Pacific – Page 7 – CONTACT magazine

New Zealand and Fijian soldiers fire an 81mm mortar during Exercise Cartwheel. NZDF photo by Petty Officer Chris Weissenborn.

NZDF and RFMF infantry train together in Fiji

22/09/202222/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2616 Views 0 Comments Fiji

For the first time in more than 27 years, the New Zealand Army has undertaken 81mm mortar demonstrations as part

Australian Army, British Army and Papua New Guinea Defence Force sappers work together at a construction site during Exercise Puk Puk at Goldie River Training Depot in Papua New Guinea. Story by Major Jesse Robilliard. Photo by Sergeant Nunu Campos.

Sappers build ties in PNG

20/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2294 Views 0 Comments 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment, British Armed Forces, Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea Defence Force

The strong ties that link the armed forces of Australia, Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom are being strengthened

Australian Corporal Louis Carbery, an infantry soldier with 8/9RAR, discusses how his army clears hallways and intersections at Blackrock Training Camp, Fiji, during Exercise Cartwheel. Story and photo by US Army Sergeant Brian D. Jones, 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

Australian Army News Pacific UK USA

Multinational shoot-house exercise in Fiji’s new Blackrock Camp

18/09/202220/10/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2658 Views 0 Comments

United States, Fijian, New Zealand, Australian soldiers and British Gurkhas trained each other over new strategies to enter a shoot

Australian Defence Force and Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission personnel begin sorting and loading ballot papers for PNG's 2022 election, at the Air Transport Wing – Port Moresby. Photo by Corporal Jonathan Goedhart.

ADF Australian News Pacific Videos

ADF assistance for PNG elections concludes

16/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2048 Views 0 Comments Papua New Guinea, PNGDF

Australia’s operation to support Papua New Guinea’s 2022 national election has now concluded. FILE PHOTO (June 2022): Australian Defence Force

Royal Australian Navy medical officers Commander Robert Turner and Lieutenant Cody Nash transfer a simulated casualty from a MH-60R Seahawk during a training exercise on board HMAS Canberra. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Medical ’emergency’ tests skills

09/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3106 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Render Safe

At the request of the government of Nauru, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) deployed a team of specialist personnel to

Hobart-class guided missile destroyer HMAS Sydney strikes a land target with a Harpoon surface-to-surface missile during Exercise Pacific Vanguard 2022. Story by Lieutenant Carolyn Martin.

Asia Japan News Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

Forces combine for firepower mission

09/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2965 Views 0 Comments Evolved Sea Sparrow, Exercise Pacific Vanguard, HMAS Perth, HMAS Sydney, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment, Republic of Korea Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, US Navy

In the seas off the tropical island of Guam, five nations have again combined to test their maritime warfare skills

Japan News Overseas Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA

HMAS Sydney missile fire on regional deployment

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3449 Views 0 Comments HMAS Supply, HMAS Sydney, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Regional Presence Deployment, Republic of Korea Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, US Navy

Royal Australian Navy guided missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, displayed its sophisticated naval combat capabilities while participating in Exercise Pacific Dragon

HMAS Canberra’s (III) Ships Company parade on the flight deck of during a commemorative service for 80th anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island. Story by Lieutenant Nancy Cotton. Photo by Leading Seaman Matthew Lyall.

History Lest We Forget News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Sunset service for 80th anniversary of the loss of HMAS Canberra (I)

19/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2021 Views 0 Comments HMAS Canberra, HMAS Canberra (I), HMAS Supply, HMAS Warramunga, WWII

Eighty years after HMAS Canberra (I) sank in the Battle of Savo Island, more than 500 members of HMAS Canberra (III)

Commander of the 7th Combat Brigade, Brigadier Michael Say, addresses Republic of Fiji Military Forces Colonel Gadai and members of Exercise Longreach 2022 at Blackrock Camp, Fji on 19 July 2022. Story by Captain Sarah Kelly. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

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

Ensuring readiness for high-risk weather

03/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1786 Views 0 Comments Exercise Longreach, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Extreme weather events like floods, heatwaves, storms and cyclones are predicted to become even more intense and destructive over the

Combat Systems Operator Able Seaman Tony Luu throws a heaving line from HMAS Parramatta as the ship prepares to berth at Fleet Base East on return from a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Commander Andrew Herring. Photo by Leading Seaman Leo Baumgartner.

