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30 Jun 2019	HMAS Newcastle retires after 25 years' service The Royal Australian Navy has celebrated the completion of 25 years of service by HMAS Newcastle at a ceremony to decommission the ship at her home port of Garden Island in Sydney. Since commissioning in 1993, Newcastle had steamed around 815,000 nautical miles, deployed on operations to the Middle East six times; earned battle honours for her service in East Timor, the Persian Gulf and the Middle East; and conducted peacekeeping operations in the Solomon Islands. More.....
29 Jun 2019	HMAS Success decommissions after 33 years' service to Australia The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) has decommissioned the Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship HMAS Success, at her home port of Garden Island in Sydney, in a ceremony full of tradition, after more than three decades of service. Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan AO, RAN joined 23rd and final Commanding Officer of HMAS Success, Captain Darren Grogan to pay tribute to the ‘First Lady of the Fleet’, a title given to Navy’s oldest ship, and, the 5,000 men and women who served in her. More.....
29 Jun 2019	Navy duo unlocks stories of shipwrecks along Australian east coast There are some incredible people in the Royal Australian Navy, doing some incredible things. An officer and a sailor are helping to map shipwrecks along the Australian east coast, diving to significant depths to document vessels sunk in both war and peace. Sub Lieutenant Ruslan Pnevski and Able Seaman Tom Gower are part of a civilian diving group called the ‘Sydney Project’, which has a mission to “find, film and document the wrecks of lost ships, solving mysteries of unfinished voyages and writing their untold stories.” More.....
28 Jun 2019	Developing Australia’s at-sea deterrence force: Sub hunter-killer groups Silently hunting below the waves, the vessels are increasingly lethal and difficult to detect – submarines are one of the great tactical and strategic levellers. Patrolling groups of hunter-killers and at-sea deterrence force structures serve to enhance the specialisation and increasing capabilities of contemporary navies. More.....
28 Jun 2019	HMAS Ballarat conducts boarding
28 Jun 2019	NVN's June edition of "BROADSIDE" is now available to download..... 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: and he will copy and amend your address.
28 Jun 2019	Sydney secures long-term future of International Maritime Expo NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has announced the state has successfully locked-in Sydney as the home of one of the world’s largest biannual defence and maritime industry events, the PACIFIC International Maritime Expo, for 2019 and 2021. As the only comprehensive international exhibition of its kind in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, the biennial PACIFIC International Maritime Exposition combines high-level conferences on civil and defence maritime issues with an industry exhibition. More.....
27 Jun 2019	Veteran Treatment Cycle initiative "The health and wellbeing of veterans and their families is a high priority for the Morrison Government. We have listened to feedback from health professionals who deliver care to the veteran community about the need for more support to accompany the changes to allied health referrals, scheduled to start on 1 July. The changes will now begin on 1 October, 2019 to provide more time for the Department of Veterans' Affairs to meet with stakeholders. More.....
27 Jun 2019	First responders, escorts and missile defenders: Surface action groups While carriers and amphibious expeditionary groups are the most prominent naval task groups – surface action groups provide valuable, flexible force structures for contemporary navies, drawing on the specialisation and increasing capabilities of contemporary surface combatants. More.....
27 Jun 2019	South Australia rides naval construction wave The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, joined the Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Melissa Price MP, to inspect the substantial transformation underway at the Osborne Naval Precinct in South Australia. Minister Reynolds said construction of the advanced, digitally-enabled shipyard infrastructure at Osborne South was on track for completion by March 2020, ahead of the commencement of production prototyping on the $35 billion Hunter-class frigate program. More.....
27 Jun 2019	Japan begins development of next-generation attack submarines As Australia’s own $50 billion Attack Class submarine program enters the design phase, Japan, one of the contenders for the program, has commenced research, design and development for the successor to its Soryu Class, which entered service in 2009 – again raising questions about Australia’s delivery time frames. Japan’s Soryu Class is widely recognised as one of the world’s best submarines and often acknowledged to be the world’s most advanced, quietest, conventionally powered submarine. More.....
