The official newspaper of the Royal Australian Navy Volume 57, No. 7, April 24, 2014
SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE
NAVY NEWS
ON THE ALERT: ABBM Stephanie Went, of HMAS Toowoomba, looks out from the Gun Direction Platform for any kind of debris in the search area for MH370.
Photo: LSIS James Whittle
EYES ALL
Navy personnel continue to search for any sign of missing aircraft MH370
Pages 13-16
Royal flight
808SQN transports Duke and Duchess in MRH-90
Seahawk winches ill fisherman on board for help
Darwin helps out
P2 P3
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SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE
NAVY NEWS
2 NEWS
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014Royals take flight
LEUT Sarah West
AIRCREW from 808SQN had the privi- lege of transporting royalty on April 17, when they flew the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Sydney to the Blue Mountains in a Navy MRH-90 helicopter.
Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, travelled by MRH-90 to the town of Winmalee, to inspect one of the worst affected areas of last year’s Blue Mountains bushfires.
The royal couple were then returned safely to Sydney by the Navy helicopter crew, escorted by a second MRH-90 which carried other members of the royal party.
CO 808SQN CMDR Adrian Capner piloted the helicopter that transported the Duke and Duchess.
“It was an honour and a privilege to be involved in transporting the Royal couple during their visit to Australia, while show- casing the RAN’s newest aircraft, flown by the newest squadron over stunning countryside,” CMDR Capner said.
The aircrew members who had the hon- our of transporting and escorting Prince William and Duchess Kate were:
• Main aircraft: CMDR Adrian Capner, LCDR Steve Brown, CPOA Jim Ritchie, POA Jamie Kirby.
• Escort aircraft: LCDR Dom Cooper (XO 808SQN), LEUT Ivan Hussein, POA Nick Lowe, POA Mitch Rogers.
Coincidentally, it was LEUT Hussein’s last flight with the squadron before he goes to Oakey in Queensland, where he will qualify as a helicopter instructor.
PO Lowe is also about to leave the squadron for the United States where he will fly in the new MH-60R Seahawk Romeo helicopters.
IN FEBRUARY this year the Customs and Border Protection Service and Defence released a joint review in rela- tion to the positioning of vessels engaged in Operation Sovereign Borders.
This review focused on the circum- stances surrounding the inadvertent incursion into Indonesian territorial waters by Customs and Navy vessels.
One of the joint review’s recom- mendations was that the Chief of Navy considers each incursion by RAN vessels into Indonesian waters during Operation Sovereign Borders, with regard to any individual lapses in professional conduct.
The CO of a ship is responsible and accountable for the safe navigation of the ship at all times.
CN VADM Ray Griggs has concluded his considerations into these issues and made a number of decisions in relation to the seven RAN ship COs involved noting that more than one ship was involved in each incursion.
In each instance of an incursion there was clear operational direction not to proceed within 12 nautical miles from the Indonesian archipelagic baseline.
CN carefully considered the circum- stances of the positioning of each ship.
Each CO was able to put their perspec- tives surrounding these incidents directly to the Chief.
CN accepts that none of the COs involved deliberately contravened orders not to enter Indonesian territorial waters.
Notwithstanding, there were, in CN’s view, lapses in professional conduct that required action to be taken.
As a result CN will remove one CO from his command and another will be administratively sanctioned. The remain- ing COs will be formally or informally counselled.
Personal accountability is a key fea- ture of Navy’s cultural change program and command accountability is a particu- larly important issue given the responsi- bilities that COs hold.
“Each of the COs conducted these activities with the best of intent; how- ever, I expect nothing but the highest standards of those in command,” VADM Griggs said.
“These actions are not punitive in nature but are aimed solely at upholding the professional standards that the RAN is renowned for and that are necessary for it to undertake its mission.
“I think it is a healthy sign for Navy’s leadership that all of the COs involved have willingly accepted accountability for their own actions and that of their ship or ships under their control.”
The Privacy Act limits the amount of specific information on the outcome of the individual cases that can be disclosed.
Good progress is being made to implement the Joint Review’s other recommendations.
These include ongoing professional conduct investigations in relation to actions of other ADF and Customs and Border Protection members involved in the inadvertent breaches.
‘I expect
nothing but the highest standard’: CN
GETTING READY: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wait to board their MRH-90 with CPOA Jim Ritchie. Photos: ABIS Chantell Bianchi
NICE TO MEET YOU: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted by Navy personnel from 808SQN before entering the MRH-90 at Victoria Barracks, Sydney.
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3
NEWS
April 24, 2014 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS
WHILE patrolling in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa, HMAS Darwin provided emergency medical assistance for a heart attack victim on a French fishing vessel.
The French fishing vessel Cape Saint Vincent called for assistance late on the night of April 10.
The French Joint Headquarters requested Darwin’s assistance through Combined Task Force 150.
