Pacific Archives - CONTACT magazine

Australian Army officer Major Liam Clarke, from 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, and Papua New Guinea Defence Force officer Captain Cyril Gerari, from Igam Barracks Engineer Battalion, on Exercise Puk Puk, in Lae, Papua New Guinea. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photos by Lance Corporal Caitlyn Davill.

Australian Army News Pacific

Brothers in arms and construction in PNG

11/07/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 633 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, Exercise Puk Puk, PNG

Combat engineers from five nations executed four major and two minor projects in eight weeks during Exercise Puk Puk in

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Australian Army soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment and the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment visit he Solomon Scouts and Coastwatchers Monument during Exercise Coastwatchers 2025. Story by Major Diana Jennings. Photo by Lance Corporal Luke Donegan.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos

Coastwatchers cast eye on security and history

07/05/202510/05/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1456 Views 0 Comments 2nd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, 4th Health Battalion, Exercise Coastwatchers, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands

Exercise Coastwatchers, the little-known but significant training exercise between Australia and the Solomon Islands, has successfully completed rotation 11. CAPTION: Australian

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Sergeant Matthew Watson and Sapper Daniel Almer from 20th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron prepare an unexploded ordnance for disposal during Operation Render Safe 25-B Nauru. Photo by Sergeant Samuel Miller.

ADF News Pacific

Sappers helping Nauru to be safe

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1016 Views 0 Comments Operation Render Safe

A team of ADF explosives experts worked with Government of Nauru authorities to dispose of two World War 2-era unexploded

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Australian Army soldiers from the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment and members of the Philippine Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Company conduct littoral assault training with Zodiac small boats during a Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P) program at Marine Base Ternate. Photo by Corporal Janet Pan.

Australian Army News Pacific

Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines doubles commitment

11/04/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2018 Views 0 Comments JATT-P, Joint Australian Training Team – Philippines (JATT-P), Philippines

Military training activities between Australia and the Philippines are increasing in 2025, strengthening cooperation and broadening interoperability. CAPTION: Australian Army

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US Army personnel on the ramp of a RAAF C-27J Spartan overlook Kwajalein Atoll. Story by Flight Lieutenant Glen Paul. Photos by Sherman Hogue.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF Spartan supports fisheries patrol in Marshall Islands

28/03/202529/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2385 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Rai Balang, Operation Solania

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and its crew have played a key role in the Pacific Islands Forum

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ADV Reliant delivers one of three boats to be given to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force during a port visit to Honiara, Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Lyndon Harvey. Photos by Lieutenant Commander Brenton-James Glover.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

ADF back to Solomons on survey mission

25/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1109 Views 0 Comments 12th Chief Engineer Works (12CEW), Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Littoral Riverine Survey Squadron, Royal Solomon Islands Police Force

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant deployed to Solomon Islands recently for vital survey work, reinforcing Australia’s longstanding commitment to the

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A medical team from Army’s 2nd Health Battalion during Operation Render Safe 24-2, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Luke Bellman.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News Pacific

Army medics treat and train locals in Solomons

04/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1028 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Operation Render Safe, Solomon Islands

Crocodile and pig attacks are not the typical injuries orthopaedic surgeon Major Darren Paterson is accustomed to. CAPTION: A medical team

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ADV Reliant crew offload the donated fire truck onto the dock at Betio Port, Tarawa, Kiribati. Story by Flight Lieutenant Sharon Aldrich.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Reliant delivers in the Pacific

04/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1611 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Kiribati

Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant set sail from Brisbane in late December for her first deployment of the year, reaffirming

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Australian citizens board a RAAF C-17A flight home at Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila, following the Vanuatu earthquake. Photos by Corporal Adam Abela.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF supports Vanuatu earthquake response

20/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3122 Views 0 Comments C-130J Hercules, C-17A Globemaster III, Vanuatu

RAAF Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules aircraft have returned 284 Australian citizens and approved foreign nationals from Vanuatu in the

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Rear Admiral Chris Cavanaugh, commander, Submarine Group 7, pins US Navy Submarine Warfare Device 'dolphins' on a Royal Australian Navy lieutenant commander during a pier-side quarters for the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) in Japan. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel G. Providakes.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

First Aussie to earn USN submariners’ ‘Dolphins’

18/12/202418/12/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1983 Views 2 Comments AUKUS

The US Navy qualified the first Royal Australian Navy officer on a nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarine at Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka,

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RNZN Divers survey the area around HMNZS Manawanui on the southern coast of Upulo as part of Op Resolution – NZDF's recovery/salvage operation. Image supplied.

