A clear lower deck was called at 808 Squadron on 4 June so the Squadron could assemble to watch their Commanding Officer, Commander Charlie Stephenson, touch down in a MRH90 after reaching his 4000th flying hour. “This is a very significant milestone, particularly for a helicopter pilot”, Executive
Demonstrating the rapid progress of the Cape Class Patrol Boat Program, Austal today hosted a keel-laying ceremony for the first of eight high performance patrol boats it is building for the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Keel-laying traditionally marks the first significant miles
“These are indeed exciting times”, 723 Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Matthew Shand told the assembled guests as the Royal Australian Navy marked the introduction of the Bell 429 helicopter into service with a ceremony at HMAS Albatross on 5th June. “Since 1953, when 723 and the RAN received
UGL Limited announced that Naval Ship Management (Australia) Pty Ltd (NSM), an incorporated 50:50 joint venture between UGL Infrastructure Pty Ltd and Babcock Pty Ltd (Babcock), has finalised contract negotiations for the ANZAC Ship Group Maintenance Contract (GMC) with the Defence Materiel Organisa
Mast modules for the 27,000 tonne Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), fabricated and constructed at BAE Systems Henderson, facility are now completed and ready to be transported to Melbourne. The three mast modules weighing between 19 and 36 tonnes will form part of the superstructure of the LHDs and wil
Daisuke Hayashi never thought he would get the chance to visit Australia without actually leaving the territorial waters of Japan. But, today that’s exactly what he did. The Lieutenant – Junior Grade, who normally works in the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Destroyer Shimakaze, is spending a f
HMAS Ballarat has set sail for the Pacific Ocean to take part in an anti-submarine warfare exercise with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force, after a busy and culturally enriching port visit to the city of Kure, near Hiroshima. The Anzac Class Frigate has spent the last four days in Kure, hoste
The crew of HMAS Ballarat made some new friends in Japan this week, over a hotly contested game of Soccer. The Australian crew took on the crew of the Japanese Destroyer Shimakaze, which is acting as host ship to Ballarat’s port visit in Kure, near Hiroshima. The Anzac Class frigate has travelled to
The ANZAC-class Guided Missile Frigate, HMAS Ballarat, has arrived in Japan for maritime exercises with Japan and the United States. After a short port visit to the city of Kure, HMAS Ballarat will participate in the Australian–Japanese bilateral Exercise Nichi Gou Trident 2012 from 4–6 June 2012. T
The Royal Australian Navy today helped Samoa celebrate the island nation’s 50th anniversary of independence. 221 personnel from Royal Australian Navy Frigate HMAS Darwin marched past at Samoa’s Parliament Grounds. Commanding Officer of Darwin, Commander Brian Schlegel said his ship’s company are pro
Four members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) are preparing to face an audience of two billion people on Sunday, following an invitation to participate in this weekend’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant in London. The four will form a ceremonial “Guard” around Her Majesty, during one of the biggest
Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are proving they are made of “the white stuff” following the embarkation of the Australian contingent to Pacific Partnership 2012 aboard the massive white-painted US hospital ship USNS Mercy during its stopover in Guam. The 29 Australian soldiers, airmen, air
Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced that the first meeting of the Future Submarine Industry Skills Plan Expert Industry Panel was held yesterday. “The Future Submarine Project is the biggest and most complex Defence project Australia has ever embarked upon,” Mr Clare said. “Hundreds
Australian Defence Force Command and Medical Specialist personnel have left Australia to participate in Pacific Partnership 2012, an exercise to improve responses to natural and humanitarian emergencies in the region. The exercise is an annual US-sponsored humanitarian assistance exercise also aims