Darwin sailed overnight to ren- dezvous with Cape Saint Vincent, which was about 390 miles off the coast of Tanzania.
Darwin deployed her embarked Seahawk and medical team to pro- vide an emergency aeromedical evac- uation.
The stricken French fisherman, who was suffering heart attack symp- toms, was given initial medical assis- tance on board Darwin.
The fisherman was conscious and able to walk. He was then air-lifted to Dar Es Salam in Tanzania where he is in hospital in a stable condition.
C O D a r w i n C M D R Te r r y Morrison said Australia’s interoper- ability with CTF 150 and African authorities was the key to the emer- gency evacuation.
“We provided assistance to a fel- low mariner who needed our help,”
CMDR Morrison said.
“ We wo r ke d c l o s e l y w i t h Combined Maritime Forces to quick- ly and safely perform this medical evacuation.
“It was pleasing to assist this French national while also contribut- ing to our mission.
“This evacuation comes only six weeks after Darwin worked closely with Pakistan to save 13 fishermen shipwrecked and adrift for five days in international waters.”
LSA Stephen McGreal was one of Darwin’s aircrew who helped
Darwin assists ill fisherman
winch the French fisherman on a stretcher up to Darwin’s helicopter.
“It was awesome to be involved in this evacuation,” he said.
“I feel proud to have been part of the team that helped this fisher- man.”
Acting Commander Joint Task Force 633 CDRE Phil Spedding said being able to support other ves- sels in the maritime environment was one of the most important roles a ship could provide.
“Being able to render assistance to a stricken sailor at sea is some- thing that all mariners are prepared to do when a distress call is made,”
CDRE Spedding said.
“Darwin and her ship’s compa- ny have on this occasion been able to provide assistance and ensure appropriate medical care was pro- vided to the sailor and facilitate transport to allow further treatment to occur.”
SAFE ARRIVAL: LSA Stephen McGreal guides the fisherman on board the flight deck of HMAS Darwin.
TO THE RESCUE: HMAS Darwin’s embarked Seahawk winches LSA Stephen McGreal and a fisherman from the forecastle of Cape Saint Vincent to be transported back to Darwin for further medical
observation. Photos: ABIS Sarah Williams
IN JANUARY this year both the ABC and Fairfax media carried stories regard- ing alleged inappropriate use of social media by members of the RAN.
The reporting had a focus on inap- propriate comments relating to border protection operations and the alleged involvement of Navy people in the Australian Defence League (ADL), an anti-Islamic Group.
Navy had, for some time, been actively policing breaches of Defence social media policy and had already initiated inquiries related to the matters carried in the media.
This statement provides an update and response to these media reports.
Navy takes the issue of inappro- priate social media commentary very seriously.
There is an ongoing monitoring program of our own and Defence- related social media sites.
Allegations of inappropriate use of social media that are reported by mem- bers of the public or other Defence members are acted upon.
Defence requires all serving per- sonnel to comply with its social media policy.
The policy clearly requires that Navy personnel must not post material that is offensive towards any person or group based on personal traits, attrib- utes, beliefs or practices that exploit objectify or are derogatory of gender, ethnicity or religion.
I am keen that Navy people are proud to identify themselves as mem- bers of the RAN in their social media profiles; this more open approach is a shift from the past.
With this shift though brings a legitimate responsibility for our people to observe personnel and operational security protocols around what we do.
Importantly, it brings with it a responsibility to act in accordance with our values and behaviours at all times.
This approach has challenges in a primarily young workforce given that some community standards relat- ing to online activity may not reflect the standards Defence expects of its people, but, I believe it is the right approach to help Navy people manage their online presence and activity.
All Navy people were reminded of their social media responsibilities in late January, which included spe-
Inappropriate use of social media will not be tolerated
cific mention of how association with groups such as the ADL was both inap- propriate and inconsistent with our val- ues.
This advice clearly spelt out the consequences of not meeting the stand- ards we expect.
In each instance where inappropri- ate behaviour has been discovered by us or brought to our attention by oth- ers, a formal disciplinary investigation through the Defence Force Discipline Act or through the administrative inquiry process has taken place.
No serving member of the RAN has been found to be a member of the Australian Defence League (ADL).
A number of personnel have, how- ever, been found to have made inap- propriate comment on social media or to have an affiliation with different social media groups that are not con- sistent with our values.
Due to the Privacy Act, Navy can- not provide specific information on the outcome of the individual cases that have been investigated, particularly where individuals have been named or
‘outed’ in the public domain by others outside of Navy.
Personal accountability is a key fea- ture of Navy’s cultural change pro- gram.
A number of personnel have been called to account for their social media behaviour. Where there have been breaches of Defence policy or where the behaviour is considered to be inconsistent with Navy’s values, appropriate disciplinary or administra- tive sanctions have been imposed.
Several sailors have had their employment terminated or have been issued with notices of cause for termi- nation.
