capabilities to be delivered "in ways thatare financially prudent and sustainableinto Ihe future."Future <strong>Navy</strong> capabilities are alsoprovided for a key commitment in theDefence 2000 While Paper was theintroduction by about 2013 <strong>of</strong> at leastthree Air Warfare Destroyers - Phase Istudies lor this long-term project willexamine the ADF's future maritime airwarfare capability requirements.Capital equipment increasesExpenditure on new capitalequipment investment budget willincrease from $3.5 billion to $4.1billion, with a number <strong>of</strong> <strong>Navy</strong>-relatedmajor projects well advanced theAn/ac build program. Huon Classminehunler coastal acquisition,provisional acceptance <strong>of</strong> HMASKankin. the last <strong>of</strong> the CollinsClass new submarines, continuedredevelopment <strong>of</strong> HMAS ALBATROSSincluding a helicopter underwaterescape trainer and helicopter washfacility, and transition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> andAir Force radio network operationalcapability and staff to ihereplacement integrated high frequencycommunications system.Automated sites will eventuallyoperate in the Rivcrina. and at ShoalBay. TownsviHe and North West Cape.<strong>The</strong> project lor replacement <strong>of</strong> theFrcmantle Class Patrol Boats willcontinue, and tenders for newammunition storage facilities at Eden insouthern New South Wales are to becalled in mid-<strong>2002</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> thewharf began in March this year.Recruiting & retention improveA lew months ago. the <strong>Navy</strong>Capability Management Committee(NCMC) met in Canberra to reviewfunding priorities for the coming Budgetyear. All FEG (Force Element Group!Commanders attended, together withrepresentatives <strong>of</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> Headquarters.Maritime Command. SystemsCommand, and the DMO supportedby many til their respective BusinessManagers. Because recruiting andretention rates have now started toimprove. RAN numbers are expected toincrease in <strong>2002</strong>-03 by more than 2*2 toover 12.800 the highest level since1999-2000 and continue to increasesteadily towards the target strength <strong>of</strong>around 14.000. Funding will permitSystems Command to continue with theongoing review and civilianisation <strong>of</strong>non-MRU billets, a commitment madeb> the Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>Navy</strong> in September2000.From Nuw \rn \CDF pays tribute tounique unitCDF ADMI. Chris Barrie recentlyunveiled a plaque commemorating theEMU (Expcrimcrtal Military Unit)personnel <strong>of</strong> the RAN and the UnitedStates Army who served together in theVietnam War.Over a thousand people gathered aiBomaderry on the soulh coast onSaturday April 27 02 to participate inihe service.In the presence <strong>of</strong> US AmbassadorThomas Schieffer and many <strong>Australia</strong>nand American veterans and theirfamilies. ADMI. Barrie dedicated themonument to the men <strong>of</strong> the 135thAHC (Assault Helicopter Company)I'SS CARL VINSON <strong>The</strong> US company Northrop Gromman Corporation has heen awarded a USS42million planning contract from the USN to facilitate preparations for the overhaul and refuelling <strong>of</strong> thenuclear powered aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-701. scheduled lor 2004. This will he theship's first and only refuelling during a serv ice life expec ted to span approximately 50 years. (USN)<strong>of</strong> the US Army, which includedmany members <strong>of</strong> the RAN's FleetAir Arm.CDF said the 135th AHC was aunique combat unit. From October 1967to June 1971 a detachment <strong>of</strong> RANFleet Air Arm personnel was integratedwith the US Army unit. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>nsand Americans <strong>of</strong> the 135th operatedtroop carrying and ground attackhelicopters in the war againstinsurgency m the Republic <strong>of</strong> SouthVietnam. It was designated bv the USCommand as the Experimental MilitaryUnit, or EMU. and had as its motto Gelthe blixnly job done".<strong>The</strong> 135th AHC confirmed its mottowith an unsurpassed record, a highreputation, and hard work, which wasnot w ithout loss and sacrifice.History records eight RANpersonnel were killed in the war inVietnam: five were members <strong>of</strong> theEMU. Thirty-two American EMUswere also killed in combat.