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30 Sep 2016	Hobart completes Builder Sea Trials Builder Sea Trials for the first destroyer Hobart are complete following several days at sea off the coast of South Australia last week. Significant progress has been made on the project to reach the milestone with the ship build commencing in January 2010, hull consolidation in March 2014, and official launch - when the ship floated for the first time - in May 2015. More.....
30 Sep 2016	Combat System Integrator for Future Submarines The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and the Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Christopher Pyne MP today announced that Lockheed Martin Australia has been selected as the preferred Combat System Integrator for Australia’s Future Submarine Program, subject to further discussion on commercial matters. More.....
30 Sep 2016	First Contract Signed with DCNS to Commence Design Phase The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the next significant step in the building of Australia’s Future Submarines with the signing of the contract between the Government and DCNS to commence the design phase of the Program. More.....
29 Sep 2016	Drone launched from unmanned submersible at US Navy technology demo U.S. Navy’s annual technology exercise (ANTX) saw an autonomous underwater vehicle launch an unmanned aerial vehicle, all while being commanded by an unmanned surface vehicle. Defense technology company Lockheed Martin demonstrated the integration capabilities of its products by having the Marlin MK2 AUV launch the small UAV Vector Hawk. More.....
29 Sep 2016	Let's Talk Let's Talk is a message from the Senior Leadership Group for ADF Mental Health Day 2016. Let's Talk is about having a positive and proactive attitude towards mental health and wellbeing. This includes accepting responsibility to look after our own wellbeing and assisting others, and the importance of showing leadership at all levels to set and maintain a supportive and inclusive workplace culture. This applies no matter our role or position.
29 Sep 2016	Operation Render Safe - HMAS Diamantina destroys munitions HMAS Diamantina has spent two weeks finding and destroying unexploded World War II munitions in the waters around the Solomon Islands during Operation Render Safe in September 2016. The Sydney-based mine hunter vessel found over 120 projectiles during its search around the Russell Islands, Florida Group and Honiara using sonar, mine disposal vehicles and divers.
28 Sep 2016	US Navy drone helicopter helps designate target for Hellfire missile shot A U.S. Navy helicopter squadron made history earlier in September when the MQ-8B unmanned helicopter they operated successfully tracked a target and served as a laser designator for an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter to fire an AGM-114N Hellfire missile. The Northrup Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout detected target location and was transmitted to the MH-60S for targeting. Once all target requirements were met, the Fire Scout lased the target while the MH-60S moved forward and into position for the running missile shot. More.....
28 Sep 2016	Submarine conference shares ideas The Royal Australian Navy has hosted the 16th iteration of the Asia-Pacific Submarine Conference discussing submarine survivability, escape and interoperability of rescue assets. The conference was conducted at the Western Australian Maritime Museum, in Fremantle from 19 to 21 September, with 53 representatives from 21 nations and agencies in attendance. More.....
28 Sep 2016	Vietnam War commemorative service The Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel, Dan Tehan, today paid tribute to the families of Australia’s service men and women. The War Widows’ Guild and the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia will tomorrow hold a joint commemorative service to mark the Vietnam conflict at the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park in Sydney at 11am. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Newest Russian nuclear ballistic submarine reaches new home Vladimir Monomakh, the Russian Navy’s newest strategic nuclear submarine, arrived at its permanent base in Viluchinsk, Kamchatka, on September 26, the Russian Ministry of Defense informed. The submarine moored at a modern berth, created for submarines of new generations, after performing a transit from the Northern Fleet to the Pacific Fleet. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Australian companies get opportunity to join Royal Navy’s Type 26 program Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will have the opportunity to enter the supply chain for the Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship program. BAE Systems, the company in charge of developing the frigate, announced that some 150 Australian companies would pitch their products and services into the project. More.....
27 Sep 2016	Russia and China: colluding on a South China Sea policy? At the G20 Hangzhou summit earlier this month, China made clear that Russian president Vladimir Putin was a top guest. Both China and Russia claim that their bilateral relations are the ‘best ever’ and demonstrate an ‘unprecedentedly high level of trust’. Putin described the relationships as a ‘comprehensive partnership and strategic collaboration’. The China–Russia relationship is based on a mutual wish to push back against the United States, More.....