Others have received a range of dis- ciplinary punishments or other admin- istrative sanctions including formal warnings and either formal or informal counselling depending on the circum- stances of the case.
Inappropriate behaviour on social media is unacceptable in Navy because of the damage it causes to others and the impact it can have on us success- fully achieving our mission.
Message from CN
VADM Ray Griggs
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4 NEWS
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014CPL Nick Wiseman
MIDSHIPMEN and officer cadets from ADFA raised over $2000 when they pack marched more than 900 laps as part of the 2014 Relay for Life.
The relay was held from March 29-30 at the Australian Institute of Sport athletics track in Canberra.
Split into three teams, almost 60 members took to the track to raise awareness and much-needed funds for the Cancer Council.
Team captain MIDN Tammy Dixon said personnel really enjoyed
being part of the event and taking a break from hectic studies.
“I’m so proud of the team and what we’ve all achieved,” she said.
“But I think a lot of people are dreading PT tomorrow.”
That feeling of dread comes from many challenges the members placed on themselves such as car- rying extra weights and even doing full laps of lunges and burpees just to spice it up a little.
MIDN Dillon Gately said he jumped on board when he heard that ADFA was looking to put a team together for the event.
“Having some friends who have been affected by the disease cer- tainly helped motivate me coming out here,” he said.
“It has been a great experience and everyone is getting right into it and having fun.”
Members of the team also took part in the Guinness Book of Records attempt at shaving the most number of people’s heads as part of the event.
The final amount the team raised towards the charity will be known in the coming months once donations have been finalised.
Dallas McMaugh
ToRRENTIAL rain over the Shoalhaven in the days leading up to the Relay for Life meant a last minute relocation and a reduced format for the fundraising event.
But while the rain played havoc with some of the logistics involved in the staging of such a large community event it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 1300 participants who raised more than $174,000 for the Cancer Council.
As usual, HMAS Albatross was well represented with teams from both 723SQN and 808SQN.
The 23 members of the 723SQN Taipans team raised $7806 and a particu- larly moving donation of $385 was made in lieu of funeral flowers for a 723SQN member’s father.
A significant contribution was also made by 723’s training administrator, Mary Milgate.
Participating in her 8th consecutive Relay for Life, Ms Milgate not only took to the track but also expended a lot of effort in the lead-up making pickles and jams which she sold to raise additional funds.
She said she was thrilled by the response.
“on the eve of the event we were third on the leader board in terms of funds raised,” Ms Milgate said.
She praised the Relay for Life com- mittee, which due to wet weather relo- cated the event indoors to the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre and reduced the format to one day.
“They did an amazing job in relocat- ing the event with just 48 hours notice and even though the event had to be trun- cated, it worked brilliantly and the Relay for Life spirit was there in abundance,”
she said.
808SQN’s 12-person team ran or walked a total of 370 laps, which raised just over $1200.
For CPo Carl Stewart, of 808SQN, it was a family affair as he was joined on a few laps by his sons Wesley and Adam.
“The level of enthusiasm from par- ticipants and onlookers was great to see,”
he said.
“It’s also inspiring to see so many local community members giving up their time and energy for the Cancer Council.”
Rain didn’t dampen squadrons’ spirits
TEAM SPIRIT: Members from the 723SQN and 808SQN teams at the
Shoalhaven Relay for Life. Photo: CPO Carl Stewart
Team on track
GOOD CAUSE: OCDT Thomas Howe and MIDN Gordon Hutcheon shave their heads for charity as part
of the Relay for Life. Photo: CPL Nick Wiseman
LEUT Damien Hansen
MEMBERS of New Entry officers’
Course (NEoC) 50 at HMAS Creswell participated in the Nowra Relay for Life on March 29.
The new officers took time out of the busy pace of initial train- ing to participate in an important aspect of naval life, being part of the local community.
A number of teams from NEoC entered and spent their Saturday walking and running laps of the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre with cancer survivors, carers and other members of the community.
The NEoC officers raised
$7645.
“Everyone can be affected by cancer in some way in their lives and anything we as NEoC 50 can do to help the Cancer Council in
their fight, we will,” MIDN Caitlin Watkins said.
“It was a long day but we all got through as a team.
“What we achieved was noth- ing compared to the challenges that cancer sufferers deal with on a daily basis.”
Further information about Relay for Life, including local events, can be found at www.relay.cancercouncil.com.au.
GIVING BACK: Members of New Entry Officers’ Course 50 gather at the end of the Nowra/Shoalhaven
Relay for Life. Photo: LEUT Damien Hansen
New officers make time to fundraise
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5
NEWS
April 24, 2014 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS
LEUT Emily Kennedy
NUSHIP Canberra’s ship’s company has walked hundreds of kilometres over the past month familiarising themselves with Navy’s newest platform.
As part of preparing to take responsibility for the safety and secu- rity of ship the day it is handed over to Defence from the contractors, person- nel discovered just how fit they needed to be to navigate around the impressive 12-deck high and 230m-long ship.