26 Jun 2019	Commonwealth Ombudsman - DFRDB Questionnaire Overview Please note we are only investigating what information people were provided with in relation to commuting a portion of their pension. We will not be considering issues relating to indexation of the DFRDB, or any other aspects of the scheme as it was established by the Parliament. We ask that you confine your response to information that you received about commutation. If there are questions you cannot answer, you can still provide whatever information you are able. If you have copies of documents that you were provided, please submit these along with your completed form. We are asking for some personal information, however we will only use your service information to see if there are trends about where information was provided to ADF members. We will only use your contact information to acknowledge receipt of your submission, or to contact you to seek clarification of any information if required. You do not need to provide your personal information, but we will not be able to contact you if you do not. Our preferred method of receiving this form is via email: DFRDB.investigation@ombudsman.gov.au. If, due to the size of the documents you wish to provide you are unable to send using email, please contact us at DFRDB.investigation@ombudsman.gov.au for assistance. If you require assistance to access and/or complete this form, please contact us on 1300 362 072. Submissions will close on 30 June 2019. The Ombudsman investigates in private and therefore submissions will not be published. The Questionnaire is fillable. Download Questionnaire
26 Jun 2019	Navy initiative provides opportunity to expand career options Two submariner Warrant Officers have been given the opportunity to progress into the commission ranks as part of the Royal Australian Navy’s Associate Engineers Direct Entry (AEDE) scheme. Part of a recent initiative to provide a significant opportunity for technical category senior sailors to advance their careers, the AEDE scheme draws on the experience and technical mastery already achieved by the members, and allows them to further contribute to Navy in their chosen field. More.....
26 Jun 2019	Aussie SME completes sea trials of BlueBottle USV off NSW coast Australian-based unmanned surface vessel (USV) developer Ocius has successfully completed all sea trial requirements for the company’s Defence Innovation Hub contract, three months ahead of schedule. An important final test was demonstrating the company's 'visual acuity target recognition and collision avoidance' software. More.....
26 Jun 2019	Navy Health donation helps Navy keep watch over sailors in need Royal Australian Navy members in need have been given a boost with a donation of $15,000 to the Keeping Watch Navy benevolent fund. The donation by Navy Health was gratefully received by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, and Warrant Officer of the Navy, Warrant Officer Gary Wight, who says the money will he put to good use. More.....
26 Jun 2019	Navy League of Australia(Western Australia Division) June newsletter is now available to download.....
25 Jun 2019	HMAS Dechaineux's Exmouth expedition The Weapons Electrical Engineering and Communications Information Systems departments of HMAS Dechaineux recently participated in a week long expedition to Exmouth, Western Australia. Being an establishment of significance to the Submarine Force, the primary aim of the expedition was for the Electronic Technicians and Communications submariners to participate in an educational tour of the very low frequency (VLF) transmitter site at Naval Communication Station Harold E Holt, located 1300kms north of Perth. More.....
25 Jun 2019	Guardian Class Patrol Boat Gifted to the people of Tonga
25 Jun 2019	Veterans' Mental Health Summit to inform government's strategy Tomorrow’s Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit will bring together key stakeholders at Parliament House to improve services and support to those who have served in the Australian Defence Force. The Summit, to be chaired by Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, will focus on extra steps that can be taken to improve veterans’ mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention. More.....
22 Jun 2019	Witnesses: Eddie Gallagher shot civilians in Iraq Two Navy SEALs testified Friday that their platoon chief gunned down a young girl and an old man in Iraq in 2017 from his sniper’s perch, though neither witnessed him pulling the trigger. The SEALs said shots came from the tower where Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher was posted and they watched through their scopes as the civilians fell to the ground. More.....
22 Jun 2019	Hidden for more than a decade, warship’s Nazi eagle to be sold A court in Uruguay ruled Friday that the government must sell a huge Nazi bronze eagle that was recovered off the South American country’s coast in 2006. The eagle with a swastika under its talons was part of the stern of the German armored cruiser Admiral Graf Spee that sank off Uruguay’s coast at the outset of World War II. More.....
21 Jun 2019	Legal bombshell explodes on SEAL war crimes trial After an hour of testimony and cross-examination inside the Naval Station San Diego courtroom on Thursday morning, Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Corey Scott walked through a small hallway where his attorney, Brian Ferguson, waited. The tough SEAL briefly broke down. Then he bear-hugged his lawyer. More.....