New Zealand News Pacific

HMNZS Manawanui sinking – human error

29/11/202429/11/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2750 Views 4 Comments HMNZS Manawanui

HMNZS Manawanui grounded and sunk off the coast of Samoa as a result of human error, the interim Court of

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Australian Army Signaler Nicholas Lister, left, of 1 Signal Regiment, and Corporal Luke Lini, of the Vanuatu Mobile Force, conduct maintenance on Epi Tower on Epi Island. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

Australian Army News Pacific

Aussie signallers finish connecting Vanuatu

27/11/202405/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1451 Views 0 Comments 1st Signal Regiment, Vanuatu Police Force

After five years and almost a dozen deployments, Australian Army signallers have finished working with the Vanuatu Police Force to

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HMAS Choules arrives at Port Vila, Vanuatu, for a port visit. Story by Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Williamson.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Choules’ visits Port Vila

20/11/202423/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 798 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Vanuatu

HMAS Choules recently made a short port visit to Port Vila, Vanuatu, after providing support to Samoa for the Commonwealth

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From left, Warrant Officer Steven Burrows, Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis and Sergeant Ben Richardson prepare to take photos of marine traffic during a ramp ride on board a C-27J Spartan during Operation Kuru Kuru, Fiji. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.

News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force

On the lookout for fishy business

12/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 942 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-27J Spartan, Operation Kuru Kuru, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Navy

A RAAF C-27J Spartan, its crew and support personnel from 35 Squadron recently deployed to Suva, Fiji, to support maritime

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Deputy Mission Commander Pacific Partnership Wing Commander Scott Minchin holds a child during the mission in the Pacific. Story by Corporal Jacob Joseph.

ADF ADF People Pacific

Friendly Aussie faces in the Pacific

06/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1096 Views 0 Comments Pacific Partnership

The outgoing deputy commander of a US-led operation to provide humanitarian assistance across the Indo-Pacific said Australian servicemen and women

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The ship's company of HMTSS Te Matailii III man the upper decks as the national flag of Tuvalu is raised for the first time during the Guardian-class patrol boat handover ceremony at Fleet Base West in Western Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Connor Morrison.

Australian News Pacific

Tuvalu receives patrol-boat gift from Australia

18/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1505 Views 0 Comments Guardian-class Patrol Boat, Pacific Maritime Security Program

Australia has handed over a new Guardian-class patrol boat – HMTSS Te Mataili III – to Prime Minister of Tuvalu

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A Royal New Zealand Navy diver examines the wreck of HMNZS Manawanui. New Zealand Defence Force photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

Update on HMNZS Manawanui sinking

16/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3709 Views 1 Comment HMNZS Manawanui

The New Zealand Defence Force issued an update for media today, sending us the first official photos of HMNZS Manawanui in

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The future Royal New Zealand Navy dive and hydrographic vessel at Devonport Naval Base. Photo by Mike Millett, AirflowNZ.

New Zealand News Pacific

Aussie expert on Court of Inquiry into HMNZS Manawanui sinking

11/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2536 Views 0 Comments HMNZS Manawanui

New Zealand Defence Force has announced details of its Court of Inquiry (CoI) into the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui in

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HMNZS Manawanui arrives in Funafuti Lagoon as part of Operation Render Safe 2022. Photo bu Petty Officer Christopher Weissenborn.

New Zealand News Pacific

HMNZS Manawanui survivors homeward bound

07/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1316 Views 0 Comments HMNZS Manawanui

Crew and passengers from Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui will be flown home to Auckland tonight aboard a

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HMNZS Manawanui at sea for the first time under Royal New Zealand Navy Control, in the Hauraki Gulf. NZDF photo.

New Zealand News Pacific

HMNZS Manawanui hits reef and sinks off Samoa

06/10/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2621 Views 0 Comments HMNZS Manawanui

Royal New Zealand Navy Ship HMNZS Manawanui hit a reef off the southern coast of Upolu, Samoa, on Saturday evening

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