CO Canberra CAPT Jonathan Sadleir said the training took place while the ship was in commercial dry dock in Sydney and was used to maxi- mum effect.
“We had our first four duty watch teams conduct three intensive weeks of training on board, which includ- ed damage control, ship familiarisa- tion and security training specific to LHDs,” CAPT Sadleir said.
“I was impressed with the way the teams went about their training.
Members from all ranks contributed to the learning outcomes from seaman through to commander, and we have taken that information and applied it.
“Having access to the ship for these three weeks was an important part of the learning journey for ship’s company.
“It enabled us to make assessments regarding how we will structure the duty watches and carry out damage control practices on board.”
Duty watch is the term used for the team of people who look after the ship while it’s in harbour.
This team is responsible for the
Canberra crew keeps fit
initial responses for any incident on board and the safety and security of the ship and personnel while along- side.
Deputy Marine Engineering Officer LEUT Jazz Kastaniotis coordinated the training for duty watches.
“The training included damage control walk throughs and exercises covering fire, flood and gas detector
alarm response,” LEUT Kastaniotis said.
“It also included training in force protection, ceremonial training and general ship familiarisation.”
Most days members walked up to 15km up and down 12 decks of stair- wells to familiarise themselves with different areas of the ship.
“If we need to deal with any incident
on board the teams have to know how to get to that part of the ship immedi- ately, and that is why the training is so critical, particularly on such a large and brand new platform,” she said.
In addition, all ship’s company members conducted departmental ship familiarisation including completing a comprehensive induction book.
After a hull clean and paint,
Canberra departed Sydney to continue contractor sea trials.
These trials will include a set of propulsion, speed and endurance trials on the way back to Melbourne.
C a n b e r r a i s r e t u r n i n g t o Williamstown to prepare for the final phase of harbour and sea trials, focus- ing on the ship’s communication and combat system equipment.
NEW PLATFORM: LSML-S Dana Mutch takes notes during a briefing (left) while a breathing apparatus attack team makes an entry (right) during a
damage control exercise on board NUSHIP Canberra. Photo: ABIS Chantell Bianchi
6 NEWS
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014MIDN Samuel Fiez
WHILE in town for Exercise Sea Dawn, HMAS Choules took the time out to open the ship to the families of 2RAR personnel.
More than 200 visitors crossed the gangway on April 5 to have a look around Choules and find out how their friends and family had been living and where they had been working for the past week.
Popular areas were the embarked forces quarters, the dinning hall, bridge and the well dock.
2RAR members guided their families around the ship with the ship’s company ready to answer questions and queries from the public.
Many soldiers took the time to explain their role while on board and the equip-
ment they used during the operation.
The role of 2RAR on board Choules is part of a joint approach to amphibious operations.
The soldiers are the core battalion in support of the Amphibious Ready Element, a joint task force training for air, land and sea operations during Exercise Sea Dawn.
One of those soldiers was PTE Scott Cassidy who brought his family aboard and gave them a tour of the embarked vehicles and showed them around his Mack R Series cargo truck.
Choules did not fail to impress with her capability and capacity with many visitors surprised at how communal eve- rything was and how much equipment Choules could carry.
PTE Cassidy said his family enjoyed the tour and seeing where he lived.
FAMILY DAY: MIDN Samuel Fiez guides families of 2RAR personnel around the bridge of HMAS Choules. Photo: ABIS Richard Cordell
Choules delights family and friends
CARRIED AWAY: MIDN Aaron Wischusen roleplays a casualty and is carried from a simulated fire by two of the ship’s medical emergency team during a damage control exercise. Photo: LSIS Paul McCallum
Amphibious preparation
LEUT Lauren Rago As the sun set on exercise sea Dawn this month, the ship’s company of hMAs Choules reflected on the important milestones they helped the ADF achieve in training for amphibi- ous operations.
From March 24, around 450 people from all three services conducted helicopter, boat and vehicle operations, casualty response and recovery serials, landed forces ashore, tested communications and reaffirmed command arrangements.
CO Choules CMDR Ashley Papp said he was incredibly proud of the professionalism and hard work of all personnel.
“As the ADF works towards an enhanced, amphibious capa- bility, exercises like sea Dawn provide valuable training in the skills necessary for the complex and demanding amphibious environment,” he said.
“A joint amphibious capabil- ity is a key part of future ADF military operations, along with the capability to conduct human- itarian and disaster relief.”
“It has been really great to see the enthusiasm with which our joint teams have taken on this training, knowing it can be used for real in both Australia and around the world.”
the exercise was paused for a few days due to tropical Cyclone Ita, as the Amphibious Ready element was made available to support possible civilian emer- gency demands in the Cooktown region.
