The frigate HMNZS TE MANA returned to Devonport Naval Base at 1000 hrs on Thursday June 13 after an almost four-month deployment to Australia and Asia. Scores of family members were waiting eagerly at the base to greet the Ship’s Company of 175 men and women. Among the ports visited during the deplo
The commanding officer and crew of EU Naval Force warship ESPS Numancia have received a heartfelt thank you from the crew of chemical tanker MT Perla, after the Spanish frigate provided assistance to two seriously injured Filipino sailors after they suffered severe burns in a fire on board their mer
HMAS Toowoomba will receive a warm welcome home when she sails into Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling tomorrow, Friday, 14 June 2013 following her six month deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations. The homecoming will be marked by a ceremony attended by Minister for Defence, the Honourable Ste
Naval reservists from 10 nations, including the UK, descended on New Zealand to practise their response to natural disasters. Exercise Bell Buoy saw the personnel, who form part of Maritime Trade Operations, rehearse how they would ensure merchant and military shipping could aid a country in the eve
The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed Samoa, the first mission port of Pacific Partnership 2013, June 10. Mission personnel consisting of U.S. service members, partner nation service members and non-governmental organizations conducted various projects throughout Samoa
The new Living In Accommodation for single ADF members at HMAS Coonawarra was officially opened in a ceremony today at Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin. Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon said Project Single Living Environment and Accommodation Precinct (Single LEAP) Phase 2 would
Marines and sailors from 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade, I Marine Expeditionary Force and the U.S. Navy’s Expeditionary Strike Group-3, Commander, Third Fleet, announced the official commencement of multinational amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz 2013 off the Southern California coast, June 11-28. Da
The Australian Minister for Defence Materiel Mike Kelly today announced the signing of a $21 million four-year contract with AMC Search Ltd to provide Pacific Patrol Boat (PPB) training services. Dr Kelly said AMC Search Ltd (AMCS) is the commercial arm of the Australian Maritime College, located in
Australia’s HMAS Newcastle has provided medical treatment and evacuated two badly burned Filipino merchant seamen from a stricken oil tanker in the Somali Basin. The seamen from the Liberian registered Merchant Tanker Perla, were severely burned during a machinery fire which left the tanker powerles
Pacific Partnership personnel and distinguished Samoan guests attended a closing ceremony for Pacific Partnership’s mission in Samoa, June 8. The ceremony, held on the pier next to amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), the mission platform this year, included guest speakers from th
Indian Minister of Defence A. K. Antony and the Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith met in Perth on 4 June and Canberra on 5 June 2013 to discuss shared strategic and security interests, including maritime security and bilateral defence cooperation. The Ministers exchanged ideas concerning
CMDR MacDonald joined the RAN as a sailor in 1962 and received his Commission at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth UK in 1975. CMDR MacDonald served in ten different classes of warships and instructed in two warfare training establishments. An Anti-air Warfare Specialist (AWS), he developed
Samoan citizens, service members from U.S. and partner nations, and non-governmental organization volunteers kicked off Pacific Partnership 2013 with an opening ceremony, June 1. Pacific Partnership is the largest disaster response-preparation mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. It will spend e
Australian Minister for Defence Stephen Smith, Japanese Minister of Defense Itsunori Onodera, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel held trilateral defence ministerial talks in Singapore June 1 on the margins of the International Institute of Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue. This was the s