27 Sep 2016	NVN's September Newsletter NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't been notified that your monthly newsletter is available to download, the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect or out of date. To correct this, contact the webmaster at: webmaster@navyvic.net and he will copy and amend your address.
24 Sep 2016	Successful Sea Trials for First Air Warfare Destroyer Today marks the successful completion of ship builder sea trials for the future Air Warfare Destroyer Hobart, at Techport Australia in Adelaide. "This achievement is a significant milestone for the Air Warfare Destroyer Project and the nation, and demonstrates the capacity of Australia’s sovereign defence industry to build and integrate ships for our specific defence needs," Minister Pyne said, “Hobart has now proven its hull, propulsion and navigation systems after several days of testing in local SA waters.” More.....
23 Sep 2016	US Navy hosts 100-nation International Seapower Symposium The U.S. Naval War College (NWC) welcomed the 22nd edition of the Chief of Naval Operations’ International Seapower Symposium (ISS) which began September 20 with senior representatives from more than 100 nations attending in Newport, Rhode Island. The three-day symposium, sponsored by Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, welcomed maritime leaders from around the world to attend and lead presentations, take part in panel discussions, and learn from other global leaders on matters relating to current maritime topics that effect nations regionally and globally. More.....
23Sep 2016	Exercise Kakadu comes to an end Exercise KAKADU is a joint-enabled, biennial exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). KAKADU is the Navy’s premier maritime exercise, developing interoperability between nations in the maritime and air domains, and providing training opportunities for maritime security and surveillance.
23 Sep 2016	Milestone Reached – First EC135 Flight It was up, up and away for the EC-135T2 helicopter, the latest aircraft to be acquired by the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Army as part of the new Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS). The first aircraft lifted off from HMAS Albatross yesterday with the first tranche of Flying Instructors from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Boeing Defence Australia. The modern twin engine helicopter will provide a generational change in training to what both Army and Navy have been able to achieve with existing training systems. More.....
22 Sep 2016	Counter piracy ships meet in Gulf of Aden Dutch Commodore Luyckx who commands the Operation Atalanta’s counter-piracy force from the Dutch frigate HNLMS Tromp recently visited the commander of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, Rear Admiral Nam Dong Woo, aboard Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy warship, Munmu the Great. The visit provided an opportunity to strengthen the cooperation between the counter-piracy naval forces in the Gulf of Aden, with a series of coordinated naval manoeuvres and communication exercises carried out. More.....
21 Sep 2016	US Navy’s priciest destroyer ever built suffers engineering casualty Sailors aboard USS Zumwalt, the U.S. Navy’s next-generation stealth destroyer, found a fault in the ship’s engineering plant while the ship was in Norfolk, navy officials told to USNI News. Zumwalt was conducting weapons testing and training en route to its San Diego homeport when the engineering casualty was discovered. More.....
21 Sep 2016	USS Jackson wrapping up maiden voyage U.S. Navy’s Indepedence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) is set to arrive to her new homeport in San Diego on September 22, thereby completing its maiden voyage after passing full ship shock trials. Following construction at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, Jackson set sail for Mayport, Florida, conducting equipment checks, system tests and crew certification training along the way. While at Naval Station Mayport Jackson and her crew successfully completed full ship shock trials (FSST). More.....
21 Sep 2016	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) September newsletter is now available to download.....
21 Sep 2016	Navy Week Victoria - Seminar NCCV & RUSI Victoria invite all interested in Navy to attend the seminar on Wednesday, 19th October 2016. Venue: Theatrette, Shrine of Remembrance - From: 1000 to 1500. View flyer with full details.....
20 Sep 2016	Increase to veteran pensions Veteran pension payments will increase from today. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said pension payments would increase from 20 September 2016 in line with indexation for veterans, their partners, war widows and widowers across Australia. The pension rates are calculated on a daily basis, so pensioners will see a partial increase on their next payday – 29 September 2016. The new pension rates will be fully effective from payment date 13 October 2016. View new annual rates.....
20 Sep 2016	New Zealand Navy tanker to feature Rolls Royce’s wave-piercing hull form New Zealand Navy’s new 23,000t Polar-class logistics support vessel, which will replace the 30-year-old tanker HMNZS Endeavour, will become the first naval vessel to feature Rolls-Royce’s Environship leadge bow, the company announced September 20. Rolls-Royce has signed a contract with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to provide a concept design based on the Rolls-Royce Environship leadge bow. More.....