“this shows the flexibility to re-role from exercise to the real world at a moment’s notice, and position far from larger infra- structure bases to be poised to conduct a wide range of tasks by sea, ground and air,” CMDR Papp said.
“At the end of the day, this is why this training is so valuable.”
Life was flat out on board Choules during the exercise with all departments involved in mission success, from the com- municators who gave constant flag signals and created many new fleet accounts, to those in the engineering department who kept the ship functioning and safe 24/7.
It was all hands on deck in
the executive department with complicated ship handling, working lines, small-arms firings off the side of the ship, opening the dock to launch or recover boats and providing hundreds of people with briefs on safety equipment.
ABML-C Blake titterton said the logistics team fed more than 400 people.
“the galley was really busy,”
he said.
“We served 1500 meals a day to three different messes.
“the Army guys commented that they loved the hot food and the different dessert options.”
ABCsO Nicholas Juner said the flight deck crew conducted a large number of flying opera- tions – launching and recovering an Army Black hawk or MRh- 90 flight nearly every day.
“Working with joint aircraft was challenging and an impor- tant part of what Choules can do,” he said.
the exercise culminated with a realistic scenario where an amphibious ship-to-shore assault was simulated in halifax Bay and Cowley Beach training Areas.
TEAMWORK: Members from the Maritime Operational Health Unit conduct a casualty evacuation exercise with an Army Black Hawk from the flight deck of HMAS Choules. Photo: LSIS Paul McCallum
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7
NEWS
April 24, 2014 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS
Amphibious preparation
ON LOCATION: HMAS Choules sits at anchor to conduct simultaneous helicopter and watercraft operations in Herald Bay near Townsville during phase two of Exercise Sea Dawn.
Photo: ABIS Richard Cordell
ON DECK: LS Paul Parnell, of 808SQN, calls in an Army Black Hawk onto the
deck of HMAS Choules. Photo: ABIS Richard Cordell
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8 NEWS
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014Sharon Palmer
SENIOR policy-makers, high-level military officials, leading indus- try representatives and academ- ics from Australia and around the world converged on Canberra for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s International Submarine Conference from April 8-10.
They discussed key aspects of Australia’s Future Submarine Program, which will replace the exist- ing Collins submarine fleet from the early 2030s.
Addressing the theme of the con- ference, ‘The Submarine Choice’, CN VADM Ray Griggs stressed that any future submarine needed to be designed particularly with Australia’s needs in mind.
He said Australia’s geographical location and the strategic importance of submarines made them one of the country’s greatest assets.
“For Australia, our submarines pro- vide us with strategic weight in a way that no other ADF asset, or combi- nation of ADF assets does,” VADM Griggs said.
“By strategic weight, I mean sub- marines are a capability which shapes or changes the behaviour of other nations and the calculus of their lead- ers.”
VADM Griggs said submarines had a strong deterrent effect.
“By having such capable subma- rines in the ADF order of battle, any potential adversary must be able to defeat our submarine capability,” he said.
“And as many in navies and air forces around the world can testify, anti-submarine warfare is one of the more complex maritime warfare disci- plines to be effective at.”
For this reason, VADM Griggs said the impact of strategic decisions need- ed to be kept in mind when discussing different submarine characteristics.
“Decisions around capability,
Sharon Palmer
IN HIS address to the ASPI con- ference, Defence Minister David Johnston stressed the strategic importance of having and maintain- ing a healthy fleet of submarines.
“Submarines are a highly potent asymmetric capability of strategic importance to this country,” Senator Johnston said.
“Their importance is unlikely to abate; rather it will grow in sig- nificance.”
Senator Johnston said the Centenary of Submarines this year gave the government a chance to reflect on the important contribu- tions of boats such as AE1 and AE2, and were a reminder of the need for
“a strong and enduring submarine capability”.
“These submarines were among the very first ‘Defence capabil- ity’ plans for our Navy,” Senator Johnston said.
“The range and endurance of these submarines, the largest and most modern in the world in their day, allowed Australia to deploy them both very quickly to areas of operation that were far afield from Australia in support of our Allies during WWI.”
Senator Johnston said that the building and sustainment of the
Future of secret service
stealth, range and endurance all have an effect on the strategic weight we gain from our submarine capability,”
he said.
According to the Head Future Submarine Program, RADM Gregory Sammut, there are a number of impor- tant considerations surrounding the boat design.
He said the environment in which it would operate, the endurance needed to cover large distances, the stealth,
payload, sensory capability and the workforce needed behind it were all major factors in providing a first-class capability.
“An effective submarine capability goes beyond the type of submarines we will acquire and includes qualified and experienced personnel at sea and ashore and robust sustainment arrange- ments among other factors,” RADM Sammut said.
He said as offensive weapons that
operated forward and ‘up threat’, sub- marines also needed to rely heavily on stealth to enable them to get where they were most needed without detection.