21 Jun 2019	First Lady’s CO reflects on successful mission HMAS Success is now alongside in Sydney, preparing for her decommissioning, having returned from her last overseas deployment last week. After four months away as part of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour Task Group, looking out the bridge window at Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower as HMAS Success crossed ‘line Zulu’ one last time was a wonderous sight to behold for her ship’s company. More.....
21 Jun 2019	Witness at Navy SEAL trial admits killing Islamic State prisoner, not Gallagher The latest on the trial of a decorated Navy SEAL charged with killing an Islamic State prisoner in his care (all times local): 11:10 a.m. A Navy SEAL called by prosecutors to testify at the murder trial of a colleague has acknowledged killing a wounded prisoner in Iraq in what he described as an act of mercy. More.....
21 Jun 2019	Tonga receives Guardian-class Patrol Boat Australia is stepping up in the Pacific as we continue to take engagement with our regional partners to a new level with the handover of a new Guardian-class Patrol Boat to the Kingdom of Tonga. The Tongan Royal Navy’s Ngahau Koula was received by His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala and Captain Sione Ulakai, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff to His Majesty’s Armed Forces, at a ceremony in Western Australia. More.....
21 Jun 2019	Free annual health checks for personnel leaving defence force FROM 1 July 2019, all Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel leaving full-time service can access a fully-funded comprehensive health check from a GP every year for the first five years. Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester today announced the expanded Veteran Health Checks that will help optimise the physical and mental health and wellbeing of veterans in the years following transition from the ADF. More.....
21 Jun 2019	HMAS Newcastle returns home to Fleet Base East for the last time
19 Jun 2019	More than 75,000 veterans using DVA online services MORE than 75,000 veterans are now accessing assistance through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) online claiming platform, MyService. The Department is currently undergoing the most significant reform in its history, to ensure veterans and their families have faster and easier access to the services they need, when they need them. More.....
19 Jun 2019	Assistance dogs-in-training to support our veterans The assistance dog trial helping veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is under way in Victoria and showing positive signs during the initial phases. Today the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, met with La Trobe University and the Centre for Service and Therapy Dogs Australia (CSTDA) to talk about the progress of the $2 million assistance dog trial funded by the Australian Government, and how the fostered dogs and veterans are finding the experience. More.....
19 Jun 2019	SEAL war crimes trial begins A decorated Navy SEAL stabbed to death a wounded and captive teenage Islamic State fighter in Iraq and then bragged about it, a military prosecutor told jurors Tuesday during opening statements in a politically charged court-martial. Lt. Brian John projected a photo of the dead prisoner in the military courtroom, along with a text message that Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher sent to friends. More.....
18 Jun 2019	German Navy commissions lead F125 frigate Baden-Württemberg FGS Baden-Württemberg, the lead ship of the German Navy’s new F125 class frigates, officially entered service in a ceremony on June 17. The 149,6-meter ship was commissioned in attendance of German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen, who arrived in Wilhelmshaven just hours after unveiling the next-generation fighter aircraft that will be developed as part of the Franco-German-Spanish project at the Paris Air Show in France. More.....
18 Jun 2019	HMAS Arunta re-joins fleet with traditional smoking ceremony A cold, wet day didn’t spoil the feeling of optimism that surrounded the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony that marked the recent return of HMAS Arunta to Fleet Base West after a 20-month Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP) upgrade. Arunta is the first ship to undergo the program which provides significant improvements to the ship’s key sensor and communications systems. More.....
18 Jun 2019	US amphibious assault group ships descend on Australia ahead of major exercise US Navy ships from the Wasp amphibious ready group arrived for port visits in the Australian cities of Brisbane and Sydney on June 18. San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Green Bay (LPD 20) and Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) will be in Brisbane, while amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), the flagship of the group, will be in Sydney. More.....
18 Jun 2019	Veterans’ Health Week to focus on mental health Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of veterans will be the key focus for this years’ Veterans’ Health Week to be held from 26 October to 3 November 2019. Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester said “We are providing $200,000 in grants to assist community groups and ex-service organisations to put on events promoting health and wellbeing for veterans and their families". More.....
