Pacific Archives - CONTACT magazine

HMAS Sirius at anchor off the coast of Samoa. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.

HMAS Sirius gets confusing head start on six-month Pacific mission

05/07/201912/07/2019 Brian Hartigan 1069 Views 0 Comments

A Defence press release issued today says Joint Task Force 637 and Her Majesty’s Australian Ship Sirius will arrive in Fiji

The first Austal-built Guardian-class patrol boat on builder's sea trials. Austal photo.

Australian News Pacific

Tonga gifted Guardian-class patrol boat – third in class

21/06/201921/06/2019 Brian Hartigan 1168 Views 0 Comments

A new Guardian-class patrol boat built by Austal in WA was today gifted to the Kingdom of Tonga. FILE PHOTO:

Japanese and Australian soldiers fire artillery in Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

Australian Australian Army News Pacific Videos

Japan fires artillery on Australian soil

01/06/2019 Brian Hartigan 1293 Views 0 Comments

Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel have successfully fired two FH-70 howitzers out to 25 kilometres while in Australia.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres views islands of Tuvalu from the ramp of a No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan. Story and photo by Eamon Hamilton.

Australian News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

UN Secretary-General gets Spartan tour of Pacific isles

31/05/2019 Brian Hartigan 492 Views 0 Comments

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other dignitaries, toured the South-West Pacific with the assistance of the Royal Australian

A sailor on HMAS Gascoyne throws a line to a Funafuti wharf worker as the ship pulls alongside in Tuvalu during a south-west-Pacific-engagement tour. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Gascoyne farewells south-Pacific hosts after month of hospitality

07/05/2019 Brian Hartigan 351 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Gascoyne has farewelled Tonga and Tuvalu following a month-long deployment to the Southwest Pacific region. CAPTION: A sailor on

Members of the Tuvalu Police Force salute the rising of their national flag for the first time on their new Guardian-class patrol boat, gifted by Australia. Photo by Petty Officer James Whittle.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

New patrol boat gifted to Tuvalu

06/04/2019 Brian Hartigan 1347 Views 0 Comments

Australia today gifted a new Guardian-class patrol boat – the Te Mataili II – to the government of Tuvalu, in Western

Republic of Fiji soldiers conduct Bushmaster driver training on a log-crossing obstacle, under the guidance of Australian Army driver training instructors, at Greenbank Training Area. Photo by Corporal Nicci Freeman.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific

Fiji Bushmaster drivers’ course

03/04/201915/04/2019 Brian Hartigan 435 Views 0 Comments

Brisbane-based Australian Army soldiers are training troops from the Republic of Fiji Military Force (RFMF) on how to use Bushmaster

HMAS Choules sails into Port Villa, Vanuatu, during her 2019 month-long Pacific Engagement deployment. Photo by WO2 Mick Davis.

ADF Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Choules home after month in the Pacific

23/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 632 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Defence Force’s first enhanced regional engagement activity in the Pacific for 2019 has concluded with the return of

Manus Island Regional Processing Centre (MIRPC) staff board an Australian landing craft Lombrum Naval Base, Manus Island. Photo by Sergeant W Guthrie.

Australian News Operations Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Aust/PNG MoU on Manus Island navy-base extension

21/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 1111 Views 1 Comment

Australia and Papua New Guinea reached another milestone in the bilateral relationship with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

An MRH-90 helicopter from HMAS Choules' demonstrates handling and winching drills during a visit to Vanuatu. Choules will also visit Solomon Islands during her SW-Pacific Regional Engagement deployment. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

ADF Australian New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

ADF support to Solomon Islands first election since RAMSI

19/03/201919/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 632 Views 0 Comments

At the request of the Solomon Islands government, the Australian Defence Force is contributing to Australia’s support to the Solomon

A RNZAF no.3 SQN NH90 helicopter is loaded into a RAAF C-17 Globemaster III, on its way to the Solomon Islands for the first post RAMSI general election on the archipelago. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF (+ADF) assist Solomon Island in first post-RAMSI election

