ADF JOINT TASK FORCE COMPLETES ITS CYCLONE YASI CLEANUP MISSION

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has drawn down its forces providing support to the Queensland emergency services-led response and recovery operations in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

The members of Joint Task Force 664 are now returning to their home units as the cleanup and reconstruction situation in North Queensland moves into its next phase.

The rapid nationwide response following Cyclone Yasi saw approximately 1500 ADF personnel working to assist affected communities and the state emergency services. Personnel and equipment from the Navy, Army and Air Force provided manpower and specialist capabilities in response to the needs of the people of North Queensland.

The Commander of the Joint Task Force 664 leading the ADF’s Operation YASI ASSIST, Brigadier Stuart Smith, said that Australian Defence Force personnel had successfully completed the tasks requested of them by civilian authorities, including providing specialist support to emergency services personnel.

“Emergency services and public utilities have future restoration tasks well in hand for those areas hardest hit by the cyclone,” Brigadier Smith said.

Troops from Townsville are returning to their base to regroup for rapid response readiness, and some will be preparing for deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

Brigadier Smith said their families would welcome their return.

“Many personnel deployed to assist as the winds abated, and haven’t been home since the cyclone struck – they’ve really earned some time at home with their loved ones,” he said.

Brigadier Smith expressed his admiration for the tenacity of the North Queenslanders affected by the cyclone.

“The people of the region face a challenging time ahead, but as a community they will rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives. The resilience of the local people is outstanding – I greatly admire their spirit.”

The decision to draw down the ADF assistance came after close consultation with Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ), state authorities and local officials in the affected areas. EMQ continues to provide assistance to the communities devastated by the cyclone, and ADF specialist support will remain at local bases to assist emergency services if required.

A supporting factsheet can be found at:

www.defence.gov.au/op/yasiassist/

DEDICATION FOR RAN RIVER CLASS FRIGATES

A plaque, which, for the first time officially recognises the service to the nation of all 12 of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) River-class frigates, and the crews who served in them in war and peace, will be unveiled tomorrow, 12 February in Sydney.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon said the plaque dedication ensured the RAN River-class frigates and their crews were recognised and honoured in our naval history.

“The River-class frigates are all named after Australian rivers, were built in Australia and were in service with the RAN from 1942-1979,” Mr Snowdon said.

“All but one of the River-class frigates were sold and scrapped after they were decommissioned, with HMAS Diamantina preserved as a museum ship at the Queensland Maritime Museum.”

Mr Snowdon said the Australian Government was pleased to be able to provide funding for the plaque through the Saluting Their Service commemorations grants program.

The Saluting Their Service commemorations grants program supports projects and activities which directly commemorate Australia’s servicemen and women who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Lieutenant Vince Fazio (retired), President of the HMAS Condamine Association, served onboard HMAS Condamine, which saw action during the Korean War. He commissioned the plaque after receiving the Department of Veterans’ Affairs grant.

“I’m expecting about 70 guests at the ceremony. Veterans from the majority of the 12 River-class frigates including a couple of veterans from HMAS Hawkesbury, which saw action during World War II,” Lieutenant Fazio (retired) said.

“The President of Gascoyne together with the President of Culgoa will be invited to unveil the plaque, representing the first and last of class ships.

“It will be great to catch up with some old mates,” he said.

Commander Shane Moore CSM, Director of the RAN’s Naval Heritage Collection, said that an important part of Australia’s naval history had been preserved with the plaque dedication.

“Outside the Navy community, little is known about these frigates and the men who served on them. You could argue that historians have overlooked their fine service to the nation but, it is fitting that it has now been recognised through this plaque.”

The plaque unveiling and dedication service will be held at 11am, 12 February at the RAN Heritage Centre, Garden Island and will be followed by afternoon tea.

WARM WELCOME FOR NAVY SHIPS DURING TASMANIA NAVY WEEK

The Navy opened their ships and Tasmania opened their arms to welcome three major fleet units as part of Navy Week 2011 in Tasmania at the weekend.

The week commenced with the transmission of a local FM breakfast show from the hangar of HMAS Parramatta as they steamed in company with HMAS Ballarat along the Derwent and into Hobart.

Navy Week also coincided with the Tasmanian Wooden Boat Festival, the Royal Hobart Regatta, the Hobart Cup and Festival in Devonport with some magnificent weather over one of the busiest long weekends of the year in Tasmania.

With nearly every bit of spare accommodation in Hobart fully booked, there were plenty of Tasmanians on hand to visit HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta for their open days on 12 February when more than 3500 people took the opportunity for a guided tour of both ships.

