The Solomon Islands saw some of the fiercest fighting of World War II, so it is hardly surprising that a great deal of unexploded ordnance still litters many of the islands to this day. Between 19 June and 5 July 2013, Australian Clearance Divers from the MCD Group, a part of an International Joint
HMAS Newcastle’s Ship’s Company has battled through 35-degree heat and 97-percent humidity to complete multiple replenishment operations with the United States Naval Service ship USNS Patuxent in the Gulf of Aden, in the Middle East Area of Operations. Newcastle was supplied with 400,000 litres of F
More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian personnel are converging in Australia and the Coral Sea in preparation for the amphibious exercise Talisman Saber 2013, to be held off the coast of Australia July 15 through Aug. 6. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)-sponsored exercise that trains f
The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) arrived in Brisbane Australia July 9, for a scheduled port visit. The Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in Australia to participate in the biennial combined-join
On Wednesday, 10th of July, Ambassador of Japan H.E. Makoto Yamanaka will pay a visit in the Polish Navy, Gdynia. During the visit he will meet with Commander in Chief of the Polish Navy – Vice Admiral Tomasz Mathea. One of the most important topic of the Polish-Japanese talks will be the visit in P
United States Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich visited dock-landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) in Darwin, Australia July 5, during a scheduled port visit. Germantown is in port with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to conduct a bio-security inspection as a precursor to a com
HMAS Newcastle has combined with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) warship Mianyang to search for survivors of a damaged fishing trawler in Middle Eastern waters. Newcastle and Mianyang worked together to conduct a search and rescue operation in the Indian Ocean, 350 nautical miles
The Royal Australian Navy is leading the world in bringing the new MRH90 ‘Taipan’ Multi-Role Helicopter into service at sea. The Navy’s soon-to-be-commissioned 808 Squadron has been conducting trials, testing, evaluation and training on the MRH90 Taipan helicopter since 2010. When 808 Squadron’s com
Shipbuilding is an arduous business, especially when it comes to constructing naval state-of-the-art vessels, such as the future Royal Australian Navy’s destroyer, Hobart, which is taking shape at Adelaide, Australia. The construction process marked a giant milestone on July 2 when Hobart’s final ke
The U.S 7th Fleet flagship and staff completed an event-filled six day port visit in Darwin, Australia, with a ceremonial celebration on board flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) July 4. The celebration was two-fold, celebrating Australia’s Territory Day on July 1, as well as America’s Independence Day
A port visit to the Seychelles provided a much-needed opportunity for the crew of HMAS Newcastle to re-energise ahead of her next high-tempo counter-terrorism patrol on Operation SLIPPER. Soon after coming alongside Port Victoria, the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) took on
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on July 1, 2013 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of up to 100 MK 54 All-Up-Round Torpedoes and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $ 83 million. The Government of Australi
Dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), arrived in Darwin, Australia, July 4, prior to scheduled operations in the region. While in port, Germantown and the 31st MEU will conduct a bio-security inspection to ensure they are operating in an e
Defence and security company Saab has signed a contract with Watpac Construction Pty Ltd for the installation and commissioning of electronic security systems for the Australian Department of Defence. The contract amounts to MSEK 470 and deliveries will take place 2013-2014. Watpac has been contract