18 Jun 2019	Naval Historical Society of Australia (Victorian Chapter) President's June Musings are now available to download.....
16 Jun 2019	HMAS Success returns to Fleet Base East
16 Jun 2019	Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2019
16 Jun 2019	Navy's longest serving ship completes final voyage The Royal Australian Navy’s longest serving ship, HMAS Success (II) today completed her final voyage after 33 years’ service to Australia. Success, an 18,000 tonne Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship, almost 160 meters in length and known as ‘The Battle Tanker’, was the last vessel built for the Royal Australian Navy at Sydney’s Cockatoo Island dockyard. More.....
15 Jun 2019	The US must deploy a sub-launched low-yield nuke In its annual consideration of the defense policy bill this week, the House Armed Services Committee narrowly rejected efforts to permit the Department of Defense to deploy low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBM. The committee’s decision sets up a likely fight with the Senate later this year — the outcome of which could impact Moscow’s potential use of low-yield nuclear weapons in a future conflict. More.....
14 Jun 2019	ADF chief: West faces a new threat from ‘political warfare’ Western democracies risk being outmanoeuvred by totalitarian powers unrestrained by rules and willing to use information campaigns, cyber operations, theft of intellectual property, coercion and propaganda to weaken them, Australia’s Defence Force chief has warned. In a speech to ASPI’s ‘War in 2025’ international conference, General Angus Campbell said this new, modernised version of political warfare may have already begun. More.....
14 Jun 2019	Peninsula Ship Society - June edition of the "Sea Chest" is now available to download.....
14 Jun 2019	Future-proofing the Attack class (part 1): propulsion and endurance A major challenge in the decades-long program to build the Royal Australian Navy’s new submarines, the Attack class, will be ensuring that they incorporate emerging transformational advances in propulsion technology. Between 2025 and 2030, the continuing rapid evolution of lithium-ion battery technology will enable the Attack-class boats to stay fully submerged on low-speed patrols for up to 40 days without recharging. More.....
14 Jun 2019	Warrior Games 2019 A team of 24 competitors from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Veteran Sport Australia (VSA) will compete at the 2019 Warrior Games in the United States (US) this month. Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester said getting to the 2019 Warrior Games was an important milestone and significant achievement for the team, comprising 12 current and 12 ex-serving, wounded, injured and ill personnel. More.....
13 Jun 2019	Supersonic speeds could cause big problems for the F-35′s stealth coating At extremely high altitudes, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ versions of the F-35 jet can only fly at supersonic speeds for short bursts of time before there is a risk of structural damage and loss of stealth capability, a problem that may make it impossible for the Navy’s F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts. More.....
13 Jun 2019	When US Navy and Marine F-35 pilots most need performance, the aircraft becomes erratic The U.S. Navy's and Marine Corps' F-35s become unpredictable to handle when executing the kind of extreme maneuvers a pilot would use in a dogfight or while avoiding a missile, according to documents exclusively obtained by Defense News. More.....
12 Jun 2019	New National President for the RSL appointed The ex-service community will benefit from the wealth of public and private sector experience of its new Returned and Services Leagues of Australia (RSL) National President Major General Greg Melick AO RFD FANZCN SC. Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester congratulated Major General Melick on his appointment and looked forward to continuing the important relationship with the RSL to provide support for veterans and their families. More.....
12 Jun 2019	HMAS Newcastle completes final international deployment The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) today celebrated the completion of the final overseas deployment by an Adelaide Class guided missile frigate, with HMAS Newcastle arriving back in Australia. Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead AM, RAN, said the Adelaide Class frigates have been an indispensable part of Navy’s role in protecting Australia’s maritime interests for almost forty years. More.....
11 Jun 2019	Royal Navy WW2 torpedo bomber found almost intact in the Solent A Fairey Barracuda torpedo bomber was discovered in the English Channel 75 years after its pilot was forced to ditch during World War 2. The Fleet Air Arm bomber has been found largely intact and is now being recovered in sections. The wreck was uncovered by engineers working for the UK National Grid who are laying a 150-mile-long cable from Fareham to Normandy. More.....