“Stealth is the attribute that under- pins not only mission success, but the survivability of the submarine in high- threat environments,” he said.`
“Throughout more recent times, the thrust of stealth developments has been the ongoing endeavour to make submarines increasingly quiet and ever
harder to detect. The main threat gov- erning this drive towards more subma- rine stealth has been other submarines.
“Considering around 50 per cent of the world’s submarines will be operat- ing in our region in the near future, the importance of stealth cannot be overlooked.
“It underpins the confidence in sub- marines to not only reach and stay in these areas, but to also remain unde- tected while there.”
ON TRACK: HMA Ships Dechaineux, Waller and Sheean found themselves in the same place at the same time at Cockburn Sound, near Rockingham, WA, while undertaking training activities and deployments in March last year. As a result of the Coles Review, submarine availability was at its highest since 2007 last year.
Submarines of strategic importance: Minister
Collins-class submarines had been an enormous challenge and despite the well-documented problems, the achievements of the program and class were often forgotten.
“We built and delivered six sub- marines over a construction period from 1990-2003,” he said.
“Our build quality was equal to and also exceeded the quality of sections of the first submarines that were built overseas.”
He said he was heartened by the progress Defence had made over the past two years in improving the
availability and maintenance of the Collins-class and the findings of the Coles Review Stage Four indi- cated Defence was on track with its Collins Transformation Program.
“Through the Collins
Transformation Program guided by the recommendations of John Coles and his team, our two-submarine availability in December 2012 grew back to 60 per cent – today it is back at the 2007 level of 90 per cent.”
Senator Johnston indicated this would mean the Collins-class subma- rines could be in a position to avoid a gap in capability while decisions were being made on the future submarines.
“The signs are encouraging but there are still risks ahead with more work needing to be done,” he said.
Senator Johnston also said the Government was on track to honour its commitment to make a decision on our future submarines within 18 months of being elected, but reiterated it would not happen before the Defence White paper had been finalised.
“No one should underestimate the priority I am giving this project,” he said. “There has been a lot of specula- tion about whether we need 12 boats.
“Let me make clear that my pri- mary focus is not on numbers but on the capability and availability of boats required to meet the tasks set by Government.”
DEFENCE MINISTER: Senator David Johnston
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NEWS
April 24, 2014 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS
SBLT Bianca Wise
From Naval warships to Darwin’s airport, the four-strong Jones fam- ily has travelled a long way from Adelaide to the Northern Territory where they currently work together protecting Australia’s borders.
LCDr Christopher Jones and his two sons, LSET Scott Jones and LSmL-SC ryan Jones, all work in support of operation resolute.
LCDr Jones is oIC of Fleet Logistics Support Unit at HmAS Coonawarra, while his sons serve in rAN vessels deployed to Australia’s northern waters – as far out to sea as the remote Christmas Island territory.
Wife and mother Karen supports border protection operations in a different capacity through her work with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service at Darwin Airport.
LCDr Jones said he was proud of the way his family contributed to protecting Australia’s borders.
“We accept that we may spend long periods of time away from each other but this is part of our commit- ment to what we do,” LCDr Jones said.
“There are many highlights including sharing any down time and
port visits with our sons in Darwin, even if they are only for short peri- ods of time.”
LS ryan Jones is responsible for the requisitioning, purchasing, receipt, storage, issue, return and stock control of stores items required by Anzac-class frigate HmAS Stuart.
His brother LS Scott Jones, of Assail Six embarked HmAS Pirie, is responsible for a large variety of maintenance on the Armidale-class patrol boats high-tech sensors and safety systems.
He has two children who love having their Uncle ryan in town.
According to LCDr Jones, how- ever, the real perk is when the kids get to stay with their grandparents.
“When we have the grandchil- dren, I make sure they follow a strict regime and at times I try to teach them some of the skills taught to us in the Navy” LCDr Jones said.
“We conduct ‘rounds’ in the bed- rooms of our home before breakfast and the grandkids make sure their cabins are up to scratch.
“We are a thoroughly Defence- oriented family.
“We pretty much live and breathe the Navy in our lives and our discus- sions.”
Keep it in the family
ALL TOGETHER: LCDR Christopher Jones with his wife Karen and two sons LSET Scott Jones, left, and
LSML-SC Ryan Jones. Photo: LSIS Jo Dilorenzo
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NEWS
April 24, 2014 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS
Penguin’s proud local ties
FUN DAY: SMNCD Jake Thomson, CO HMAS Penguin CMDR Paul Gall, SMNCD Alex Rogan, SMNCD Mitch Passmore and SMNCD Bryan Josephson are all smiles after the divers competed in the Sprint Relay.
Photo: ABIS Sarah Ebsworth SBLT Bianca Wise
Continuing an annual tradition, HMAS Penguin once again played a key role in the Balmoral Beach Club Swim for Cancer on April 6.
Co Penguin CMDR Paul gall said the annual activity highlighted the strong ties held between Penguin and the local community.