Navy week concluded with HMAS Ballarat performing as the flagship for the Royal Hobart Regatta, an open day in Devonport aboard HMAS Diamantina, a range of activities with STS Young Endeavour, and a wet winch demonstrations by HMAS Parramatta’s Seahawk helicopter.

Ballarat, Parramatta and Diamantina departed Tasmania for the final days of Navy exercising as part of Triton Storm 1-11, a newly developed exercise conducted annually on the Eastern seaboard of Australia.

First Pass Approval for Three Major Australian Defence Capability Projects

The Australian Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith MP, and the Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare MP, announced today that the Government has given First Pass Approval for three major Defence capability projects: upgrades to the Anzac class frigates’ electronic support systems; enhancements to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) telecommunications networks; and enhancements to the ADF’s Special Operations vehicles and communications.

These three projects combined are estimated to involve expenditure of between $500 million and around $1 billion by the time they are complete.

ANZAC SHIP ELECTRONIC SUPPORT SYSTEM UPGRADE

The Government has agreed to upgrade the Anzac class frigates’ electronic support systems, through Project Sea 1448 Phase 4A, as a complementary capability within the ongoing Anzac anti-ship missile defence program.

Project Sea 1448 Phase 4A is cost capped between $100 million and $300 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in the period 2012 to 2013.

The electronic support system upgrade will provide the Anzac class frigates with the ability to detect, classify and locate the latest generation of maritime and aircraft radars, as well as the latest anti-ship missiles. 

This upgrade will give the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac class frigates a greater level of operational flexibility within the rapidly increasing complexity of modern radar systems. It will also improve the ability of the frigates to support the Navy’s future Air Warfare Destroyer capability.

ENHANCED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS FOR THE ADF

Enhancement of the ADF’s fixed telecommunications networks, to be undertaken through Joint Project 2047 Phase 3, will enhance Defence’s information and communications technology (ICT) services. 

Joint Project 2047 Phase 3 is cost capped between $300 million and $500 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in 2011-2012.

The Defence telecommunications network includes 330 sites in Australia supporting some 100,000 users in Australia and overseas. The project will significantly improve network performance and meet capability requirements into the 2020’s.

ENHANCEMENTS TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS VEHICLES AND COMMUNICATIONS

The Government has also given first pass approval for Joint Project 2097 Phase 1B to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s Special Operations vehicle capability. 

The project will deliver a modern fleet of tactical Special Operations Vehicles and will provide significant improvements to the Special Forces’ networked communications.

Joint Project 2097 Phase 1B is cost capped between $100 million and $300 million. The Government is expected to make a final decision on approval for the project in 2013-14.

The enhancements to be delivered under JP 2097 Phase 1B will support the tactical manoeuvre of Special Forces and improve the efficiency of tactical network communications across the full spectrum of Special Operations. The vehicles will be highly mobile and able to be transported in a range of ADF aircraft and ships allowing the ADF’s Special Forces to maintain its capability edge. 

Team of experts to plan way forward on Australian Amphibious Ships Fleet

The Australian Government will appoint an independent team of experts to develop a plan to address problems in the repair and management of the amphibious and support ship fleet.

Mr Paul Rizzo, a Director of a number of major Australian corporations including the National Australia Bank and Malleson Stephen Jacques and the Independent Chair of the Defence Audit and Risk Committee, will lead the team. 

He will be supported by Air Vice Marshal Neil Smith (rtd) and Rear Admiral Brian Adams (rtd) who have relevant experience in defence administration, engineering, maintenance, logistics, systems engineering, safety certification and the operation and support of amphibious ships. 

The Terms of Reference for their work is released today and attached.

On 1 February, the Government announced that HMAS Manoora was to be decommissioned on the advice of the Chief of Navy. The Manoora was placed on operational pause by the Chief of Navy after the Seaworthiness Board in September last year, and an examination of the 40 year old ship has revealed it requires remediation of significant hull corrosion and the replacement of both gear boxes. As this work would cost over $20 million and take until April 2012 to complete, it is not considered value for money when Manoora was scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of next year.

On receiving that advice the Minister for Defence asked Defence for further advice outlining the reasons for the early decommissioning of HMAS Manoora and the extended unavailability of HMAS Kanimbla.

This advice, released today and attached, identifies systemic and cultural problems in the maintenance of the amphibious ship fleet. 

Today we also outline ongoing maintenance activity with respect to HMAS Tobruk.

