LCDR Michelle Miller let the raindrops from a tropical storm cascade down on her patrol boat HMAS BUNBURY because she knew the droplets were providing a screen from the sweeping radar of her "'enemies."

She stayed beneath the rainsquall as it moved towards the "enemy."

"When we closed to 4000 yards without being spotted we let them have it," the RAN's first woman patrol boat commander said.

It was this "trick of the trade" which helped LCDR Miller and her ship's company take out the winner's plaque of the Minor War Vessels Concentration 2000, held north of Australia last month.

BUNBURY was one of eight Australian patrol boats which gathered in Darwin to sharpen their battle skills.

Also in attendance was the French gunboat GLORIEUSE, homebased in Noumea.

Aboard the Australian boats were members of the RAN's Sea Training Group.

The group's members brought hundreds of years of sea experience to test the eight ship's companies and to pass on their own knowledge and skills.

The group's CMDR Martin Campbell said," we want to make this as realistic as possible, short of incurring actual battle damage."

The RAAF also took part sending a PC-3 Orion.

Its 13 person crew was involved in surveillance and anti-submarine warfare but, equipped with the anti-ship Harpoon missile, the aircraft was a formidable ship killer in its own right.

A Learjet also joined the lineup playing the role of a fast attack fighter.

During the first three days of the week-long exercise, each ship's company practised the drills which might be needed in combat, including the traditional skills of signalling by flag and lamp.

LSRO Gavin Truman said "flags and lights continue to be a fast and efficient way of getting messages from boat to boat if you don't want to use your radio for stealth reasons or if your radios have been damaged."

Crews also tested their skills passing message by line-also vital when ships are operating under radio silence--- and towing a sister ship out of danger.

Because an exploding cannon shell or enemy action can put a shipmate in the water, man overboard drills were frequent.

While a dummy played the part of a man overboard, there were anxious moments for rescuers who wore a body suit against the threat of box jellyfish.

Sharpshooters with loaded Steer rifles kept watch for sharks and crocodiles during the MOB evolutions.

The greatest threat to the patrol boats, apart from an attack by another ship, was an aircraft attack.

To this end and at times of day and night, ship's companies practised tracking the Learjet fighter and used live ammunition against towed targets.

Following a mid exercise shore break, a night and day "cat and mouse" exercise began among the Vernon Islands.

Deception and ruse played a major role.

GLORIEUSE lit herself up like a Christmas tree to sneak in as a merchant ship.

Her escorts switched off their radar and mounted white lights on their masts to simulate fishing boats.

Elsewhere LCDR Martin was using her "raindrops" cover to effect.

As the boats returned to Darwin, CMDR Campbell said," it was very fulfilling but I just fell a lots older than I am at the moment."

LCDR Miller added, "it's the best game in the world ... and everyone loves a good game."