Warrior bares her teeth
The frigate, HMAS Warramunga, had to scramble over the holiday break to head deep into the Southern Ocean to apprehend an alleged toothfish poaching trawler.

Good Oil on Westralia
The Government anticipates that by the end of June it will purchase a replacement tanker for the RAN’s HMAS Westralia, Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill said last week.


Briefs
Australia is set to get a squadron of pilotless aircraft of the Global Hawk type, to watch our waters, support maritime and land operations and even detect and monitor bushfires.


Correction
avy News wishes to correct an article that appeared on page six of the December 18 edition regarding HMAS Kanimbla (CMDR Stephen Woodall) winning the Gloucester Cup in the annual Fleet proficiency awards.


RAN to help Iraqi navy re-build
The RAN will help bring a “degree of security” to the Iraqi maritime region with the deployment of teams to the coastal port of Umm Qasr.


Senate to air several Navy issues
Many Navy issues will come under scrutiny during the Senate Inquiry into the effectiveness of the Military Justice System (MJS).

Successful strike
A Kalkara launched from the RAN’s Jervis Bay airfield has had a wingtip burner smashed by a new ASRAAM missile fired by an RAAF Hornet jet.


Trial by fire for cadets at training camp
This dramatic image (below) shows two Australian Navy Cadets under the guidance of a Navy firefighting instructor, attacking flames in a “burning ship” at the RAN’s school of Ship Survivability at Jervis Bay.


Questions raised over Qld levy
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Mal Brough has called on the Queensland Government to exempt Queensland-based Defence personnel from the State Government’s ambulance levy.

Drug testing gets under way
Naval Police Coxswains have begun urine testing for illegal drugs.

RADM warns reputation on the line
The Royal Australian Navy’s reputation is a “fragile being” and it takes just one bad story to send the Navy’s profile sharply down, the Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates, said late last month.

Dechaineux takes VIPs by storm
HMAS Dechaineux (LCDR Simon Rusiti) has successfully completed her first visit to the East Coast with port visits to Eden and Sydney.

All hands required for busy year
It will be a case of all hands on deck as the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy faces another hectic year, according to Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates.

Patrol boats begin with new vigour
The RAN’s patrol boat fleet got off to a busy start this year.


Thai fishing boat netted
HMAS Gladstone (LCDR Michael Moore) was involved in a hot pursuit of a Thai fishing vessel last month that saw rifle shots fired across the bow.

Armidale on the way
Work will commence in a few weeks on the first of 12 Armidale Class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy.

Museum relishes relics
With a Navy Wessex helicopter hanging from the ceiling as a backdrop, the Chief of Navy, VADM Chris Ritchie, officially opened the new Navy exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANNM) in Sydney late last year.


Anzac support facility heads to the West
A new Anzac ship support centre will be developed close to the Western Fleet at HMAS Stirling, Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill announced late last month.


Wollongong brings travel tales home
When LCDR Steve Thompson and his ship’s company in the patrol boat HMAS Wollongong, visited the island of Taro in the Solomons group a few weeks ago, they found the power generator at the local hospital had failed.

Small group making big waves
Although only a small Task Group, TG 635.5 is achieving some big things in support of Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands.

New medal announced for Anode
Australian Defence Force personnel taking part in Operation Anode will receive a new award in recognition of their service.

Navy personnel advance Australia
The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following appointments and awards made to members of the Royal Australian Navy:

SIEV 10 rescue rewarded
Chief Petty Officer Dale Zanker says his Conspicuous Service Cross awarded in this year’s Australia Day Awards came from being “in the right place at the wrong time”.

Australia Day at home and abroad

Federation flags several issues with Minister
The Armed Forces Federation has returned in the New Year with its monthly column for
Navy News

Head hunting island style
Just like a scene from a Robert Louis Stevenson novel, four sailors tied their boat to a mangrove tree and ventured into the jungle to discover bleached human skulls laid carefully to rest.

Bulletin Board