Keeping watch
Congratulations on the merger between Navy News and the Reserve News.
I have noticed several letters from past and present members looking for lost shipmates.
I have been editing a contact page for R.A.N and ex R.A.N on the Net for a few years at Home of the R.A.N Net and Ahoy ..!
www.ozemail.com.au/~yorkhouse/rannet.html
At the moment I have two years of messages on line and recommend this free site to your readers. Sorry there are no whistles or bells, but the site is usually updated several times per week i.e. whenever I receive a new submission.
Bob York
yorkhouse@ozemail.com.au

Model enquiry
I am an ex-serviceman (engineer) my previous ships were Hmas Brisbane & Perth.
I am asking if you would have any information on the building of model ships DDG's(even remote control).
I remember there use to be advertisements in the Navy News around 1991-1993 someone use to build them. Thanking you EX-ABMTP B.J.Martin S147670.
If you could send reply back to me on my workmates email - leigh@jackcasey.com.au
Leigh Staunton

Publishing giants merge
I have just been reading the current edition of Navy News here over lunch. I am curious as to why, given the fact that Reserve News has been swallowed up in Navy News an acknowledgement of this doesn't feature on the front page.
Reserve News itself is a very professional publication and its inclusion as an enclosure should be openly acknowledged on the front page of Navy News.
Michael Doyle
FRASER ACT
Ed. The two publications have amalgamated to the betterment of both. It received extensive coverage up to and beyond the merger. However, you may have a point, we will examine the feasibility of a regular acknowledgement.

Incat US move not the first
The August 6 Navy News article "INCAT Wins US Contract" is the second Australian win in this field and therefore has a fundamental error of fact that I think you should point out to your readers.
To put the record straight, ground was broken by Australia in the supply of High Speed Pax/Vehicle Vessels to the US military when Austal Ships delivered a 101metre high-speed catamaran ferry to the US Marine Corps on July 10, 2001. Dubbed the Westpac Express by the Corps, it has been moving men, machinery and helicopters since then, to and from Guam, mainland Japan and Okinawa. In a recent Stars and Stripes interview, LTGEN Wallace C. Gregson, the new commanding general of Marine forces in Japan said of the 331-foot long ship. "We certainly want to keep it around".
"In our opinion, we found a way to deploy for training that is faster, better and cheaper," he said. "It makes strategic sense. It makes operational sense. It makes economic sense ... this is a transformation success story."
As I said to you in my email of July 10, 2001, "Austal Ships developed the high speed Theatre Logistics Vessel to enhance the capability of military organizations to rapidly move large numbers of troops and RO/RO cargo during military operations. The design of Westpac Express benefited from the many lessons learned by the RAN during its operations with the earlier technology vessel HMAS Jervis Bay. It has large, self-deploying bow and stern ramps enabling her to load and unload military vehicles in ports with little or no facilities. With strengthened decks, internal hoistable mezzanine decks and ramps the vessel can carry a wide mix of military vehicles. Particular attention was paid to ride and comfort levels to reduce individual fatigue during troop movements. Accommodation and facilities for 21 crew has been included to increase endurance."
Your article does indeed give some important information about a market that is potentially huge for Australia's commercial shipbuilding industry.
The two Australian companies Austal and Incat lead the world in this technology but have taken different tacks in their journeys. This will be an Aussie export success story in some years time so its subject matter is one that would benefit from some balanced reporting in support of it. You need to be aware that Austal Ships is a public company that is accountable to the ASX and the Corporations Law for any claims it might make publicly.
Well done to Incat in winning the TACOM job. Navy News - please let us hear of credit where and when it is reported or not at all!
Yours faithfully,
CDRE Bob Trotter.