19 Sep 2016	Britain hires industrial team to work on laser weapons The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is preparing a £30M contract which will see a number of companies join together to develop a Laser Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) capability demonstrator that will give the government an insight into laser weapon possibilities. Led by the missile producer MBDA, the industry team is named UK Dragonfire and is joined by QinetiQ, Leonardo-Finmeccanica, GKN, Arke, BAE Systems and Marshall ADG among others. More.....
19 Sep 2016	Operation Render Safe helps bring safety to the Solomon Islands The dangers posed by explosive remnants of war in the Solomon Islands will again be tackled with the commencement of Operation Render Safe 16 over the weekend. The annual ADF-led Operation Render Safe deployment is Australia’s enduring commitment to the removal of unexploded and abandoned World War II munitions, commonly referred to as explosive remnants of war (ERW), which continue to pose a danger to communities in the South West Pacific. More.....
16 Sep 2016	KAKADU sea phase gets underway Warships from many of the littoral nations of the Pacific and Indian oceans have sailed out of Darwin to begin the sea phase of Exercise KAKADU, Australia’s largest maritime exercise. The ships separated into three multi-national task groups once outside the harbour and will spend the next eight days undertaking a graduated program of activities leading to high-end warfare exercises off the northern Australian coast. More.....
16 Sep 2016	Australian Navy minehunters head for Solomon Islands and Render Safe 2016 Two Royal Australian Navy minehunters, HMAS Huon and HMAS Diamantina, spent the past four weeks training together before they set sail for their south-west Pacific deployment and support to operation Render Safe 16. This year’s iteration of Render Safe will be taking place in the vicinity of the Solomon Islands. More.....
16 Sep 2016	Australian peacekeeping memorial – construction underway Construction has commenced on a National Memorial in Canberra to honour Australia’s 90,000 peacekeepers, Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel the Hon Dan Tehan MP announced today. Minister Payne said the Federal Government has contributed more than $2 million towards construction of the first stage of the memorial on ANZAC Parade in Canberra. More.....
15 Sep 2016	Addressing mefloquine concerns The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has established a dedicated mefloquine support team for our serving and ex-serving community. In its response to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee Report on Mental Health of Australian Defence Force (ADF) Members and Veterans, the Australian Government committed to additional support for current and former ADF members who have been administered mefloquine. The Government will: More.....
15 Sep 2016	Government response to Senate Inquiry Report on mental health of ADF members and veterans The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Dan Tehan, said the Government would increase mental health support for Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and veterans. The Government response to the Senate Inquiry Report on the mental health of ADF members and veterans was tabled in the Senate today. More.....
15 Sep 2016	Streamlined processing reduces red tape for veterans Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said the Government had cut red tape which meant veterans’ claims would be processed faster. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has reduced the requirements for liability for five medical conditions, reducing the time taken to process around 600 claims a year. There are now 13 medical conditions streamlined for acceptance of liability under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). More.....
14 Sep 2016	Australian Navy’s first Aegis destroyer starts builder’s sea trials HMAS Hobart, the first of three Royal Australian Navy Aegis-equipped air warfare destroyers, has started builder’s sea trials leaving ASC’s Osborne, South Australia shipyard for the first time. A number of alongside dock trials in preparation for Hobart’s first departure to sea were carried out, including incline trials to measure the ship’s stability and vertical centre of gravity. Main battery alignment ensured elements of the combat systems are correctly positioned and aligned while bollard trials tested the ship’s propulsion system. More.....
14 Sep 2016	Australian Navy hones submarine rescue skills during Black Carillon The Royal Australian Navy recently completed Black Carillon 16, a three week submarine escape and rescue exercise off the Western Australian coast. This year’s iteration of the exercise is the 15th in a series of Navy submarine escape and rescue exercises, designed to practice and prove established rescue procedures used in the rare instance requiring the evacuation of personnel from a disabled submarine. More.....
14 Sep 2016	Fourteen navies attend inaugural Regional Commanders’ Conference The Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, hosted 14 of his counterparts or their representatives in Darwin for the inaugural Regional Commanders’ Conference to discuss maritime security and interoperability in the Asia-Pacific. The high level discussions between navies fostered international partnerships while sharing innovative approaches on how best to meet the challenges shared by all nations. More.....