“the Balmoral Swim for Cancer is a very important local communi- ty activity, one that Penguin has been proud to support again this year as it has done so over the past five years,”
he said.
“Although the scheduled RAn Rock Band performance was cancelled due to wet weather, the conditions did not dampen the community spirit of our navy personnel.”
through the hotly contested Penguin Shield and the involvement of the Hydrographic and Dive Schools, there was strong navy support for the popular event.
the Penguin Shield is awarded to the winning team of the 4 x 150m school’s relay event with each swim- mer in the team receiving a special medallion.
“the annual swim is an excellent cause and it is terrific that, in recogni- tion of the close affiliation between Penguin and the local community, that the Penguin Shield relay is included in the listed swim events,” CMDR gall said.
the award was introduced last year and won by the Aquaburn Swimming Club.
“A navy dive team participated this year, but Aquaburn, who clearly have a very effective training regime, took out the title again,” CMDR gall said.
the boys Aquaburn ‘A’ team fin- ished first, with the girls Aquaburn
‘B’ team second and the navy divers rounding out the top three.
“the divers obviously took the loss in great spirit, as they posed for photos on completion of the event,” CMDR gall said.
other events were a 1km harbour swim, 250m junior swim and the open team’s relay.
Before the swim the Hydrographic School set the course using gPS coor- dinates, HMAS Waterhen’s RHiB and crew provided supplementary safety support to the RHiB of the local Surf Lifesaving Club during events.
“this event is a great opportunity to raise funds for cancer research, engage with the local community and encour- age health and fitness,” CMDR gall said.
“Personnel look forward to the Balmoral Swim each year as a regular feature on Penguin’s calendar.”
All monies raised from the Balmoral Swim for Cancer go towards the Children’s Cancer institute Australia – the only independent medi- cal research institute wholly dedicated to finding a cure for childhood cancer.
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12 NEWS
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014SGT Dave Morley
SAILORS looking for a career change should look no further than a move across to submarines, according to LSMED SM Jess Docen, who recently assisted the Submarine Recruiting Team.
The team, led by PO Jan Crawford, visited the Army School of Health at Bonegilla, Victoria, in February and spoke with nine train- ee Navy medics, of whom four have indicated they wished to undertake the Submarine Selection Course.
LS Docen has spent two of her six years in the Navy in submarines and said it was a great career for a female sailor.
“It provides opportunities that only a few females around the world can say they’ve experienced,” she said.
“It can be quicker to get promot- ed on submarines because you are no longer competing with the entire fleet in your same rate and skill grade for promotion, you are only competing with other submariners in your category with the same skill grade.”
LS Docen said as a medic there weren’t a lot of opportunities to get sea time on major fleet units.
“Submarine medics have plenty of opportunities to get to sea, which is something that can be challenging on a major fleet unit,” she said.
“It’s a much more exciting career then being a surface fleet medic because it provides more challenges, more experience and a more versatile skill set.
“As the only medic on board it is pretty satisfying to know that I have done all the work to keep the medi- cal section of my platform up and running.”
LS Docen said submariners were also paid slightly better than their surface fleet counterparts.
“It depends on the category of the sailor but as a medic at sea I earn more a year then a surface fleet medic at sea with my same skill grade” she said.
PO Crawford said his team would travel to conduct the selec- tion course with the trainee med- ics in the near future, which would assist them in deciding if a career SGT Dave Morley
GETTING up close and personal to a submarine used in a Phantom movie was like a dream come true for a long-time fan of the iconic comic-book hero.
LSMED Bradley Clarke, of the Medical Training Wing at Bonegilla’s Army School of Health, was lucky enough to be able to check over the submarine at Albury City Library on February 12.
The submarine, which was used in the 1996 Billy Zane movie, The Phantom – Slam Evil, was part of the
library’s five-week exhibition, Enter the Phantom.
LS Clarke started reading Phantom comics as a kid about 22 years ago.
“These days I don’t get to read them as much as I would like, and I prefer to re-read my older issues,” he said.
“What I like about the Phantom is he doesn’t have any superpowers, he is just a man using his own skills in the fight against piracy, greed and corruption.
“I can see some parallels in what the Phantom does and what the Navy does.”
The exhibition coincided with a visit to the area by the Navy’s submarine recruiting team.
in submarines was for them. “Then we’ll remain in contact, and assist them with a transfer where needed,”
he said.
The Submarine Recruiting Team took the opportunity to check out a submarine used in the 1996 Billy
Zane movie, The Phantom – Slam Evil, at Albury Library during their visit to the Army School of Health.
For further information on a career in submarines contact PO Crawford on [email protected]
Trainees should test the water
Phantom fans flock to Albury
HEALTH CHECK: LSMED SM Jess Docen checks AB Trent Traynor’s blood pressure, at the Submarine Underwater Medical Unit-West, Garden Island, WA. Photo: ABIS Kayla Hayes GHOST WHO
WALKS: LSMED Bradley Clarke gets up close to the Phantom (above) and (right) trainee medics hop on board the submarine at Albury City Library.