<strong>The</strong> nearly 50 strong group <strong>of</strong><strong>Australia</strong>ns were Fleet Air Ann andsupport personnel posted as the RANHelicopter Flight - Vietnam, adetachment <strong>of</strong> 723 Squadron, based atHMAS ALBATROSS, in Nowra. Fourflights spent a year's lour <strong>of</strong> duty Hyingand maintaining US Armv helicopterswith their American counterparts.RAN personnel were involved in allareas <strong>of</strong> 135th activities. A US army<strong>of</strong>ficer commanded the fully integratedinternational unit, totalling some 300personnel, with an <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong>aviator as its XO and second incommand.<strong>Australia</strong>n pilots were in command<strong>of</strong> the helicopter platoons and <strong>Australia</strong>ntechnical personnel were in leadershippositions throughout the maintenanceareas. <strong>Australia</strong>ns were also in charge <strong>of</strong>the food preparation and the medicalsupport facilities.Part <strong>of</strong> the daily task <strong>of</strong> the multinationalunit was helicopter insertionand recovery ol troops, prov iding air toground attack, re-supply <strong>of</strong> ammunitionand equipment, and recoveringcasualties, throughout all weatherconditions, night and day. at times underdirect enemy fire.Former member CPOATWO JimHill said. "For me the EMU monumentis a unique reminder <strong>of</strong> the close<strong>Australia</strong>n links with United States."It is dedicated to those <strong>Australia</strong>nand United States service personnel <strong>of</strong>two different armed services <strong>of</strong> twoallied nations who were integrated into asingle military unit and fought a bloody,controversial and unconventional war.did it well and with honour."By LCDR Frank Eyck. NovyNews'A CERTAIN MARITIMEINCIDENT'ObservationsBy Ge<strong>of</strong>frey<strong>The</strong> terms <strong>of</strong> reference for the Senate Select Committeeinquiring into a 'Certain Marine Incident' - the so-called'children over board' affair involving HMAS ADELAIDE -are w ide and have allowed some interesting statements andallegations to be made by participants. <strong>The</strong> inquiry isincomplete as this item goes to the publisher.Former Chief <strong>of</strong> Naval Staff and Fleet Commander. ViceAdmiral Sir Richard Peek, enlivened proceedings at onestage-while vigorously supporting the Captain <strong>of</strong>ADELAIDE and his ship's company. <strong>The</strong> Admiral also madethe valid point that the services are not businesses - "theservices are no more businesses than is the parliament, thepolice force or the teachers. <strong>The</strong>y are services and servicescannot be organised in the same way as businesses. I think thatEvansaccepted that in recent years personal staff, who might beexpected to share the political aspirations <strong>of</strong> their minister,have become a not-to-be-disregarded factor in the discharge <strong>of</strong>ministerial responsibilities, once the prerogative <strong>of</strong> nonpoliticalpublic servants. <strong>The</strong> armed forces and civil servantsare unlikely to welcome any intrusion into their presentrelatively stable relationship.<strong>The</strong> relationship between the deface force and the civilauthority has been the subject <strong>of</strong> debate in <strong>Australia</strong> for overl(X) years, leading in the first place to the creation <strong>of</strong> a navalboard in 1905 to administer the force formed from colonialNavies following Federation. Debate on the subject hascontinued from time to time and it is curious to think anincident at sea in northern waters has caused the matter to beraised again.<strong>The</strong> Senate Committee's final report should makeinteresting reading.<strong>The</strong> images you were not meant to see. w hich were actually leaked to a television station. Had they not been leaked il is highly likely they would have neverheen seen. (RAN)is part <strong>of</strong> the problem in the current organisation <strong>of</strong> thedefence forces".Admiral Peek's statement will undoubtedly be widelysupported in the ADF but a further comment about the(present) 'stupid' chain <strong>of</strong> command may not be received soenthusiastically by Defence leaders. However it does appearthat the current division <strong>of</strong> responsibilities has causedconfusion - a "who is responsible to who for what" situation- in some parts <strong>of</strong> the defence force.Not the least interesting matter to be discussed at theinquiry concerned the role <strong>of</strong> ministerial staff 'advisers' whocome and go as portfolios change hands. It seems to beA LIMIT TO THE SIZE OF SHIPSIt has been interesting to read in various shipping publicationscomment on the seemingly ever increasing size <strong>of</strong> merchantships, in particular <strong>of</strong> passenger ships designed in the main forcruising.Tankers and bulk cargo carriers have been growing in sizefor many years, but they carry small crews and as they loadand unload at purpose-built ports and berths, are hardlynoticedby most people: Big passenger ships are a differentmatter altogether.To one w ho can recall the 'big' 28.000 - 30.000 tonne shipssuch as P&O's CANBERRA and HIMALAYA and the Orient24 VOL. <strong>64</strong> NO. 3 THH NAVYTHF: NAVY VOL <strong>64</strong> NO. 3 25
