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CONTACT magazine

HMAS Ballarat

HMAS Ballarat's boarding party approaches Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulaman during a maritime exercise off the coast of Brunei Darussalam during Exercise Penguin. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.
Asia News Royal Australian Navy 

Australia and Brunei strengthen defence ties

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3468 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Exercise Penguin, HMAS Ballarat, Royal Brunei Navy

For the first time since 2018, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy have completed Exercise Penguin, a

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Leading Seaman Aircrewman Jess Muir observes HMAS Ballarat during a South China Sea transit as part of Regional Presence Deployment 25-4. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photo by Petty Officer Jacob Kambanaros.
News Royal Australian Navy 

Frigate and flight find their rhythm

19/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4400 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Regional Presence Deployment

HMAS Ballarat recently sailed from her home port in Western Australia on a three-month regional presence deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific.

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The crew of HMAS Ballarat hold a morning tea during their regional presence deployment to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? Day. Story and photo by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior.
ADF People Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Ballarat crew checks in on R U OK? Day

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3912 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, mental health, RUOK

The crew of HMAS Ballarat paused their busy regional presence deployment schedule to mark R U OK? Day at sea.

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Royal Australian Navy Imam Mogamat Majidih Essa conducts a prayer on a visit to the KRI Nanggala Memorial in Surabaya Indonesia during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023. Story by Lieutenant Emily Tinker. Photo by Sergeant Craig Barrett.
Asia Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy 

‘A surreal moment’: remembering Nanggala

25/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2785 Views 0 Comments HMAS Anzac, HMAS Ballarat, Indo-Pacific Endeavour, Indonesian Navy, KRI Nanggala

Visiting the KRI Nanggala memorial to remember 53 lives lost at sea was particularly poignant for Petty Officer Amy Morris

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Ships and aircraft from the navies of Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States participate in training in the Indian Ocean during the Maritime Partnership Exercise. Photo by Leading Seaman Ernesto Sanchez.
Europe News Pacific Royal Australian Navy USA 

Maritime partnerships strengthened

20/10/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2087 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat

The Royal Australian Navy this month joined key partners Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom for the Maritime

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Leading Seaman Aaron Wheeler pulls a sack containing suspected illegal narcotics from the hold in a dhow. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.
Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy Videos 

HMAS Ballarat scores again

02/02/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4340 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Operation Manitou

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Ballarat has seized more than 2.1 tonnes of hashish and 345 kilograms of heroin in

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Members of HMAS Ballarat’s boarding party lay out seized narcotics in preparation for disposal in the Middle East. Photo by Leading Seaman Bradley Darvill.
Australian Middle East News Operations Royal Australian Navy 

HMAS Ballarat seized 900kg of heroin

28/12/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4173 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Operation Manitou