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Commanding Officer of HMAS Maitland, Lieutenant Commander Jeremy Evain, leads the ship's company through the streets of Maitland, NSW, during the ship's final freedom of entry parade on April 2. Story by Lieutenant Gary McHugh. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller.
History News Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Maitland crew parades through city for last time

11/04/202217/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1788 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Freedom of Entry, HMAS Coonawarra, HMAS Maitland

The crew of Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Maitland conducted its final freedom of entry parade in Maitland, NSW, on April 2, with the ship

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Cape Ottway, the first Evolved Cape-class patrol boat ready for launch at the shipyard in Henderson. Image courtesy of Austal.
News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry 

First Cape-class accepted by Navy – names still a mystery

31/03/202201/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 3011 Views 0 Comments Australian Defence Vessel Cape Otway, Cape-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Cairns

The acceptance of Defence’s first evolved Cape-class patrol boat will strengthen Australia’s naval capability while providing greater reliability and effectiveness to the

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The first Evolved Cape-class patrol boat in the water after being launched. Photo by Austal.
Sir Jeffrey Armiger 

Why did Defence launch two new boats with no names?

10/03/202210/03/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5839 Views 2 Comments Sir Jeffrey Armiger

The second of six evolved Cape-class patrol boats was launched last week by Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie at the

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Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie (right) and Austal senior staff walk down a wharf at the Austal Ships shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia, on launch day for the second Cape-class patrol boat. Photo by Leading Seaman Craig Walton.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Navy’s second Cape-class patrol boat launched

05/03/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2004 Views 0 Comments Cape-class Patrol Boat

The second of six evolved Cape-class patrol boats was launched yesterday at the Austal Ships shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison conducts a press conference during his visit to HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin. Story by Lieutenant Gordon Carr-Gregg. Photo by Petty Officer Peter Thompson.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Darwin maintenance centre plan progresses

23/02/202223/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1987 Views 0 Comments Cape-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Ararat, HMAS Coonawarra

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on February 18 announced the release of a tender for an industry partner to head a new

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Manager Navy Badges, Paul 'Badger' Burnett, works on the NUSHIP Arafura badge in Canberra. Story and Photo by Leading Seaman Kylie Jagiello.
ADF People 

Badge designer maintains Navy traditions

15/02/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1626 Views 0 Comments

“Is it a badge or a crest?” is a question Paul ‘Badger’ Burnett is asked daily in his job as

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The first Evolved Cape-class patrol boat in the water after being launched. Photo by Austal.
News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry 

New patrol boat launched

20/10/202121/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 3021 Views 0 Comments

The first of six Evolved Cape-class patrol boats was recently launched at the Austal Ships shipyard in Henderson, Western Australia.

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Commanding Officer HMAS Pirie Lieutenant Commander Sean Dalton leads the ship's company as they march off after the patrol boat’s decommissioning at HMAS Coonawarra in Darwin. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.
News Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Pirie to be destroyed for scrap

05/05/202105/05/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 5519 Views 0 Comments HMAS Pirie

HMAS Pirie (II) has completed her service to the nation and was decommissioned at her home port of Darwin on March 26.

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Royal Australian Navy patrol boat HMAS Pirie sails into Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, for the last time before she decommissions. Photo by Leading Seaman Shane Cameron.
News Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Pirie decommissioned after 15 years

29/03/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4083 Views 8 Comments

The Royal Australian Navy decommissioned Armidale-class patrol boat HMAS Pirie last week, after 15 years of service.

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ScanEagle is launched from the flight deck of HMAS Newcastle, on patrol in the Middle East. Photo by Able Seaman Nicolas Gonzalez.
News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry 

30-year UAV project contenders shortlisted

23/03/202124/03/2021 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2344 Views 0 Comments

Defence’s Maritime Unmanned Aircraft System Continuous Development Program has selected five contenders for the procurement phase.

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Attendees at the official opening of the OPV Enterprise Office in front of Pilbara, which is under construction at the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
ADF News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry 

Offshore Patrol Vessel Enterprise officially launched

12/03/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 1696 Views 0 Comments

Representatives of government and industry gathered in Western Australia on March 4 to officially launch the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)

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Luerssen Australia shipbuilder Malte Hoffman secures a coin inside the mast of the offshore patrol vessel Arafura in a mast-stepping ceremony held at Osborne Shipyard in South Australia.
News Royal Australian Navy Sovereign industry 

Ancient tradition followed for modern ship

27/02/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2486 Views 0 Comments

A naval tradition dating back to the ancient Romans has been followed to bring good luck to the future crew of

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HMAS Huon sails through Sydney Harbour to begin a north-east Asia deployment. Photo by Able Seaman Tara Byrne.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Huon-class replacement fast-tracked

29/01/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 3714 Views 2 Comments

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds says the Huon-class replacement project will be fast-tracked and a new dry dock will be built in WA.

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Head of Maritime Systems Rear Admiral Wendy Malcolm displays the Chief of Navy’s ceremonial coin about to be placed under the keel NUSHIP Pilbara at the Civmec facility in Henderson, Western Australia. Photo by Leading Seaman Ronnie Baltoft.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Keel-laying ceremony for NUSHIP Pilbara

18/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2750 Views 0 Comments

A ceremonial, COVID-19-restricted, keel-laying ceremony for Navy’s third new offshore patrol vessel, NUSHIP Pilbara, was held in WA recently.

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Special Air Service Regiment soldiers prepare to secure a ship's bridge during martime counter-terrorism training. Photo by Corporal Christopher Dickson.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy 

New Maritime Security Training Centre in Darwin

11/09/202016/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3650 Views 0 Comments

Defence will build a Maritime Security Training Centre in Darwin to train Navy and other ADF members for Maritime Security operations.

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The first of two Cape Class Patrol Boats for the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape Fourcroy. Austral photo.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

First keel laying of new Cape-class patrol boat

24/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3501 Views 0 Comments

The National Shipbuilding Program has reached another milestone with the laying of the keel on the first of six new Cape-class patrol boats for Navy.

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One half of the future HMAS Arafura is transports to meet its aft half.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Two halves of future HMAS Arafura brought together

01/05/202006/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7033 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, offshore patrol vessel, OPV

Just shy of a year since an official keel-laying for Navy’s new first-of-class OPVs, the two halves of future HMAS Arafura have been brought together.

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Australian Defence Vessel Cape Fourcroy alongside HMAS Coonawarra. Photo by Leading Seaman James Whittle.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Government orders six new Cape-class for Navy

01/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5196 Views 3 Comments Cape-class

The government today announced it would spend around $350 million to build six new Cape-class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy.

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2nd Commando Regiment commandos speed towards a 'target' vessel in a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) during counter-terrorism training off the New South Wales coast. Photo by Corporal Sebastian Beurich.
Australian CONTACT BLOG SPOT News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sir Jeffrey Armiger 

Is Navy back-flipping on recent sea boat contract?

14/04/202014/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 6338 Views 1 Comment

A story on Defence’s news site today caught our eye – Call-out to industry on sea boat capabilities – in

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Evyenia Kontakos, a fourth-year apprentice welder and boilermaker with the Australian Submarine Corporation and Larry Lavallee, OPV Block Construction Manager, pose for an official photo after hammering in wedges to secure the Chief of Navy's ceremonial coin in place during NISHIP Eyre's keel laying ceremony. Photo by Russell Millard.
Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology 

Keel laying ceremony for second offshore patrol vessel

09/04/202009/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3028 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, offshore patrol vessel, OPV

Australia’s $90 billion National Shipbuilding Program reached another milestone today with the ceremonial keel laying of the second Arafura-class OPV.

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