Asia News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Parramatta received warm welcome home

03/08/202204/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2246 Views 0 Comments Fleet Base East, HMAS Parramatta, MH-60R Seahawk, Operation Argos, PTIs

The Anzac-class frigate HMAS Parramatta returned to its home port of Sydney following a regional presence deployment. CAPTION: Combat Systems

Australian Army rifleman Corporal Joshua Townsend coaches a soldier from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces during a live-fire qualifying shoot at Gallipoli Barracks. Story by Warrant Officer Class Two Max Bree. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

Australian Army News Pacific

Fijian infantrymen set the standard

29/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2533 Views 0 Comments 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment, 7th Combat Service Support Battalion, 8/9 RAR, Coral Warrior 22, EF88 Austyer rifle, Gallipoli Barracks, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

A contingent of Fijian infantrymen are undertaking support company and other courses at Gallipoli Barracks over the next two months,

US Special Agent Justin Smith and Australian Army Captain Nicholas Wood pose in front of Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.

Australian Army News Pacific Police USA

JMPU forges investigative partnership with NCIS

29/07/202202/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3582 Views 0 Comments Military Police, RIMPAC

The Australian Joint Military Police Unit (JMPU) team reached out to their US counterparts to foster a cooperative relationship during

Australian Army soldiers from 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, disembark from two US Marine Corps CH-53 Sea Stallions during a simulated urban close combat scenario on Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

Australian Army Pacific USA

Urban close combat training takes off

29/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2447 Views 0 Comments 1st Regiment RAR, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC, United States Marine Corps

A fictional village bustles with the chatter of role players and enemy party as Australian and Tongan infantry teams wait,

Teachers and students of Lekutu Secondary School during the official handover ceremony to celebrate the completion of the reconstruction project in Vanua Levu, Fiji on July 21. Story by Captain Sarah Kelly. Photo by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Rebuilding schools for Fijian leaders of tomorrow

26/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2866 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, Fiji, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Tropical Cyclone Ana, Tropical Cyclone Yasa

In a rural Fijian town well off the tourist map, hundreds of school children were dancing, singing and celebrating the

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment during a live fire shoot on board HMAS Canberra in the lead up to Excercise Rim of the Pacific 2022. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Corporal John Solomon.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Navy Videos

Infantry sea a new way to train

13/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3368 Views 0 Comments 2RAR, 2RAR (Amphib), EF88 Austyer rifle, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Tonga, HMAS Canberra, RIMPAC

A ship is an unlikely setting for infantry training, but an Army unit aboard HMAS Canberra made it one while

Vanuatu rugby league and touch delegates undertaking their level 1 accreditation as touch football referees. Story by Vanuatu rugby league and touch delegates undertaking their level 1 accreditation as touch football referees. Story by Group Captain Jay Clarke and Emily Egan. Photo supplied.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

ADF and Vanuatu united through sport

13/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1734 Views 0 Comments Vanuatu

Australian Defence Force (ADF) sporting associations joined forces with Vanuatu netball, rugby league, and touch football associations in a five-day

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

Australian News Pacific

Guardian-class PBs suffer serious defects

06/07/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2930 Views 0 Comments Guardian-class Patrol Boat

The fleet of Guardian-class patrol boats gifted by Australia to our Pacific neighbours are experiencing a range of problems so

Chaplain Stuart Asquith (centre) and ADF members on Operation Kimba join Parish Priest Father Philip Jiregari and parishioners at a Sunday service at Saint Martin's Anglican Church, East Boroko Papua New Guinea. Story and photo by Major Martin Hadley.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

PNG friendships enhanced through faith

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1583 Views 0 Comments Operation Kimba, Papua New Guinea

Church officials and members of the congregation of St Martin’s Anglican Church provided a warm welcome to visiting Australian Defence

Australian Defence Force officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Warner lays a wreath during Fiji's Infantry Day commemoration service at Vilu War Memorial, Solomon Islands. Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.

ADF Lest We Forget News Pacific

Pacific family gathered in remembrance

01/07/202204/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2544 Views 0 Comments Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Solomon Islands, Victoria Cross, WWII

Solomons’ International Assistance Force (SIAF) personnel gathered for a memorial service to mark Fiji’s Infantry Day on June 23. CAPTION: Australian Defence

Commanding Officer HMAS Ararat Lieutenant Commander David Martinussen watches RFNS Savenaca complete a replenishment-at-sea approach during a combined patrol on Operation Solania 2022.

News Pacific Royal Australian Navy

Sailors build friendships at sea and on land

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2778 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Ararat, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

HMAS Ararat earlier this month completed a joint maritime patrol with Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca. Ararat