Marine Corps honours Aussie on Nulka project

L-R: Representing the US component of the Nulka project Harry Severin, representing CN CAPT Mark Remmers, LCDR Tony Wright, CAPT Archer M Macy USN and representing DMO Shireane McKinnie and Nulka Program Director Mr Mark Devlin..

On May 15 LCDR Tony Wright was awarded the prestigious US Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal at a ceremony at the Russell Offices.

LCDR Wright received his Commendation for Meritorious Service while serving as the RAN Nulka Liaison Officer with the Joint (AUST/US) Nulka Project Office in Washington between April 2000 and April 2003.

CAPT Archer M Macy, USN, from the US Naval Sea Systems Command presented him his medal.
According to the Commendation LCDR Wright spearheaded efforts to award the development contract and completed all bench and captive carry testing ahead of schedule, provided efficient and effective project liaison with the RAN and DSTO and was pivotal in the timely completion of the test schedule.

His “exceptional professionalism, initiative and selfless devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval Service.”

The US component of the Joint Nulka Project Office was represented at the ceremony by Mr Harry Severin (Nulka Joint Project Manager), Shireane McKinnie (Head Electronic Systems) represented DMO while CAPT Mark Remmers represented CN.

Navy pursues higher intergration with USN

By Lt James Mill, USN courtesy of the US Navy Newsstand
The RAN and DSTO recently participated with the USN in the latter’s annual Fleet Battle Experiment (FBE)-Kilo.

FBE-Kilo is a three-week joint warfighting activity, which involves live field forces and computer simulations at various locations in the US and the Pacific.

A key outcome from this year’s experiment was to “enhance operability between the USN and RAN by experimenting with the integration of coalition forces in a digital fires network through information”.

Participating in the exercise was the RAN’s virtual ship, vAnzac, a simulated Anzac frigate equipped with a range of potential futuristic capabilities. The virtual frigate is operated from DSTSO’s Fernhill laboratory in Canberra.

According to Dr Darren Sutton, a DSTO scientist on exchange with the US Navy’s Warfare Development Centre (NWDC) at Newport, Rhode Island, a goal is a higher degree of integration between the Australian virtual ship and the American Joint Semi-Automated Forces and Modeling Simulation Capability at the NWDC.

In addition to vAnzac the NWDC coordinated the participation in FBE-Kilo of several other virtual platforms, including a virtual E2-C Hawkeye reconnaissance aircraft, virtual next generation (US) destroyer (vDDX), virtual submarine and unmanned underwater vehicle, and live video feeds from virtual Predator unmanned aerial vehicles (vUAV).

The simulations from the vplatforms were transmitted from the NWDC to sensors aboard ships exercising off Guam, where they appeared as if they were real platforms taking part in the exercise.

As well as DSTO, RAN involvement comprised a number of officers operating the experiment’s Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) systems aboard the vAnzac. Also, an RAN officer was attached to the staff of the Experimental Strike Warfare Commander aboard USS Blue Ridge.

Joint Australian and US technical teams at Fernhill and the NWDC also supported them.

Navy charts for Leo

As part of an ongoing evaluation plan, the Hydrographic FEG has provided the latest Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs) for Australian waters to the captain of the 76,000-tonne super cruise vessel Superstar Leo, Captain Magnus Gottberg.

Known as Seafarer, these charts are published by the Australian Hydrographic Service at the Australian Hydrographic Office in Wollongong.

The Superstar Leo is temporarily based in Sydney from Hong Kong due to the SARS outbreak in Asia. It is cruising the East Coast of Australia including the Great Barrier Reef.

The state of the art ship is equipped with the latest technology including an Electronic Chart Display and Information System or ECDIS. ECDIS is a computer navigation system that replaces the requirement to use paper charts.

RAN ships will also be equipped with ECDIS beginning in 2004.

On the ship’s arrival in Sydney, CMDR Robert Ward (Head of Doctrine & Futures at the HMFEG) visited Superstar Leo and presented Captain Gottberg with the latest ENCs of the Great Barrier Reef.

Cerberus group in devilish Tassie adventure

Cerberus hikers take a well earned photo break on expedition in Tasmania.

By POPT Vanessa Dickson
In April 10 personnel from the RAN Recruit School HMAS Cerberus took time out and headed across Bass Strait to Tasmania to walk the famous Overland Track.

Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park represents some of the finest and wildest bushwalking country in Australia. Here it is still possible to experience the isolation and splendour of the mountains, the challenge of the elements, and to encounter, first hand, Tasmania’s World Heritage Area. This 80km walk encompasses mountain scenery unlike any found elsewhere in Australia.

Each member of the group had to be self-sufficient and carried seven days worth of food and enough clothing to survive wind, rain and snow. They also had to be fit. The average weight of individual packs was approximately 30kgs.
The group started at Dove Lake and headed for Cradle Mountain (1545m). This is a popular climb as it can be achieved in a day’s walk.

Over the next few days we followed the track via Lake Windermere, Pelion and onto the base of Mt Ossa (1617m), the highest peak in Tasmania.

The track climbs steeply towards the summit and lucky for us we had excellent weather and were able to see halfway across Tasmania from the top.

After our descent we continued to follow the track via Kia Ora, Windy Ridge and Pine Valley (off the Overland Track but not to be missed).

We then climbed to the top of The Acropolis (1471m). While not as high or accessible as Mt Ossa, the climb to the summit of The Acropolis was the toughest and the highlight of the expedition.

On returning to the Overland Track we continued onto Narcissus finishing at Cynthia Bay via the Lake St Clair Track. There the group was able to shower after eight days and trade its ration packs/freeze dried meals for pies and chips and cold drinks.
The group would like to thank ABMT Swain and Navy HQ Tasmania for all their assistance.

If anyone is considering doing this challenging walk they can obtain further information from POPT Dickson at Vanessa.Dickson@defence.gov.au

Harman focuses on remembrance

By LSCISSM Rachel Irving
HMAS Harman (CMDR Suzanne Smith) recently held a dedication service for its new Remembrance Place.

The memorial is designed to symbolise strong ties between those serving at sea (the anchor) and those ashore (the rocks).

Remembrance Place, opposite the gymnasium, honours all who have served and all who are serving in Harman.

CHA Ken Batterham consecrated the site as a sacred place within Harman on a rainy morning last month.

After wreaths were laid by the Wardroom and Mess Presidents to remember those past and present, CPOMUSN Danny Mulheron played the Last Post. The small but solemn crowd then observed a minute’s silence.

Remembrance Place was built by members of HMAS Harman.

The dedication is one of a series of events this year to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Harman.

CO USS Lassen CMDR Denny Wetherald takes local scouts on a tour of the ship in Sydney. Photo by ABPH Bill Louys.

Lassen skipper in ‘second home’

By LCDR Mick Gallagher
CMDR HD ‘Denny’ Wetherald returned to Australia on May 14 as CO of the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen.

“I consider Sydney as a second home town,” said CMDR Wetherald.

“My father worked in Australia for Boeing providing aircraft and support to QANTAS in the 1970’s.”

As a teenager he attended years 7-9 at Knox Grammar at Wahroonga and has memories of sailing, surfing, scouting and sport. He was inspired to naval life as a scout with the 1st East Wahroonga troop.

“My first inclination about the Navy was a tour of an Australian destroyer here at Garden Island as a Boy Scout,” he told 35 cubs, scouts and Venturers from the troop when they visited his ship.

When he returned to the USA he continued scouting before enlisting in the US Navy.

USS Lassen with her ship’s company of 360 departed Sydney on May 20.

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