15/03/2019 Brian Hartigan 686 Views 0 Comments

New Zealand’s Minister of Defence Ron Mark announced earlier this week that the NZDF would deploy 55 personnel and two

Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules serves as Flag Ship for the 2019 Royal Hobart Regatta in Tasmania's Derwent River. Photo by Petty Officer Justin Brown.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Choules on Pacific tour

20/02/2019 Brian Hartigan 949 Views 0 Comments

HMAS Choules has deployed on a month-long activity for maritime and land training with Australian regional partners in the south-west

Personnel from No. 2 Security Forces Squadron, USAF and the Japanese Self Defence Force cross train in security tactics for Exercise Cope North 2018, Andersen Air Force Base Guam. Photo by Corporal Glen McCarthy.

Australian News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF send large contingent on exercise on Guam

19/02/2019 Brian Hartigan 1118 Views 0 Comments

The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed 16 aircraft and more than 450 personnel to participate in Exercise Cope North

HMA Ships Canberra and Success depart Sydney Harbour (in company with HMAS Newcastle) for a four month deployment conducting training exercise and international engagement activities. Photo by Able Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Asia Australian India News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Joint Task Groups departs Sydney

19/02/2019 Brian Hartigan 898 Views 0 Comments

HMA Ships Canberra, Newcastle and Success departed Fleet Base East on Sunday 17 February on a Joint Task Group deployment of up to four months.

Members of the Royal Australian Navy Sea Training Group with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Maritime Element ships company of 'Ted Diro' (P401) on completion of the ships sea readiness evaluation at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Christopher Szumlanski.

Australian News Overseas Pacific

PNG commissions first Aussie-gifted patrol boat

13/02/201913/02/2019 Brian Hartigan 1070 Views 1 Comment Pacific Patrol Boat Program

Papua New Guinea Defence Force celebrated the commissioning of the first Guardian-class patrol boat, HMPNGS Ted Diro, on Friday 1

The Royal Navy's Duke-class frigate HMS Montrose departs Auckland, New Zealand after a five-day visit. Photo and video by Mike Millett, AirflowNZ.

Asia Europe Middle East New Zealand News Overseas Pacific Rest of World Videos

HMS Montrose visits NZ during 4-year deployment

22/01/201922/01/2019 Brian Hartigan 1092 Views 0 Comments HMS Montrose

From Devonport Naval Base in Plymouth, UK, to Devonport Naval Base in Auckland – the Royal New Zealand Navy welcomed

Flight Lieutenant Sam Hatrick, aircraft captain from the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No.40 Squadron, helps offload about two tonnes of voting equipment and operational supplies for The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand from an RNZAF Boeing 757 aircraft at Honiara. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Overseas Pacific

NZDF takes election materiel to Solomon Islands

09/01/2019 Brian Hartigan 627 Views 0 Comments

NZDF has delivered about 2 tonnes of voting equipment to the Solomon Islands for the South Pacific country’s national and provincial elections later this year.

Explosive-ordnance-disposal specialists from the Vanuatu Mobile Force and the Australian Army prepare to destroy WWII ordnance in Vanuatu.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

Oz Army EOD team called to Vanuatu

11/12/201811/12/2018 Brian Hartigan 1436 Views 0 Comments

The Australian Defence Force recently responded to an urgent request from the Vanuatu government to to destroy explosive remnants of

News Overseas Pacific Technology Videos

PNG’s Pacific Patrol Boat crew get sea legs

07/12/201826/01/2019 Brian Hartigan 340 Views 0 Comments Pacific Patrol Boat Program, Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project

One week after being handed over from shipbuilder Austal to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, Nuship Ted Diro passed

On Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Ship Lakekamu sailors and soldiers prepare to launch exclusion-zone markers off the coast of Port Moresby for APEC 2018 Leaders' Week security. Photo by Able Seaman Kieren Whiteley.

Australian Australian Army News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

PNGDF and ADF lay exclusion-zone markers for APEC security

17/11/201817/11/2018 Brian Hartigan 1000 Views 0 Comments APEC

PNG sailors and Aussie soldiers placed dozens of exclusion-zone markers around Port Moresby Harbour to support the security effort for

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