On 28 January, we were advised that with the decommissioning of HMAS Manoora, and the extended unavailability of HMAS Kanimbla, Navy was maintaining HMAS Tobruk at 48 hours notice for sea to ensure an amphibious lift capability was available.

On 2 February, we were advised that HMAS Tobruk was to commence maintenance work in order to be fully prepared to provide any assistance in the days following Cyclone Yasi, in the event not required.

On 4 February, we were advised that HMAS Tobruk had left its dock and was being prepared to return to 48 hours notice for sea.

This has however not yet occurred as further maintenance issues and problems have been identified.

This work includes efforts to survey, verify, certify and replace a number of safety critical flexible hoses necessary to ensure the safe operation of HMAS Tobruk.

The advice about the amphibious fleet provided by the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Force makes it clear that problems with the amphibious fleet have built up over the past decade or more.

It states that many of the seeds of the problems we now face were sown long ago, and insufficient resources have been allocated to address materiel and personnel shortfalls since the ships were brought into service many years ago.

It also states that the establishment of the Seaworthiness Board in 2009 was a long overdue means of providing Chief of Navy with an independent review of maritime systems and its review of the amphibious ships provided a focus on the situation that was not previously available.

It is essential that the problems outlined in the advice are addressed as a matter of priority ahead of the transition to the new Landing Helicopter Dock Ships.

That is why we have asked Mr Rizzo to develop a plan to address the problems identified by the Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force, to reform these practices, and oversee early stage implementation of those reforms. 

Their work will be additional to the new comprehensive transition plan we have asked Defence to prepare to ensure a smooth transition to the introduction of the LHD ships in the middle of the decade.

$58 million project to upgrade New Zealand frigates

The second phase of a $58 million project to upgrade systems aboard the New Zealand Navy frigates Te Kaha and Te Mana has begun, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said today.

“Our Navy works closely with other countries and is a valued international partner in our region’s security arrangements.

“This upgrade in our frigates’ capability will improve the performance and extend the range of conditions in which they are effective,” he said.

The Minister said that design and manufacturing contracts have been awarded to Siemens (NZ) Ltd, Noske-Kaiser NZ Ltd, Australian Marine Technologies Pty Ltd, and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems Australia.

“The ANZAC Platform Systems Upgrade (PSU) contracts will allow the Navy to leverage off the technology developments that have been made over the past 20 years,” the Minister said.

The contracts awarded are for the upgrade of the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) and the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) system on board the ships. The upgraded IPMS will provide improved control and monitoring systems and will enable the introduction of more automation.

The upgrade of the HVAC system will reduce the effects of temperature on the performance and availability of a number of key systems, as well as improving conditions for the crew.

The ANZAC frigates are the mainstay of the Navy’s combat force, and have a range of over 7000 nautical miles. They are armed with a five-inch gun, torpedoes, air defence missiles and close-in weapons systems for self-defence.

The frigates also carry a SH2G Seasprite helicopter armed with air-to-surface missiles, making these ships the sharp end of New Zealand’s maritime defences.

The upgrade work will be carried out in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Germany. 

TRITON STORM 1-11 SPORTS DAY 2011

The HMAS Ballarat Rebels proved all conquering at Exercise Triton Storm 1-11 Sports Day held during a mid-exercise rest day at HMAS Creswell on 5 February.

The Sports Day which included participants from HMA Ships Sydney,Parramatta, Ballarat, Darwin, Gascoyne and Diamantina was held in sweltering conditions that proved testing for some sports but was ideal for beach based versions of soccer and volleyball.

With match durations cut back to allow for the weather, the emphasis was on short sharp fun matches with many of the competitors and spectators alike taking advantage of the clear cool water and pristine sands of Captain’s Beach in Jervis Bay.

Awarding the overall winner’s shield to Ballarat, Commodore Training, CDRE Daryl Bates, thanked all the participants and volunteers who had made the day such a great success.

“Days like these are importing both in supporting our individual fitness requirements and in providing a break from the demanding schedule of Exercise Triton Storm.

“I congratulate the Navy PTI community and all the volunteers who have made this day such a success and I also congratulate in particular Ballarat on a convincing win against stiff opposition.

Accepting the winner’s trophy for Ballarat, the CO, CMDR Guy Blackburn paid tribute to his crew and thanked the organisers. “The Ballarat Rebels are a great team - whether it is in sport or work, good teams deliver good results and I congratulate my crew on this great win.”

In an unannounced exhibition match the divers from the Gascoyne just managed to drag a team of PTI’s over the line in a final tug of war.