14 Sep 2016	An upgrade for the Air Warfare Destroyer—already? Analysing Australian defence expenditures is like a game of Battleship. Occasionally you’ll score a hit, but attempting to understand a given acquisition often results in an ineffectual splash. A big part of the problem is the lack of official information, especially about future acquisitions. By contrast, the American system is a model of transparency and often provides more clues into Australian acquisitions than the Australian government does. More.....
13 Sep 2016	CH-47F Chinook trials on HMAS Adelaide Australian Army CH-47F Chinook first of class flight trials are being held on HMAS Adelaide to ensure the safe operation of the helicopters onboard Canberra class amphibious ships. Cold weather aspects of the first of class flight trials have been conducted of the east coast of Tasmania, while hot aspects of the flight trials will be held in waters off Northern Australia during 2016.
13 Sep 2016	Businessmen aim to sink French sub A group of prominent businessmen has launched a push to torpedo Australia’s $50 billion plan for a fleet of French-built submarines. Jaycar Electronics owner Gary Johnston, Dick Smith, John Singleton, Boyd Munro and John Tait have urged the government in an advertisement in The Australian today not to build the Shortfin Barracuda in Adelaide. More.....
13 Sep 2016	Australia’s premier international maritime exercise underway Australia’s largest international maritime exercise, Exercise KAKADU 2016, was officially launched in Darwin yesterday by the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer. Exercise KAKADU will see nations from around the Asia-Pacific region enhance interoperability, share knowledge and develop skills in responding to threats in the maritime and air domains with a multinational force. Commander Australian Fleet welcomed participating nations and outlined his vision for the Exercise. More.....
13 Sep 2016	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's September Musings are now available to download.....
13 Sep 2016	24th and final MH-60R Seahawk delivered to Royal Australian Navy The last of Navy's 24 MH-60R maritime combat helicopters was accepted by Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett, in a ceremony at Lockheed-Martin’s Logistics and Maintenance Facility at Nowra’s Aviation Technology Park on Monday 12 September. The MH-60R Romeo is considered the most advanced maritime combat helicopter in the world. The Commonwealth of Australia chose the Romeo in June 2011 to fulfil the Australian Defence Force’s requirement for a fleet of new generation, multi-role naval combat aircraft. More.....
13 Sep 2016	WAR AT SEA - The Navy in WW1 Dr Kathy Alexander, City of Greater Geelong Administrator (Chair), invites you to join Dr Stephen Gapps, Curator Australian National Maritime Museum and the National Wool Museum, for the launch of: War At Sea - The Navy in WW1. 6pm-8pm Tuesday 20 September 2016 at the National Wool Museum 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong. RSVP 16 September 2016 T 03 5272 4701 E nwminfor@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
12 Sep 2016	Veterans' Suicides - Historic Senate Committee Investigation Media Statement- 5.9.16 Senate given permission to investigate Veterans’ Suicides and DVA performance after Lambie motion succeeds. JLN Independent Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has won historic support in the Senate for a motion (attached 1) to establish an independent inquiry and investigation into the performance of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) – especially in relation to crisis in Australian Veterans’ health and rising suicide rates. The Inquiry will report back to the Senate by 30 March 2017. More..... View the YouTube video below which shows Senator Lambie’s message to Veterans and DVA employees.
10 Sep 2016	World Suicide Prevention Day Bravery comes in many forms. There is the bravery of the men and women who serve in our armed forces who knowingly put their own life at risk in defence of our country. And there is bravery in asking for help and bravery in asking someone you know if they need help, no matter how uncomfortable that conversation. We all need to be brave and these conversations can be difficult. Suicide and mental health are issues for everyone in our society, including our veterans. More.....
10 Sep 2016	Australian Defence Force secures North Western Australia The Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) rapid deployment exercise, Exercise Northern Shield 16, has concluded today in the township of Derby in North West Australia, with over 1200 troops and millions of kilograms of cargo commencing their return to home bases all over Australia. Exercise Northern Shield 16 was the latest major military activity to be held in the remote north-west region within the last 12 months, and practised the ADF’s ability to decisively respond to land and sea-based threats to Australia. More.....