Photos: WOFF Ian Swney
OPERATION
SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN
SEARCH FOR MH370
www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS April 24, 2014
13
CMDR Sean Noble
HMAS Perth is among a large number of international vessels searching in waters north-west of Perth in Western Australia for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
For Maritime Warfare Officer (MWO) SBLT Scott Gidley the chal- lenge is daunting – he must carefully plot a course through a search ‘box’
given to Perth by search coordinators on a daily basis.
The search zone is huge but SBLT Gidley remains hopeful.
“There is no denying that we have a tough job to do but we have to go about it carefully,” he said.
“It’s my job to help make sure we
get to the right place safely and with- out missing any area which might be of interest.”
These areas are usually identified by military and civilian aircraft, which continue to comb the skies over the overall search area.
If they detect an object of interest the search area is modified and SBLT Gidley helps ensure Perth gets to the right area.
“The search area is about the size of Victoria and changes every day, adjusted for currents and other envi- ronmental conditions that are prevail- ing on any given day of the search,”
SBLT Gidley said.
Perth is in a search box about 2000km north-west of Perth.
CPL Max Bree
AMONG the throng of Air Force personnel keeping an eye out for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is CPO Kris Petersen.
From a console on an Air Force Wedgetail E-7A, cruising at 20,000 feet, CPO Petersen keeps track of search planes to advise if they are straying from their search tracks or look like colliding.
“It’s very difficult for aircraft searching at low altitudes to have eyes everywhere,” he said.
“It’s difficult to maintain that all- round lookout when you’re maintaining constant eyes on the sea.
“Being an aviator the last thing you want to hear about is an aircraft that goes missing and we’re providing that little cog in a big wheel for the search.”
Though he’s currently monitor- ing search aircraft, CPO Petersen is a fighter controller with Air Force’s 2SQN, a role similar to Navy’s air combat officers.
“We’re normally controlling the fighter jets and giving an extended radar picture,” he said.
“We also provide a link for them back to command.”
This often means coordinating mul- tiple types of fighter jets.
“Some guys are air-to-ground, some guys are air-to-air, some guys are going in to jam [radars],” he said.
Chief takes to the skies
IN THE AIR: CPO Kris Petersen keeps track of search aircraft from an Air
Force Wedgetail E-7A. Photo: CPL Max Bree
Perth joins the search
LARGE TASK: Maritime Warfare Officer SBLT Scott Gidley plots HMAS
Perth’s distance to reach the search zone. LOOK OUT: LSBM Graham Pereira looks through the telescopic
binoculars on HMAS Perth’s starboard bridge wing. KEEPING WATCH: LSBM Jenna Shiel on the port bridge wing of HMAS Perth.
“You’ve got to have that situational awareness so that we can make sure the mission is completed.”
CPO Petersen said he didn’t have much trouble fitting in with his Wedgetail crew.
“It’s a bit different from the Navy but they’re all professional aviators so it’s been easy to come in and have information flowing through the guys,”
he said.
“We speak a different language but we’re all trying to complete the same mission; it’s like being back in the ops room at times.”
CPO Petersen said he was gaining knowledge of the Air Force unknown to most sailors.
“The only experience we usually have with most aircraft is during work- ups and then they’re the bad guys and we’re trying to shoot them down.”
JOINING IN: HMAS Perth transits to the Southern Indian Ocean to join the search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
Photos: ABIS Nicolas Gonzalez
LCDR Edward Ellison
DESPITE heavy seas and poor search conditions, HMAS Toowoomba con- ducted boat operations with PLA-N destroyer Haikou to pass vital infor- mation and documentation regarding search operations.
Without the benefit of a Chinese linguist, Toowoomba’s RHIB was put to sea on April 1 to ensure changed search parameters were passed to the Chinese ship.
LEUT Samuel Lloyd said the transfer went seamlessly despite the conditions.
“Haikou conducted the transfer like she was one of our own,” LEUT Lloyd said.
“The PLA-N demonstrated their
professionalism and, like all mariners, held a healthy respect for the sea.”
The challenging evolution includ- ed exchange of ships’ plaques and COs’ caps in a traditional mark of respect between mariner nations.
CO Toowoomba CMDR Matthew Doornbos said the high-seas rendez- vous highlighted the depth of cooper- ation between the nations supporting the search.
“Thorough preparation and pro- fessional seamanship from both sides resulted in a successful transfer,”
CMDR Doornbos said.
“It is reassuring to see so many countries all coming together in a common purpose – this is a great opportunity to improve our coordi- nation and cooperation with all our maritime colleagues.”
Cooperative communication
IN CONTACT:
ABMT Bradley Chambers receives documents from Chinese ship Haikou.
Photo: LSIS James Whittle