11 Jun 2019	IT firm Stefanini secures work on Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine IT provider Stefanini has been contracted for work on the Brazilian Navy’s first nuclear-powered submarine, the future SN-Álvaro Alberto. Brazil is developing the sub in cooperation with France’s Naval Group, who will deliver four months of training to a group of IHM Stefanini engineers in Ruelle-sur-Touvre, France. More.....
11 Jun 2019	HMAS Melbourne returns to Australia for final time The Royal Australian Navy’s oldest Adelaide Class warship, HMAS Melbourne (III), has returned to Australia from her final overseas mission. The 138 metre-long Guided Missile Frigate arrived at Gladstone Port in Queensland today, following a three month deployment throughout the Asia-Pacific region. More.....
11 Jun 2019	HMAS Melbourne - USS Frank E Evans 50th Memorial Service
10 Jun 2019	Naval War College head reassigned pending investigation The Navy said the president of the U.S. Naval War College was reassigned Monday pending the outcome of an inspector general investigation. The administrative reassignment of Rear Adm. Jeffrey Harley comes days after The Associated Press reported on the investigation amid allegations that he spent excessively, abused his hiring authority and otherwise behaved inappropriately, including keeping a margarita machine in his office. More.....
10 Jun 2019	Sri Lanka receives gifted Chinese frigate The Sri Lanka Navy officially received a former Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate in a handover ceremony at the Shanghai Dockyard in China on June 5. The gifted vessel spent 21 years in service as Jiangwei I-class frigate Tongling before being retired in 2015. More.....
10 Jun 2019	US Navy LHD Boxer, French carrier Charles de Gaulle train in Andaman Sea US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) met up with the task group assembled around French Navy aircraft carrier, FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91), for a series of exercises in the Andaman Sea on June 7. FS Charles de Gaulle was accompanied by French anti-submarine destroyer FS Latouche Treville (D 646), anti-submarine frigate FS Provence (D 652) and underway replenishment tanker FS Marne (A 630). More.....
10 Jun 2019	Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List announced The Governor-General and Chancellor of the Order of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), today announced 1214 awards in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List, including 26 members of the Royal Australian Navy. “On behalf of all Australians I congratulate today’s recipients. They have made an enormous contribution to their local communities and to the entire nation and deserve our thanks, admiration and to be celebrated,” the Governor-General said. More.....
09 Jun 2019	Carrier sends message to Iran Under a starry sky, U.S. Navy fighter jets catapulted off the flight deck and flew north over the darkened waters of the northern Arabian Sea, a unmistakable signal to Iran that the foremost symbol of the American military’s global reach is back in its neighborhood, perhaps to stay. The Abraham Lincoln, with its contingent of Navy escort warships and a fighting force of about 70 aircraft, is the centerpiece of the Pentagon’s response to what it calls Iranian threats to attack U.S. forces or commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf region. More.....
08 Jun 2019	Four Successful Drug Interdictions by HMAS Ballarat HMAS Ballarat has seized another four illicit drug shipments in three days while deployed to the Middle East region. The four boardings took place over the period 2–5 June 2019, as Ballarat conducted a routine patrol in the Arabian Sea in support of the Combined Maritime Forces. The drug seizures included a large quantity of hashish and illegal narcotics weighing a combined total of 5.8 tonnes or a haul similar in size to five family-sized motor vehicles. More.....
08 Jun 2019	Friends remember the fallen from 77 years ago A quiet and solemn ceremony has been held at HMAS Kuttabul to remember the lives lost 77 years ago during World War Two, when Japanese midget submarines launched an attack in Sydney Harbour. Kuttabul’s Commanding Officer, Captain Matthew Shand RAN, was joined by the Consul Generals of the United States, Britain, and Japan as well as relatives of those killed and high school students from the Sydney Japanese International School and St Vincent’s College for a memorial service conducted by Chaplain Jason Wright. More.....
07 Jun 2019	Exercise PACIFIC VANGUARD 2019
07 Jun 2019	Australian frigate HMAS Perth spent two years in dock due to sailor shortage Royal Australian Navy problems with personnel shortages have led to the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Perth spending almost two years in dry dock as the navy was unable to crew it. The frigate returned from its last mission in November 2016 and finished its deep maintenance cycle in October 2017. Despite having been fitted with several important capability upgrades, the frigate is yet to return to operations. More.....