THE KELLY SHIELD

The Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore, took great pride in awarding Darwin based Armidale_Class_Patrol_Boat_Crew_Attack_Two with the Kelly Shield at a presentation held onboard HMAS Armidale on Monday 7 February 2011.

“This has to be the best part of my job, to reward people for what they have done, and you have, as a group, done some extraordinary things over a protracted period. The Kelly Shield is tangible evidence of the high regard which Attack Two is held across the Royal Australian Navy Fleet,” RADM Steve Gilmore said.

The shield is awarded to the Navy’s most operationally efficient patrol boat crew. Crews are assessed and marked in numerous areas including: operational efficiency/effectiveness, safety management, technical proficiency, training and personnel.

The Kelly Shield was originally presented in February 1969 by The Hon. C.R. Kelly MP, Minister for Navy.

The Kelly Shield was presented to Lieutenant Commander Gary List, the Commanding Officer of Attack Two, “I take this opportunity to thank my crew for their commendable effort over the past twelve months and express how proud I am of Attack Two. In very difficult circumstances they have excelled as a team and achieved outstanding results. The Team Works”.

SAILOR INJURED IN FLARE ACCIDENT ON BOARD HMAS WALLER

On Wednesday night a sailor onboard the Navy submarine HMAS Wallersuffered minor injuries as a result of the inadvertent activation of a pyrotechnic flare.

The injured sailor was treated by medics on board and transferred to Royal Perth hospital early this morning. The family of the injured sailor have been informed.

HMAS Waller sustained superficial damage only and was able to remain at sea.HMAS Waller will return to its home base at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia this morning for a short period.

HMAS Waller had just completed an anti-submarine exercise with HMA ShipsToowoomba and Sirius in the Western Australian Exercise areas off Fremantle at the time of the incident.

The Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane said he has been monitoring the situation closely. “The most important thing is that this sailor is getting the best possible treatment,” CN said. “I would like to commend the crew of Waller for their quick response to what could have been a far more serious incident.”

The launching of flares from a submerged submarine is a normal method of communicating with ships on the surface. The submarine uses the flares to indicate either it's position, the launch of a simulated torpedo attack or an emergency situation.

The incident is now under investigation and further details cannot be provided.

GOVERNMENT TO REPLACE MEDALS LOST IN NATURAL DISASTERS

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Senator the Hon David Feeney, today announced that the Government will relax the policy on replacement of Australian Defence Force (ADF) medals so that medals lost during the Queensland and Victorian floods, the impact of Cyclone Yasi and the fires in Western Australia can be replaced.

“Government policy for many years has been medals can only be issued to the ADF member who earned them,” Senator Feeney said.

“This usually means that medals cannot be replaced if they are lost or destroyed after the ADF member has died.”

Where medals are lost in natural disasters, however, this policy may be relaxed. This was done following the Victorian bushfires in 2009.

“While the Government is committed to maintaining the integrity of our system of military honours and awards, there are circumstances in which the Australian community rightly expects us to show greater flexibility in implementing the existing policy. I believe this unprecedented series of natural disasters is one of those circumstances,” Senator Feeney said.

“I have therefore decided that ADF medals may be reissued to the next of kin or other appropriate relative of deceased ADF members, if the medals have been lost or destroyed in the current natural disasters. Family members who have, in the course of these natural disasters, lost the medals of loved ones, may now make application for replacements.

“Unfortunately, however, only medals dating back to the First World War can be replaced. Medals for conflicts prior to this war are no longer in production.”

Applicants should use the application form and statutory declaration located on the Defence Honours and Awards website at: www.defence.gov.au/medals

Completed applications should be submitted to:

Directorate of Honours and Awards

Department of Defence,

PO Box 7952,

Canberra BC, ACT 2610

Enquiries may also be directed to Defence Honours and Awards toll free on 1800 111 321.

Nuclear or not, we'll need prefab subs

PERHAPS it was Kevin Rudd's most impossible dream - a submarine fleet to face down China. But while the idea of building 12 of our own big boats is still government policy, experts argue the task is beyond us.

One solution canvassed this week is to go nuclear. The question is whether this would exchange one set of problems for another.

The centrepiece of the 2009 defence white paper was a fleet of 12 new submarines, capable of patrolling off north Asia and equipped with cruise missiles to be used to support US forces in any war with China. They would be conventional submarines and they would be built in South Australia.

The first of these submarines would need to be operational in the early 2020s, to begin replacing the navy's six Collins-class boats.

Full Article

NAVY PEOPLE: DESERT PROMOTION TO NAVY CAPTAIN

Echuca’s Angela Bond has just been promoted to Navy Captain and it happened not while she was at sea, but while she was surrounded by the desert sands of the Middle East.