E^2S3322EDLine s ORCADES (his favourite) and ORIANA. (he scale <strong>of</strong>almmt everything pertaining to ihe present generation <strong>of</strong>liners is quite staggering.P&O-Princess Line's GRAND PRINCESS, for example,has a dwt <strong>of</strong> 108.806 tonnes. or three and a half times thai <strong>of</strong>the group mentioned in the preceding paragraph, has 13passenger decks including internal promenades and a gardenon the upper deck (to remind travellers <strong>of</strong> home'.'), with allberths occupied 3.KM) passengers can be embarked plus acrew <strong>of</strong> I.KM) no doubt many <strong>of</strong> who would belong to thecatering staffMarine craft ha\e been growing in si/e throughout theages and from a shipbuilders point <strong>of</strong> view there would notseem to be a limit, limits however, there are. such as the depth<strong>of</strong> water in straits, channels, harbours etc.. able toaccommodate deep draught vessels, facilities in ports andberths able to handle the human and inanimate contents <strong>of</strong>ships and the cost <strong>of</strong> such ships in the first place: <strong>The</strong>economic factors.<strong>The</strong> International Maritime Organisation (IMO> isexamining other factors, not least the safety aspects<strong>of</strong> the super-liners. Fire continues to be a major hazardin ships; collisions and groundings take place despiteadvances in electronic warning devices andcommunications.Ever since the loss <strong>of</strong> the 47.(MM) tonne TITANIC and 1503lives in 1912. passenger safely at sea has been a vitalconsideration <strong>of</strong> marine architects and shipbuilders; one mightexpect the new floating cities to create a few more headachesfor both.Hatch, Match & DispatchHatchBALL A RAT LaunchesBALLARAT. the eighth ANZAC class Ship, has beenlaunched at Tenix Defence's Wilhamsiown dockyard inVictoria on Saturday. 25 May. 2(M)2<strong>The</strong> AN/.AC Ship Project is a collaborative projectbetween the <strong>Australia</strong>n and New Zealand Governments for thedevelopment and construction <strong>of</strong> 10 new guided missilefrigates eight lor the Koval <strong>Australia</strong>n <strong>Navy</strong> (RAN) and twolor ihe Royal New Zealand <strong>Navy</strong> (RNZN).St» far Tenix has delivered HMA Ships ANZAC. ARUNTAand WARRAMUNGA to the RAN and HMNZ ShinsTE KAHA and TE MANA to the RNZN. psfollow ing behind. Within minutes HSV-X I Joint Venture wasunderway again, departing the area at high speed andproceeding to sea to escort the MV Obrrgon into port.As night fell on thai hectic day. HSV-XI came into herow n. A night raid into enemy territory took enemy combatantsadvancing up Ihe Ijord toward friendly forces completely bysurprise.<strong>The</strong> following day M V Ohregon was again under HSV-X Iescort and an advance reconnaissance <strong>of</strong> the entire40 nautical miles route was completed in just one hour.Most apparent was HSV-XI's ability lo navigate at highspeed in the very tight confines <strong>of</strong> Norway's Ijords using theelectronic chart system F.CDIS and radar, particularly in poorvisibility due to snow and rain. Additionally, the craftdisplayed her capability <strong>of</strong> operating free from mechanicalproblems in sub-freezing temperatures with frequent snow.Captain Philip Beierl. Officer in Charge said "HSV-XI wasalso able to take advantage <strong>of</strong> narrow weather windows, as wedid by departing Trondheim eight hours early, to get ahead <strong>of</strong>a predicted weather front. A slower vessel would have had towail two days for a safe departure." In doing so. CaptainBeierl demonstrated his advanced understanding <strong>of</strong> strategiccapabilities only available to fast craft that easily out run badweather.Captain Beierl continued "<strong>The</strong> craft showed that we couldoperate safely at 15 knots in beam or following seas <strong>of</strong> 6metres significant wave height."If HSV-X I needed to prove she was a workhorse then shedid just that towards the end <strong>of</strong> the exercise, completing awinter intra-theatre lift <strong>of</strong> US Marine Corps (USMC)VOL M NO. JTHE NAVYTHE NAVY VOL <strong>64</strong> NO. 3 27
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