07 Jun 2019	Navy at 'D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944' IMAX experience A small group of Navy personnel recently attended the Australian premiere of the IMAX documentary film ‘D-Day 3D: Normandy 1944’ in Melbourne. Commodore Greg Yorke, Senior Naval Officer Victoria attended as Navy’s senior representative and was joined by Lieutenant Commander Helen Ward, Lieutenants Mark Schramm and Ben Willee and Leading Seaman Alison Graham. More.....
07 Jun 2019	7th Fleet Statement on Unsafe Maneuver by Russian Destroyer At approximately 11:45 am on June 7, 2019 while operating in the Philippine Sea, a Russian Destroyer (UDALOY I DD 572) made an unsafe maneuver against guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), closing to approximately 50-100 feet putting the safety of her crew and ship at risk. While USS Chancellorsville was recovering its helicopter on a steady course and speed when the Russian ship DD572 maneuvered from behind and to the right of Chancellorsville accelerated and closed to an unsafe distance of approximately 50-100 feet. More.....
07 Jun 2019	USS Chancellorsville Avoids Collision with Russian Destroyer Udaloy I
06 Jun 2019	Lone Sailor Now Stands Watch at Historic D-Day Beach In the midst of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Adm. James G. Foggo III, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (CNE-A), and the U.S. Navy Memorial teamed up to dedicate The Lone Sailor statue at Utah Beach, June 6, 2019. The Lone Sailor is an iconic symbol of the Navy Memorial’s mission to Honor, Recognize, and Celebrate the men and women of the Sea Services, past, present, and future and to inform the public about their service. The statue at Utah Beach is the first one located outside the continental United States. More.....
06 Jun 2019	Did Russia spoof coastal GPS to protect Putin from drones? For centuries, sailors relied on constellations to safely guide them across the trackless tides. In modern times, those constellations have been artificial — the integral network of GPS satellites that support entire fields of guided navigation. But unlike sailors of antiquity, who interpreted the heavens to plot courses based on the relative position of stars, GPS signals can be spoofed. Not just “can be,” but “have been,” posing a problem for the entire apparatus of oceanic navigation. More.....
06 Jun 2019	The Australian contribution to D–Day Shortly after midnight on 6 June 1944, Allied forces commenced landing airborne troops in Normandy, France. At dawn, naval vessels would begin landing troops on beaches codenamed Utah and Omaha for the American forces, and Gold, Juno and Sword for the British and Canadians. The landings would be preceded by an immense bombardment by Allied air forces, supported by thousands of fighter aircraft. The naval operation, involving more than 6,000 vessels, was the largest armada ever assembled. It was the first day in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. More.....
06 Jun 2019	France promises a presence in the Pacific amid an anticipated ‘global confrontation’ France’s armed forces minister has pledged the country will remain committed to the Pacific region, as she warned of a “global confrontation” emerging there. Speaking on Sunday at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Florence Parly reminded her audience that France has a stake in the region — 1.6 million inhabitants, several island territories in the Indian and south Pacific oceans, and a vast exclusive economic zone from these possessions. More.....
06 Jun 2019	Navy League of Australia(Vic-Tas Div) June newsletter is now available to download.....
05 Jun 2019	Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings TOMORROW Australia will mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings during the Second World War as part of Operation Overlord — the beginning of the end of the German occupation of north-western Europe. Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said Australians across the nation should take a moment to appreciate the significant actions of veterans of D-Day and the Second World War more broadly. More.....
05 Jun 2019	UK Flagship HMS Albion remembers D-Day Sailors and Royal Marines who would spearhead an amphibious assault remembered the men and women of 1944 on deployment in the Baltic. The ship’s company of HMS Albion and Royal Marines of 3 Commando Brigade, plus soldiers and airmen – more than 500 personnel in all – gathered on the flight deck of Britain’s flagship for a D-Day service of thanksgiving, remembrance and reflection led by ship’s chaplain Reverend Eddie Wills. More.....