CAPT Angela Bond.

Now Angela has joined a select number of women to have achieved the rank of Captain in the Royal Australian Navy.

“I grew up in Echuca and went to St Mary’s Primary and St Joseph’s College before finishing my schooling at Echuca High School,” said Angela.

“After school I joined the Woman’s Royal Australian Navy in March 1980 but, when it was disbanded in 1985, I [was one of many women sailors who] transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.”

Rising steadily through the ranks in a career centered mainly on dealing with personnel policy and issues, she transferred to the Management Executive Primary Qualification in 2010 as the first in this area to wear the rank of Captain.

Angela’s six months in the Middle East are now coming to an end. It was a very difficult time in which she had to deal with the repatriation of Australian soldiers killed in action. She is looking forward to returning home and enjoying time with her family.

“I’m really looking forward to getting home to my husband, John, and our four kids, Amy (25), Averil (20), Ethan (15) and Nathaniel (11),” she said.

In February Angela will move to Canberra to take up the role of Director Military Salaries and Allowances Policy.

Australia to Review NH90 Program, Cancels Watercraft

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today updated the Projects of Concern list, announcing the cancellation of the LCM2000 Watercraft project.

LCM 2000 Watercraft

This project was approved by the previous Government in 1997 and involved the construction of six watercraft for the Landing Platform Ships Kanimbla and Manoora.

The project has suffered a number of problems. Most critically, the dimensions and weight of the watercraft meant they were unsuitable to be launched from these ships and are not fit for alternative Australian Defence Force use.

Accordingly, the project has been canceled and Defence will now begin plans to dispose of the vessels.

MRH-90 Helicopter

Mr Smith and Mr Clare also announced that a high-level comprehensive diagnostic review of the MRH-90 helicopter project would occur this month.

As reported in both the Defence Annual Report and the ANAO Major Project Report released last year, the project has suffered delays of 12 months for the Navy’s helicopters and 18 months for the Army’s helicopters.

Delays are due to a series of key issues, including engine failure, transmission oil cooler fan failures and the poor availability of spares.

The former Government approved the order of 46 MRH-90s to replace the Army’s Black Hawk and Navy’s Sea King fleets.

13 MRH-90 helicopters have been accepted by Defence to date and are currently being used for testing and initial crew training.

Minister Smith said that the full diagnostic review would be supported by external specialists. It will provide recommendations to Government on the actions necessary to fully implement this important project.

Projects of Concern:

The Projects of Concern list was established by the Government in 2008 to focus the attention of Defence and Industry on remediating listed projects.

This process has been successful in remediating a number of key complex and challenging projects.

Projects are put on the list when there are significant challenges with scheduling, cost, capability delivery or project management.

Since September 2010, the Government has added two projects to the list (Electronic Support Measures upgrade for AP-3C Orion aircraft and Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles).

This brings the total number of projects placed on the list since 2008 to 18. Seven of these have been removed – five due to remediation and two due to cancellation.

Later this month the Minister for Defence Materiel will meet with the CEOs of companies who have projects on the list to discuss their plans to remediate the projects.

These meeting will now occur twice a year to ensure there is a focus at the top of Government, Defence and industry to remediate these projects and ultimately take them off the list.

Minister Clare also indicated he was developing plans to further strengthen the Project of Concern process. These reforms will be released in the next few weeks.

The current Project of Concern list is below.

Project/ Description

• -- CN10: Collins Class Submarine Sustainment and Projects
• -- AIR 5077: Phase 3, ‘Wedgetail’ Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft
• -- SEA 1448: Phase 2B, Anti-Ship Missile Defence radar upgrades for ANZAC Class Frigates
• -- JOINT 2043: Phase 3A, High Frequency Modernisation (HFMOD) – communications and data exchange capability for sea, air and land forces
• -- AIR 5333: ‘Vigilare’ – Aerospace surveillance and command and control system
• -- JOINT 129: Phase 2, Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – airborne surveillance for land forces
• -- LAND 121: Phase 3, ‘Overlander’ replacement field vehicles, trailers and modules for land forces (‘Medium Heavy’ class of vehicles only)
• -- JOINT 2070: Lightweight torpedo replacement for ANZAC and ADELAIDE Class Frigates
• -- AIR 5402: Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft – Air to Air Refuelling Capability
• -- AIR 5276: Phase 8B, Electronic Support Measures upgrade for AP-3C Orion aircraft
• -- AIR 5418: Phase 1, Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missiles