Diesels rule
HMAS Sheean (LCDR Tim Brown) has triumphed over USS Olympia in a submarine v submarine battle off the coast of Hawaii.

VALE 1940-2002, Vice Admiral Rod Taylor, Chief of the Naval Staff
Chief of Navy
Navy News is saddened to report the death of a former Chief of the Naval Staff.

Navy News welcomes rabid Carlton supporter
The Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS) has announced a negative crediting rate of negative 8.9 per cent for the 2001-02 financial year. The poor result is because of a volatile global investment climate over the past year for superannuation funds, including the MSBS.

DFRT to hear ADF pay case
A proposal for an ADF-wide pay increase is set for a Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal hearing on November 1.

MHCs scan for sunken trawler
Ships’ companies of the mine hunters Norman and Hawkesbury were given a sombre task as they headed from Sydney to exercises north of Australia.

Contaminated ordnance destroyed
Explosive experts have destroyed seawater-contaminated ordnance removed from the damaged HMS Nottingham.

Ryan follows dad into Navy
MEMBERS of the ADF have always been able to engage in paid employment or undertake voluntary activities outside the Defence Force in off-duty hours; however, policy guidelines are not always followed.

Navy’s new top sailor
Warrant Officer David Turner will become the new Warrant Officer of the Navy (WO-N) later this month.

Defence joins services as accredited trainer
The Defence Learning Services Network (DLSN) has marked a significant milestone in the delivery of education and training services to the Defence portfolio.

TS Tobruk in running for best Cadet unit
The Newcastle cadet training ship Tobruk, winners of the Peter Ballesty Trophy for best ANC unit in NSW and the ACT, is under assessment for the best unit in Australia.

Stardex 2002 hones professional skills
Seven warships with 600 RAN members along with Australian soldiers, aircraft and airmen are being put to the test in one of the most important regional defence exercises of the year — this is exercise Stardex 2002.

Wagga Navy raises over 1.5K for kids’ research
As part of it’s charity program, Navy Admin at RAAF Base Wagga organised a Base-wide mufti day on Jeans for Genes day on August 2.

Perth 1 remembered
The ship’s company of HMAS Adelaide (CMDR David Johnston), now involved in Stardex 02, took time out during its transit north to remember those who lost their lives when HMAS Perth 1 was sunk by the Japanese in the Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942.

ADFA MIDN loses fight with infection
ACT Public Health officials say Meningococcal disease took the life of an RAN midshipman in Canberra late last month.

Prawns, roo end RIMPAC 2002 at Pearl Harbor
HMAS Sheean (LCDR Tim Brown) was the RAN’s sole participant in this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2002, conducted recently in the waters off Hawaii.

Prime contractor announced early new year
The name of the successful prime contractor to build the RAN’s new fleet of patrol boats will be announced in the first half of next year, the Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill said a few days ago.

SMWOC graduates head for snow
Late one night in June, the Submarine Warfare Officers Course (SMWOC) 2002 students, with confidence sky high, decided they were ready to accept the challenge of the dreaded Perisher.

Stuart’s off to learn her trade
HMAS Stuart, alias ‘The Tartan Terror’, has drawn her dirk, hit the high seas and is learning to fight.

Cancer study looks at RAN Viet Veterans
The first ever study into the incidence of cancer among Royal Australia Navy personnel who served in Vietnam is being undertaken, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Mrs Danna Vale announced late last month.

Wollongong changes Warruwi room
HMAS Wollongong (LCDR Wes Heron) “heeded the call” to South Goulburn Island, off Arnhem Land earlier this month.

Panel will advise on womens’ health
A chapter of military obstetricians and gynaecologists has been set up to provide an expert panel for advice on women’s health issues in the ADF.

Students learn of life at sea
The Chief Bosun’s Mate in HMAS Brunei, LSBM Nigel Williams was a great hit with the students at Cairns Christian College the other day.

Whales not fired on – Wildlife Service
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has found there was no evidence Australian Navy warships had fired in the path of migrating whales near Jervis Bay.

Eagle is grounded
When a crane lifted the nine metre Compass class yacht Sea Adler from the water at Fleet Base East late last month, all present could see she was not in good shape.

Smooth removal kit released
Toll Transitions have released the new Easymove Home Kit, which has been revised to become the first designed specifically for Defence members.

Canberra’s adventurers back to school
The diversity and challenges of Navy life were revealed to more than 200 students from Warnbro Community High School (near FBW) when listening to the recent adventures of 18 officers and sailors from HMAS Canberra, fresh home from a six-month deployment to The Gulf.

Pacific patrol boats’ life extended
The lives of the 22 Pacific Class patrol boats, donated by Australia to her Pacific neighbours, are being extended. Still operational and doing a great job, the last of class should still be around until 2027.

Aussies second to none in Gulf
An RAN officer serving as one of five Multinational Interception Force task group tactical commanders is in a prime position to observe the successes of Australia’s contribution to anti-smuggling efforts by enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq in the Persian Gulf.

Fungus not Arunta’s friend
The sick-bay aboard HMAS Arunta has been kept busy with an increased number of sick-parade turnouts. This is due to heat-related ailments and conditions that have come with working in the Middle East.

Force command into third rotation
The ADF’s Command Joint Task Force (Sea) is now into its third rotation in The Gulf as the Multinational Interception Force Commander (MIC).

Melbourne keeps ready
The ship’s company of HMAS Melbourne has been busy ensuring its level of readiness is at optimum level while on patrol in The Gulf.

Melbourne boards her hundredth
HMAS Melbourne (CAPT Steve McDowall) chalked up her 100th boarding on September 1 while deployed on Multinational Interception Operations (MIO) as part of Operation Slipper in the Northern Arabian Gulf.

Droggies put ENC on map
The Navy’s Australian Hydrographic Service recently released the first of its Australian Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) series.