05 Jun 2019	Allies remember collision of HMAS Melbourne and USS Frank E Evans The Naval Chapel at Sydney’s Garden Island Naval Base and the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour have hosted a moving memorial service for the American crewmen who lost their lives aboard the USS Frank E Evans following a collision with Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (II) on 3 June 1969. 74 US sailors lost their lives in the collision, which was the second time a destroyer operating in close company with the Royal Australian Navy aircraft carrier crossed her bow, resulting in significant loss of life and the sinking of the destroyer. More.....
05 Jun 2019	The cost of defence: beyond 2% of GDP The first question that people ask me about the defence budget is, ‘Will it reach 2% by 2020–21 as the government promised?’ The short answer is yes. According to the budget papers, the consolidated defence budget (that is, the budget for the Department of Defence and the Australian Signals Directorate) will reach 2% of GDP next financial year. That will require an increase of around $3 billion on 2019–20’s $38.7 billion, but that’s not particularly extraordinary or unachievable. More.....
03 Jun 2019	Success completes her last overseas port visit HMAS Success has completed her last foreign port visit after 33 years of proud service in the Royal Australian Navy. Success' visit to Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, was also the final port visit by the Indo-Pacific 2019 (IPE19) Joint Task Group, which also included HMA Ships Canberra and Newcastle. More.....
03 Jun 2019	Three Chinese warships make surprise entrance into Sydney
03 Jun 2019	Chinese warships make surprise entrance into Sydney Harbour Three Chinese warships have arrived in Sydney Harbour amid increasingly strident rhetoric from Beijing over its territorial claims in the South China Sea. A People's Liberation Army-Navy frigate, an auxiliary replenishment ship and an amphibious vessel are docking at Garden Island for a four-day stopover. The arrival, which was not publicly announced by the Australian Government, came just hours after Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe struck an uncompromising tone on Taiwan and the South China Sea during a speech in Singapore. More.....
02 Jun 2019	China vows military action if Taiwan, sea claims opposed China’s defense minister warned Sunday that its military will “resolutely take action” to defend Beijing’s claims over self-ruled Taiwan and disputed South China Sea waters. Speaking at an annual security conference in Singapore, Gen. Wei Fenghe did not direct the threat at the U.S. but loaded his address with criticism of activities by Washington, including support for Taiwan and leading so-called freedom of navigation operations in the strategic waterways that China virtually claims as its own. More.....
02 Jun 2019	US aircraft carrier, B-52 — dispatched to Mideast over Iran — conduct exercise The U.S. military says a B-52 bomber and an aircraft carrier dispatched to the Mideast over a perceived threat from Iran have conducted a joint exercise together in the Arabian Sea. The Air Force said in a statement Sunday that the exercise saw F/A-18 Super Hornets, MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters and E-2D Growlers from the USS Abraham Lincoln fly with the B-52 bomber. More.....
02 Jun 2019	Australia - Japan - United States Defense Ministers meeting Australian Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, Japanese Minister of Defense Takeshi Iwaya, and U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, convened a trilateral defense ministerial meeting in Singapore on June 1 on the margins of the 18th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asia Security Summit (2019 Shangri-La Dialogue). The ministers were united in their shared commitment to do more together in support of security, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. This was the eighth meeting among the three nations’ defense leaders. More.....
01 Jun 2019	FlyBy A periodical of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia. June issue.....
01 Jun 2019	CCGS Captain Molly Kool officially joins Canadian Coast Guard The Canadian Coast Guard officially welcomed icebreaker CCGS Captain Molly Kool to its fleet at the Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Region Headquarters in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on May 30. This marked the first of three new medium icebreakers to join the coast guard fleet. More.....
01 Jun 2019	An international exercise supported by an international team The nations of France, New Zealand and the United States are represented in the crew on board the helicopter frigate HMAS Toowoomba during Exercise LA PEROUSE in the Indian Ocean. In what is becoming a common sight across fleet units, serving members from other navies are working closely with their Australian compatriots at sea and ashore. More.....
01 Jun 2019	Singapore PM: Global rules could change with China’s rise Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Friday that countries including the United States need to be willing to change international rules in response to a stronger China. Speaking at an annual security conference in Singapore, Lee said China must in turn play a greater role in supporting trade frameworks and upholding peace and stability in the region and beyond. More.....

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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