<strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong> $ ^Looks AheadSTATEMENT OF POLICY<strong>The</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong> is mindful that the strategic background to <strong>Australia</strong>'s security has changed and in some respects,deteriorated, in recent decades. In this regard, the principal gauge lor assessing what this country might face in thefuture from a potential enemy is to determine what his capability is today and. based on that, what it can be in thefuture. <strong>Australia</strong> is. <strong>of</strong> geographical necessity, a maritime nation whose prosperity, strength and safety depend to arelatively great extent on seaborne trade and the maritime forces guarding it. In view <strong>of</strong> the foregoing the <strong>League</strong>believes ft is essential that the nation develops steadily the capability to defend itself, paying particular attention tomaritime matters.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> <strong>League</strong>:Believes <strong>Australia</strong> is defensible againstattack by other than a super power and thatthe prime requirement ol such defence is anevident ability to control the sea and airspacearound us and essential lines <strong>of</strong> seaand air communication to our alliesSupports the ANZUS Treaty and the futurere-integration <strong>of</strong> New Zealand as a fullpartnerCalls for closer co-ordination <strong>of</strong> foreign anddefence policies, including a redirection <strong>of</strong>foreign aid to friendly countries in our areawhich are <strong>of</strong> strategic importance lo usBelieves it is in our national interest torestrict Eastern Bloc influence in our rtgionand discourage further political or militarypenetrationOpposes the basing <strong>of</strong> Soviet fishing orother maritime vessels in <strong>Australia</strong> or itsTerritoriesUrges a close relationship with the ASEANcountries, PNG and the Island Stales <strong>of</strong> theSouth Pacific in all relevant fields' Believes there must be a significantdeterrent element in the <strong>Australia</strong>n DefenceForce (ADF) capable <strong>of</strong> retaliation at considerable distances from <strong>Australia</strong>* Believes the ADF must have the capabilityto protect essential shipping at considerabledistances from <strong>Australia</strong>, as well as coastalshippingSupports the concept <strong>of</strong> a strong maritimeAir Force and highly mobile Army, capable<strong>of</strong> island and mngle warfare, as well as thedefence <strong>of</strong> Northern <strong>Australia</strong>Advocates the retention <strong>of</strong> amphibiousforces to ensure the security <strong>of</strong> our <strong>of</strong>f-shoreterritories and enable assistance to beprovided
^=*s NAVAL | ROUNDUP "GAYUNDAH"<strong>The</strong> Port <strong>of</strong> Fremantle wasinundated with visitors in February.Two Ruyal <strong>Navy</strong> patrol vesselHong Kong Squadron battled for a placeberth amongst the many ocean liners and tallships already there<strong>The</strong> two ships, HMS PEACOCK (P239) andHMS STARLING (P241) were the first Bntishpatrol ships from the Hong Kong Squadron tovisit FremantleDisplacing 710 :onnes. the ships carry acomplement <strong>of</strong> seven <strong>of</strong>ficers and 36 sailorsEach ship has a length <strong>of</strong> 62 b metres, and iscapable <strong>of</strong> 25 knotsEach is armed with a single 7b mm OtoMelara gun and its associated British aerospacefire control system Up to four 7 62 mm generalpurpose machine guns can be positioned aboutthe upper deck, and there are two inch rocketlaunchers midshipsBuilt by Hall Russell Limited. Scotland, theships ate specially designed for patrol duties inHong Kong waters, including search andrescue, and have the ability to stay ai sea duringtyphoonsHMS PEACOCK was commissioned on 14July. 1984. and HMS STARLING on 10August. 1984USS PAUL F FOSTER enteDecember 1986(prtotc -toiiWtifwng the Port <strong>of</strong> Fremantle,LSPM E Pitman, fUN|1<strong>The</strong> first <strong>of</strong> the 12 <strong>Australia</strong>n Shipbuilding Industry ASI 315 165 tonne patrol boats underconstruction at South Coogee in Western <strong>Australia</strong> has had its superstructurelowered mtx place This vessel is the first <strong>of</strong> four for Papua New Guinea ft will be namedHMPNGS TARANGAU <strong>The</strong> others are destined for FI/I (4). and one each tor Vanuatu,Western Samoa. Solomon islands and the Cook Islands <strong>The</strong> 31 5 metre boats has beenspecifically designed for operating m a remote and harsh environment, with emphasis onease <strong>of</strong> maintenance and good seakeepmg Qualities, |pnoto LSPH E Pitman RANInuss vir CENNES. first<strong>Australia</strong>.Fremantle4=35JmTiconcDecemberRAN]I•P1nog!1186% »gldmpMMLm *cruiserLSPH EovisitPitmanApril-June. <strong>1987</strong>Compiled by<strong>The</strong> first modernisation <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Navy</strong>'s guided missile launchersystem to take Harpoon, as well asStandard missiles, has been successfullycompleted at Garden IslandDockyard.