09 Sep 2016	Pacific Partnership 2016 wraps up The 2016 edition of the largest annual multilateral disaster relief preparedness mission Pacific Partnership concluded in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. The mission was led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, embarked aboard hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Approximately 1,200 military and civilian personnel from Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States participated for the duration or parts of the four-month long mission. More.....
09 Sep 2016	Anti-submarine drill in Arabian Sea gathers navies In late August, the US Navy staged an anti-submarine warfare drill in the Arabian Sea which was joined by British, French and Australian Navy assets. Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Perth joined USS Nitze and USS Mason which also had MH-60R flights embarked. Also involved were the Los Angeles class nuclear powered Submarine, USS Dallas, the auxiliary oiler replenishment, RFA Fort Victoria. More.....
08 Sep 2016	Seapower Centre - Recent Publications Semaphore 3: The RAN in Konfrontasi - 50 years on by Petar Djokovic Soundings Paper 12: Australian Rendezvous; Maritime Strategy and National Destiny in the 21st Century by Michael Evans Soundings Paper 13: The Evolving Pakistan-China Maritime Economic Relationship in the Indian Ocean, by Anwar Saeed
08 Sep 2016	USS Zumwalt departs for weapons testing, new homeport The U.S. Navy has shared a video of its newest and most technologically advanced surface ship, future USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) departing the Bath Iron Works shipyard on September 7 to begin a 3-month journey to its new homeport in San Diego. Crewed by 147 Sailors, Zumwalt is the lead ship of a class of next-generation multi-mission destroyers designed to strengthen naval power. They are capable of performing critical maritime missions and enhance the Navy’s ability to provide deterrence, power projection and sea control. The Zumwalt is expected to be integrated into the fleet by 2018.
08 Sep 2016	HMS Tyne escorts two Russian vessels off British Isles in a month The Royal Navy said their patrol ship HMS Tyne was called on twice in a month to escort Russian warships through the Channel. The Portsmouth-based warship monitored the progress of military transporters Minsk and Alexander Shabalin for more than 500 miles each as the vessel passed the British Isles. More.....
08 Sep 2016	Perth takes Romeo operational HMAS Perth, currently conducting security operations in the Middle East region as part of Operation MANITOU, is equipped with the Royal Australian Navy’s newest and most capable pieces of technology. Significantly extending the ship’s firepower, self protection and detection suites – is the new MH-60R or 'Romeo' Seahawk helicopter. This is the Navy’s 63rd Middle East rotation and the first time an Australian warship has deployed with an embarked Seahawk Romeo. More.....
08 Sep 2016	Exercise Northern Shield 2016 Troops, armour and fighter jets are fanning out across north-west Australia, as Exercise Northern Shield 16 ramps up in the Kimberley. Three Royal Australian Navy ships – HMAS Newcastle, Ballarat and Success are patrolling oil and gas installations offshore, as F/A-18A jets prowl the skies in response to a fictitious terrorist threat in the area. Australian Army soldiers from the Ready Combat Team have flown in from 1st Brigade in Darwin and are now patrolling Broome and Derby in their Bushmaster vehicles, working with local police as part of the Exercise scenario. More.....
07 Sep 2016	Iranian boats harass US Navy in the Persian Gulf, again Iranian Revolutionary Coast Guard patrol boats have forced a U.S. Navy ship to undertake evasive maneuvers on Sunday in the latest instance of altercation between the two sides. According to reports, seven Iranian patrol boats emerged from behind fishing dhows to conduct fast approaches toward the U.S. Navy patrol ship USS Firebolt, coming within 500 yards of the ship. More.....
07 Sep 2016	End in sight for frigate upgrade program The Anzac class frigate Anti Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade program has reached a milestone at the BAE Systems Shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia recently. Navy personnel joined counterparts from the Australian Public Service, BAE Systems, CEA Technologies, SAAB Systems and a number of other organisations on 2 September to witness the final time two Anzac Class frigates would be in dry dock together. More.....
06 Sep 2016	Veterans’ grants build community connection Ex-service organisations will share more than $600,000 to enhance the lives of those in the veteran community. Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan said the latest round of 35 grants under the Veteran and Community Grants program would directly benefit veterans and their families. “These grants will assist members of the veteran community to remain independent, healthy and active as well as helping reduce social isolation, especially for those who live alone,” Mr Tehan said. More.....
06 Sep 2016	Australia orders new anti-ship missile test simulator The Royal Australian Navy has awarded BAE Systems Australia a $32 million, three year contract to provide an improved anti-ship missile test capability. Under the contract, BAE Systems will deliver the Future Advanced Threat Simulator (FATS), an airborne radar system designed to closely emulate the in-flight behaviour of a range of anti-ship missiles. More.....
