Navy - Insight into Mine Warfare

Home > Experiences >Navy - Insight into Mine Warfare

Page Banner

Insight into Mine Warfare

By Mia Richter

HMAS Waterhen is the Royal Australian Navy's Mine Warfare establishment and contains some of the most sophisticated Mine Countermeasure equipment, technology and personnel in the world.

HMAS Waterhen regularly offers work experience opportunities for students who sometimes travel from as far as Queensland and Victoria for the experience. Students are given the chance to tour the facilities and talk to key personnel about the different career pathways the Navy has to offer.

During their time at HMAS Waterhen, students visit the Fleet Support Unit, where they are shown the metal and timber workshops. They also have the opportunity to visit the Medical Section, where they can speak with the doctors, dentists and nurses that treat the sailors on base. They visit the gym and speak with the Physical Training Instructors about basic fitness requirements for the Navy, and the opportunities to be involved in sporting teams, and sometimes they even join in on a training session! Students also visit Port Services where they are shown the process of maintaining safety equipment, and the controlling of docking and undocking of the ships. They also take a look at the Fleet Logistics Support Element, who manage and control the stores for the ships.

Students are given an insight into the core business of HMAS Watson - Mine Warfare. They visit the Mine Warfare Faculty, where they are shown the training facilities that are used to train sailors who specialise in Mine Hunting. They are also given a tour of the Mine Warfare Maintenance Flight, where specialist mine hunting equipment is maintained and repaired. And finally, students are taken on board a Huon Class Mine Hunter Coastal. This is by far the highlight of the experience as students get to see first hand the working environment and living conditions of Navy personnel on a Mine Hunter.

Thomas Clark recently completed his work experience at HMAS Waterhen and this is what he had to say:

"On the 21st - 22nd of February I undertook a work experience placement on-board HMAS Waterhen, which is located in Waverton, Sydney. This program provided me with an excellent overview of naval values with a greater focus on mine warfare. During the program I was shown many different areas within the base and was able to ask a wide array of questions allowing me to gain a better insight into what really happens on a naval base. This program has helped me in the decision making process in deciding my career in the Australian Defence Force. I hope to return to HMAS Waterhen again one day, not as a civilian but as a member of the ADF."

Images

AB Kelly and Thomas in the Bridge
AB Jake Kelly and Thomas Clark looking through to the Quarter Deck
Thomas Clark standing on the Focsle