<strong>The</strong> launcher is fined in 'he Royal <strong>Australia</strong>n<strong>Navy</strong>'s guided missile frigates and guidedmissile destroyers currently being modernised atGarden IslandNAVAL ROUNDUP -GAYUNDAH"Major Modernisation <strong>of</strong> Ouided Missile Launcher<strong>The</strong> General Manager <strong>of</strong> the dockyard. RearAdmital Nigel Berkyn. said that the completion<strong>of</strong> this major project represented a remarkableachievement (or the dockyard He elaboratedthat it was a major dockyard protect using, inpart, state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art weapons technology asused by major weapon manufacturers in theUSA. completed on time and cost, principallyby a team <strong>of</strong> dedicated dockyard employees,breaking new ground in <strong>Australia</strong>Doing the job at GID saved $2 5 million, andresulted in the launcher being available 12months earlier<strong>The</strong> launcher facility is the only purpose builtfacility <strong>of</strong> its type to <strong>of</strong>fer disassembly, overhaul,reassembly and full test capabilitiesIt is already attracting the attention <strong>of</strong> othernavies, and <strong>of</strong> launcher manufacturers <strong>The</strong>facility, coupled with the co-located 254-tonnecrane, also <strong>of</strong>fers the unique capability <strong>of</strong>removal and return <strong>of</strong> the 60 tonne launcher tothe ship as a complete unit, minimising workrequired on ship<strong>The</strong> facility will be m use until the nextcentury for the programme <strong>of</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> missilelauncher overhauls and modernisations <strong>The</strong>first completed missile launcher was lifted by thedockyard's 254-tonne crane, and fitted into theguided missile destroyer. HMASon 25 FebruaryBRISBANE,Lose a cannon, gain anairpla lane?Ballarat may ask the <strong>Navy</strong> for anobsolete naval aircraft as a replacementfor FIMVS CERBERUS' gun,formerly in their Botanic Gardens.<strong>The</strong> City Council agreed to return the historiccannon tc the Royal <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> as a 75thanniversary gesture, bul declined the <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>of</strong> aB<strong>of</strong>ors gun in its place<strong>The</strong> Mayor. Cr Jim Reeves, said he had hadan informal suggestion that the <strong>Navy</strong> might beasked to donate an old naval aircraft for theEureka Aviation Museum<strong>The</strong> council agreed that the Mayorshouldfollow up the idea with the museum and the<strong>Navy</strong><strong>The</strong> council received a letter from theAssistant Minister for Defence Mr Brown,thanking the city for agreeing to transferCERBERUS yun.theMr Brown said that this contribution by thepeople <strong>of</strong> Ballarat to the 75lh anniversary <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Navy</strong> was greatly appreciated'Items such as the ex-HMVSCERBERUS'gun. because <strong>of</strong> their rarity, are <strong>of</strong> tremendousimportance to ihe history <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Navy</strong>and.indeed, to our nation's maritime heritage," hesaid"This will be particularly so for the thousands<strong>of</strong> naval personnel who pass through theRecruit Training Establishment. HMASCERBERUS, .•.)!.•!the gun will be located andalso to the members <strong>of</strong> the public who will havethe opportunity to view the gun within thisnaval envitonment "Early Seatime for NewBreed <strong>of</strong> SailorSixty-eight young men headed fortravel and adventure with the Royal<strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> on 27 February,pioneering a new job category —general duties.Aged between17 and 28. they arrived atHMAS Ninrr.ba. Quaker's Hill, near Blacktown.NSW. for basic training after signing on for twoyearsAfter an eight-week course, including thetraditional sailors' arts <strong>of</strong> ropework, drill, plusfirefighting. damage control, nuclear, biologicaland chemical defence (NBCD1. they will join aseagoing naval unitAfter two years, the men will be able to discharge,or apply to transfer after six months to aspecific specialisation such as radar plotter orsubmariner, depending upon availability andsuitability<strong>The</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> aims to sign on some 300 <strong>of</strong> themen in the new category each year and hold(our courses during this periodMaritime College winsMinesweeping ContractA Tasmania-based researchcompany has received a contractworth more than $500,000, whichcould enable minesweeping to bedone by some commercial craftrather than minesweepers.<strong>The</strong> contract for development <strong>of</strong> a prototypewire trawl capable <strong>of</strong> sweeping moored mineshas been placed with the <strong>Australia</strong>MaritimeCollege research company. AMC Search Ltd.In LauncestonAnnouncing this, the Minister forDefence.Mr Kim Beaziey. said successful development<strong>of</strong> the minesweeping trawl would complementother minesweeping development work beingundertaken by the Royal <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong>'s ResearchLaboratory at Pyrmont, in Sydney"<strong>The</strong> contract has been let as part <strong>of</strong> a planby the RAN to regain a minesweeping capabilitybased on extensive use <strong>of</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>n commercialinfrastructure." he said"<strong>The</strong> minesweeping programme accords withthe high priority given by the Governmentthe acquisition <strong>of</strong> a mine countermeasures canabilityfor the defence <strong>of</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>n ports "<strong>The</strong> development work and trials so farcarried out on the RAN ResearchtoLaboratoryequipment, had been very encouraging and hebelieved that AMC Search Ltd was capable <strong>of</strong>producing a prototype sweep to meet tne<strong>Navy</strong>'s requirements"<strong>The</strong> excellent facilities at the MaritimeCollege in Launceston. combined with theexpertise <strong>of</strong> the development team formed forthe wire trawl protect should ensure everyopportunity for success in this complexhe said.task."<strong>The</strong> Minister added that, if the developmentsprove successful, it should be possible to usesuitable commercial craft for minesweepingrather than expensive, purpose-built minesweepingvesselsPage Thirteen
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