06 Sep 2016	US Navy orders LCS crew retraining after fourth ship breaks down The U.S. Navy has ordered an engineering stand down during which every littoral combat ship crew will have to undergo retraining following the breakdown of USS Freedom and subsequently USS Coronado which brought the number of LCS to suffer an engineering casualty to four. Earlier, USS Fort Worth broke down in Singapore while USS Milwaukee was towed to port after metallic debris was found in the port and starboard combining gear filter systems. More.....
06 Sep 2016	Smallest Royal Navy vessel scans seabed ahead of Queen carrier sea trials Nineteen times longer, 15 times wider and a staggering 3,000 times heavier, the new carrier dwarfed the small survey craft HMS Gleaner as she scanned the huge inner basin at Rosyth, where Queen Elizabeth is in the final stages of completion. The smallest vessel in the Royal Navy, previously used to scan the wreck of the Mary Rose in the Solent, has spent weeks surveying the Forth estuary to ensure carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth leaves Rosyth dockyard without any obstacles next spring. More.....
06 Sep 2016	France reassures its partners after DCNS leak While the DCNS leak crisis shouldn’t deeply harm France’s relations with India and Australia, it has already had consequences. In particular, recent reporting that India might not go ahead with a follow-on buy of Scorpenes will be worrying the French company. The French public shipbuilding firm has been targeted by what it describes as an act of ‘economic warfare’: an apparent cyber-attack leading to the leak of information pertaining to its Scorpene submarines built in India. More.....
06 Sep 2016	Electronic Warfare Boost Our military’s electronic warfare capabilities will be significantly expanded after the Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Christopher Pyne MP and Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne today announced the Turnbull Government has approved a major new joint project worth $500 million over the life of the program, with approximately three quarters of this to be spent locally in a boost to Australia’s Defence Industry. More.....
05 Sep 2016	The launch of a new era in ADF diving training A new era in consolidated Navy and Army diving training has been marked by the official opening of the Australian Defence Force Diving School (ADF Diving School). Perched on the shores of HMAS Penguin at Balmoral in Sydney Harbour, the diving school is the amalgamation of existing Navy and Army diving training facilities. More.....
04 Sep 2016	BAE Systems told to refine Type 26 design for new Australian frigates The Australian government has awarded BAE Systems a contract to further refine its design of the Type 26 Global Combat Ship (GCS) for the Royal Australian Navy under the SEA 5000 (Future Frigate) program. BAE Systems said that a team of the company’s Australian engineers would be deployed to the UK to join BAE’s design team in coming months to facilitate the transfer of technology to Australia. More.....
03 Sep 2016	Response to Defence Abuse Response Task Force Final Report The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin, has thanked the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce for its work after the Taskforce’s final report was released by the Government yesterday. The final report marks the completion of a significant body of work by Chairman Robert Cornall, AO and members of the Taskforce over more than three years. “These are difficult matters and I thank the Taskforce for its sensitivity, professionalism and dedication to the complainants,” Air Chief Marshal Binskin said. More.....
02 Sep 2016	Australian navy senior commander stood down after female officer complaint A SENIOR navy commander has been stood down after a complaint from a female officer following a late night drinking session while the ship was in Singapore last month, ABC News is reporting. According to the report, the Royal Australian Navy stood has aside an officer from the helm of HMAS Success. More.....
02 Sep 2016	Praise for volunteer veterans supporting other veterans Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Dan Tehan praised the veterans who volunteer their time to support other veterans with mental health issues as he toured the Peer to Peer Support Network pilot program in Townsville today. Mr Tehan visited the premises of Mates4Mates to meet volunteer mentors taking part in a mental health support trial and to listen to former Defence personnel talk about their experiences. The program trains veterans with experience of mental illness to be mentors to other veterans seeking help with their mental health. More.....
02 Sep 2016	Scottish economy cannot do without navy shipbuilding contracts The crucial importance of Royal Navy shipbuilding contracts to the Scottish economy has been laid bare in a report commissioned by GMB Scotland today (Friday 2 September). An economic analysis of Scotland’s defence sector by the Fraser of Allander Institute revealed that: · 5,943 jobs and £162.7 million in wages are supported by BAE’s yards on the Upper Clyde; and · 3,870 jobs and £105.9 million in wages are supported by the Rosyth dockyard in Fife. More.....
02 Sep 2016	Perth on task in the Middle East HMAS Perth has notched up more-than 10,000 nautical miles since leaving Australia on 7 June, and Commanding Officer, Captain Ivan Ingham, said his crew has now settled in to their Middle East deployment. "The first phase was getting to the Middle East region and on the way we travelled via Indonesia and Sri Lanka interacting with their defence forces," Captain Ingham said. More.....
