officer. Fast forward nearly 80 years from that battle-scarred time of history. A long-time friend of Cole thought it would be a nice gesture if somehow the Navy could return the favor and provide support to help celebrate a personal milestone. More..... |
02 July HMAS Ararat decommissions in DarwinRoyal Australian Navy (RAN) has decommissioned Armidale Class Patrol Boat HMAS Ararat at a ceremony at HMAS Coonawarra, Darwin, following 16 years of service. Commander Australian Fleet, Commodore Jonathan Earley, CSC, recognised the service of the Ship’s Company. “HMAS Ararat and the men and women who have served in her, have made a significant contribution to our national interest, and international partnerships,” Commodore Earley said. More..... |
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01 July Navy stands up Indigenous Cultural Performer Roles The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has established two Indigenous Cultural Performer (ICP) positions within the RAN Band. The positions were created specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sailors and comprise a 12-month posting to the Band to perform yidaki/didgeridoo and other indigenous cultural aspects. |
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01 July Farewell
statement from Chief of NavyIt has been my great honour and privilege to serve as Chief of Navy for the past four years. I sincerely thank the women and men of the Royal Australian Navy for their outstanding work and dedication during my term. They reflect the very best of Australian society; Australians who are ready to defend Australia and its national interests in the maritime domain. I am incredibly proud of the unprecedented support Navy people provided to our country during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also maintaining Navy’s regular operations; protecting Australia’s maritime approaches and vital trade routes, conducting essential border protection activities and maintaining a consistent presence in the south-west Pacific and wider Indo-Pacific region. More..... |
01 July A
time to celebrate Indigenous cultureNAIDOC Week is an opportunity for Australians to recognise the rich history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year’s theme for the event, held from July 3-10, is ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’. Defence recognises the rich history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel in getting up, standing up and showing up in the defence of our nation during times of peace and war. More..... |
01 July ‘It’s
scary as hell’ — PFAS exposure a ‘widespread’ problem for
troops, families nationwideWhen Doris Brock’s husband was diagnosed with stage four bladder and prostate cancer in 2015, his urologist asked him if he’d served in Vietnam. The cancer, the doctor said, was similar to what he’d seen in Vietnam veterans, who’d been exposed to toxins like Agent Orange. The answer was no—Kendall Brock hadn’t been to Vietnam. But he had served for 35 years as a member of the Air National Guard at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire, retiring as a chief master sergeant. Two years after his diagnosis, he passed away at the age of 67. Doris Brock thought about all the chemicals he'd been exposed to during his career in aircraft maintenance: trichloroethylene, PD-680, different types of solvents. More..... |
01 July Oops!
Navy helo ‘rigging failure’ sends five missiles into the PacificFive Navy RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles have found a new home in the briny depths of the Pacific Ocean after a helicopter dropped them into the water during a vertical replenishment June 17, officials have confirmed. A MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21 was carrying two containers full of missiles en route to the amphibious assault ship Essex when a rigging failure resulted in the missiles being dropped off the southern California coast, according to Naval Air Forces spokesman Ensign Bryan Blair. More..... |
01 July Ukraine
Sinks Russian Supply Ship With Harpoon MissileUkrainian forces used a Harpoon missile to sink a Russian resupply ship headed to Snake Island, a senior defense official told reporters Friday afternoon. The sinking of the ship helped Ukrainian forces retake Snake Island, which had been in Russian control since the early days of the invasion. The island, called Zmiinyi Ostriv in Ukraine, was the symbol of Ukrainian resistance after a Ukrainian service member on the island told Russian warship Moskva to “go fuck yourself.” Ukraine later sank Moskva. More..... |
01 July People’s
Liberation Army Navy Ships Complete Circle Around JapanA People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surface group entered the East China Sea on Wednesday, according to a Thursday Japan Defense Ministry release. The surface group completed a near circuit of Japan since they were sighted in the Tsushima Strait on June 12. On Wednesday at 11 p.m., three PLAN ships were sighted sailing northwest in an area 130 kilometers northeast of Miyako Island, according to the release. Hull numbers and images provided identified the ships as destroyers CNS Lhasa (102) and CNS Chengdu (120) and replenishment ship CNS Dongpinghu (902). More..... |
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01 JulyStatement - Guardian Class Patrol Boats Defence has recently advised the Government of an issue affecting the Guardian class patrol boats Australia has delivered to Pacific Island nations through the Pacific Maritime Security Program (PMSP). The issue involves a potential fault in the exhaust system. Under the PMSP, the Guardian Class Patrol Boats are the sovereign property of individual Pacific Island nations, and each nation will make its own decision on whether they choose to continue to operate their vessels, or pause operations. More..... |
01 July FlyByA periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. July Edition..... |
| News Archives: For all news articles prior to 01 July 2022 go to our News Archive page | |
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