The US Navy’s 7th Fleet supply ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) joined an international task force led by Australian Defence Force searching for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 off the Western Coast of Australia yesterday. The U.S. 7th Fleet deployed Chavez in response to a formal Joint Op
On Monday 7 April the German tanker Rhön arrived in the port of Djibouti to join the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta. The tanker under the command of Captain Egon Rhauderwiek will provide regular replenishment support to the EU Naval Force warships and other inter
The fourth and final review into Australian Collins Class submarine sustainment program, released today by expert John Coles, confirms that submarine maintenance and availability has significantly improved. The review findings have been welcomed by Australian Minister for Defence David Johnston an
The search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has brought the navies of Australia and China together in a significant display of international cooperation. Despite heavy seas and poor search conditions, HMAS Toowoomba recently conducted boat operations with People’s Liberation Army – Navy
On Sunday 6 April, Rear Admiral Hervé Bléjean (French Navy) handed over the Force Command of EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jürgen zur Mühlen (German Navy) during a Change of Command ceremony held on board FS Siroco in the Port of Djibouti. Deputy Operation C
Ardent One, embarked in HMAS Launceston, participated in the Multilateral Naval Exercise KOMODO from 29 March to 3 April 2014. The exercise was developed and coordinated by the Indonesian Navy in the vicinity of the Indonesian Islands of Batam, Riau, Anambas and Natuna. It focussed on Humanitarian
On Monday 31st March, the Royal Navy took a major step forward in developing a framework to allow Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) to be deployed from its anti-submarine warfare warships. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Service and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) was signed whi
The Australian Government will recommend to the Governor-General a number of senior Australian Defence Force appointments. Air Marshal Mark Binskin AC will become Chief of the Defence Force when General David Hurley AC, DSC completes his tenure on 3 July 2014. Air Marshal Binskin has demonstrated
The personnel of the Royal Australian Navy at Fleet Base West (FBW) resupplied and helped HMAS Toowoomba, which is tasked to search for Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370, to return to sea in under six hours. Toowoomba was tasked to Operation SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN (Op SIO) from operations in northern
Last week German Navy frigate, FGS Brandenburg, completed her transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea towards the waters of the Gulf of Aden to start counter piracy operations with the EU Naval Force Somalia, Operation Atalanta. The Suez Canal, which is 162 kilometres in length is an extrem
On Sunday 30 March, EU Naval Force French flagship, FS Siroco and the Japanese Navy destroyer, JDS Samidare met at sea in the Gulf of Aden. The Japanese Commander of Escort Division 4, Captain Hiroaki Tajiri and members of his staff took the opportunity to visit the Operation Atalanta Force Comman
On Wednesday 2 April, German Navy frigate, FGS Hessen departed the waters of the Gulf of Aden and headed for home after completing four months of counter piracy patrols with the EU Naval Force. After a short port stop in Malaga, Spain, FGS Hessen will arrive in her home port in Wilhelmshaven on Th
Up to eight planes and nine ships will assist in today’s search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has determined a search area of about 223,000 square kilometres, 1680 kilometres west north-west of Perth. Eight military planes will assist in the s
Australian Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Scott Morrison MP, participated in a keel laying ceremony on March 31st for the sixth Cape Class Patrol Boat being manufactured at Austal’s Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. The vessel, Cape Leveque, is the sixth of eight Cape Class