02 Sep 2016	USS Mason concludes bilateral ASW Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), concluded bilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises with the Royal Australian Navy and the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Mason led the Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement (SHAREM) exercise with Royal Navy’s Fort-class fleet replenishment ship RFA Fort Victoria and Type 23 frigate HMS Portland (F 79), Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth (FFH 157), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) and Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700). More.....
02 Sep 2016	Royal Navy’s new offshore patrol vessel enters the water The first of the Royal Navy’s new style of River-class offshore patrol vessels has entered the water for the first time. Forth completed her 1¾-mile journey from BAE Systems shipyard at Govan on the Clyde to the company’s Scotstoun site. The first plate of steel was delivered to Govan in October 2014, with the ship structurally complete 18 months later. More.....
02 Sep 2016	ADF to exercise rapid deployment to North West Australia More than a thousand Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have started deploying to Derby, North Western Australia, at short notice to test security response arrangements as part of Exercise NORTHERN SHIELD 2016. Exercise NORTHERN SHIELD is an ADF training activity where high-readiness forces deploy quickly to North Western Australia in response to a simulated security threat. More.....
02 Sep 2016	Independent complaints process for Defence The Australian Government today announced it will expand the functions of the Defence Force Ombudsman (DFO) to provide an additional independent complaints process for allegations of abuse in Defence. This function will complement the cultural change strategy being implemented by Defence. The new functions will broaden the DFO’s existing oversight role and provide an alternative mechanism for people who have suffered abuse in Defence to access support and advice if they cannot, or do not feel comfortable, accessing Defence’s internal mechanisms for such complaints. More.....
01 Sep 2016	Fincantieri to participate in Competitive Evaluation Process Fincantieri has signed a contract with the Australian Government to participate in the Competitive Evaluation Process, conducted by the Department of Defence, to deliver 9 Future Frigates – to be built in Adelaide, South Australia – for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) under the SEA 5000 programme. Fincantieri is one of three shipbuilders short-listed by the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), part of the Department of Defence, to participate in the evaluation and selection process, which will last about one year. Similar agreements were signed also by Navantia and BAE Systems. More.....
01 Sep 2016	Australian Defence Force Targeting of Daesh The Australian Defence Force now has the full authority needed to target all members of Daesh, in accordance with international law. This ensures we can continue to meet the evolving national security threat of this decade and well beyond. The Government has reviewed its policy on targeting enemy combatants and made an important decision to ensure our forces are empowered to act against Daesh in Iraq and Syria to the maximum extent allowed by international law. More.....
31 Aug 2016	The importance of intelligence Today is the golden age of intelligence. It’s a great time to be an intelligence officer. If our intelligence services were for-profit enterprises, investors would want to make long-term investments in them. Business is that good. Why is this the case? It’s the coming together of two important developments. More.....
30 Aug 2016	Defence and liquid transport fuel resilience Diversifying choice of fuel supplies can have a real impact on naval operational capacity, in addition to managing the costs sustaining capability. This month there’s been lots of naval talk about alternative fuels when the USS Stethem, an Arleigh Burke class destroyer, arrived alongside Fleet Base East, Sydney. Since Australia signed a statement of cooperation agreement with the US Navy in 2012 to share information on alternative fuels for naval aviation, surface and subsurface platforms, the RAN has progressed from testing one Seahawk helicopter during RIMPAC four years ago, to three warships that took more than 4.5 megalitres of blended alternative fuel from US oilers during RIMPAC that concluded early this month. More.....
29 Aug 2016	That sinking feeling: is the flattop finished? The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier has been the ultimate symbol of American power and prestige for decades. These vessels are both incredibly capable and incredibly expensive. However, the combination of the proliferation of long range anti-access/area denial (A2AD) weapons systems and the decreased range of the US Navy Carrier Air Wings (CAW) has called into question the future utility of the US Navy’s carrier fleet, at least in a major war. More.....
27 Aug 2016	NVN's August Newsletter NOTE from Webmaster: If you are a member and haven't been notified that your monthly newsletter is available to download, the email address you supplied on joining is incorrect or out of date. To correct this, contact the webmaster at: webmaster@navyvic.net and he will copy and amend your address.

