The Royal Australian Navy’s largest maritime warfare exercise has ended after a final week of war games off the coast of Darwin. Exercise KAKADU, held from 25 August to 12 September 2014, involved eight ships, 26 aircraft and more than 1200 people from 15 Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean navies. The
In the final days of exercise of KAKADU, Commodore Peter Leavy, Commodore Warfare, visited a number of coalition ships before embarking on PNS Saif, 9 September 2014. Commodore Levy was greeted by Commodore Zahid Ilyas, Mission Commander of Pakistani Ships and Captain Jawad Ahmed, Commanding Offic
An overnight battle at sea with the fictional ‘Redland’ fleet during Exercise KAKADU 2014 saw victory by the ‘Blueland’ forces. During the battle, the Blueland fleet of HMAS Sydney and JS Hatakaze, supported by a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) AP3C Orion and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) S-70-B S
A Cairns-based Royal Australian Navy sailor was arrested by the Northern Territory Police (NTPOL) today in relation to a serious assault in Darwin last month. He will answer a charge of manslaughter. The alleged offence is reported to have occurred on 9 August 2014. Defence is assisting NTPOL with
During a recent Port visit to Cairns, HMAS Newcastle gave 33 cadets from Cadet Training Ship Endeavour the opportunity to tour the Guided Missile Frigate. The cadet unit based at HMAS Cairns took the rare opportunity afforded them to tour a major Fleet unit, meet some of the sailors and officers o
Two Australian Defence Force (ADF) medical officers have joined the Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) – Navy hospital ship Peace Ark on its medical assistance mission currently under way in the South Pacific. The deployment results from an invitation from the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Com
Royal Australian Navy Minehunter, HMAS Yarra, has been undertaking an underwater search off Papua New Guinea for HMAS AE1, the Navy’s first submarine. AE1 was lost without a trace on 14 September 1914, with her full crew of three officers and 32 sailors. The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett
The final week of Exercise KAKADU 2014 has commenced with ‘free-play’ that provides participants with the opportunity to test their naval warfare capabilities, with the ships and aircraft divided into opposing fictional ‘Blue’ and ‘Red’ forces. The ‘Blueland’ forces, lead by the Royal Australian N
Royal New Zealand Navy’s amphibious heavy lift ship HMNZS CANTERBURY returned to Devonport Naval Base today. The vessel was deployed for three months during which it took part in Exercise RIMPAC in Hawaiian waters, Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia as well as two trips to Townsville to unload
HMAS Harman continued its support of Legacy last week by providing 14 volunteer sailors and officers and 60 Australian Navy Cadet (ANC) volunteers from TS Canberra to sell badges, for three days, during Legacy’s Canberra and Queanbeyan badge appeal. Harman’s contribution was also boosted by Delta
Marine Helicopter Crashes in the Gulf of Aden A U.S. Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) crashed at 2:00 p.m. (GMT), yesterday, at sea in the Gulf of Aden as it attempted to land aboard USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19). HMS Queen Elizabeth Unde
Australian Defence Force members have demonstrated their commitment to supporting regional neighbours in need, as Exercise Croix du Sud in New Caledonia comes to an end. Croix du Sud, which means “Southern Cross” in French, is a multinational military exercise organised every two years by the Fren
The Royal Australian Navy helicopter squadron New Squadron 725 (NUSQN 725) has sent another nine Hellfire Missiles off the rails of the MH-60R Seahawk Romeo Maritime Combat Helicopter during a major missile firing exercise in Jacksonville, Florida. The Australians took part in Exercise Grey Fox, t
As Australia’s largest naval warfare exercise for 2014, KAKADU is providing an important opportunity to hone and exchange knowledge for Australia and fourteen coalition nations working together on a variety of air defence, anti-submarine and surface warfare serials. Five of the participating natio