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Request for Committal of Ashes to the Sea. Download form.....

Current Repatriation Benefits for Gold Card Veterans -
As of 01 January 2018
This is a list of products that are available on a Doctor's prescription for Gold Card Repatriation Patients. Download the list.....

DVA Mobile Apps

The new Operation Life mobile application is designed to help those at risk deal with suicidal thoughts and is recommended to be used with the support of a clinician.

The High Res (High Resilience) app helps you manage stress, build resilience and optimise performance on the go.

The PTSD Coach Australia app can help you learn about and manage symptoms that commonly occur after trauma.

ON TRACK with the Right Mix mobile app from the Department of Veterans Affairs helps you to keep track of the number and types of drinks you consume; the amount of money it's costing you and lets you know about the impact the alcohol has on your wellbeing and fitness levels.

Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions
Guide to the assessment of rates of veterans’ pensions (GARP) is used to assess the extent of incapacity from war caused or defence caused injury or disease for the purposes of determining the rate of pension. Download.....

Planning ahead kit
Overview: Planning Ahead is a publication designed to help veterans and their families prepare for bereavement. There is also a checklist that can be used to record the contact details of important people, businesses and organisations that may need to be notified in case of your death. Download.....

DVA Concessions Fact Sheets
Factsheet CON01 - Concessions in NSW
Factsheet CON02 - Concessions in Vic
Factsheet CON03 - Concessions in QLD
Factsheet CON04 - Concessions in SA
Factsheet CON05 - Concessions in WA
Factsheet CON06 - Concessions in Tas
Factsheet CON07 - Concessions in NT
Factsheet CON08 - Concessions in ACT

War Service

Check your ship's eligibility for war service.....

News & Articles of Interest

DVA Information of Interest

DVA
Information of Interest