Royal Australian Navy – CONTACT magazine

HMAS Sydney V sails past the mast of HMAS Sydney I as the ship departs for a Regional Presence Deployment, Sydney Harbour, NSW. Photo by Petty Officer David Cox.

HMAS Sydney departs on Regional Presence Deployment

13/06/202613/06/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 455 Views 0 Comments HMAS Sydney

Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class destroyer HMAS Sydney sailed from Fleet Base East in Sydney Harbour on Tuesday 9 June, commencing the third

Members of ship’s company on parade during the commissioning of HMAS Eyre at HMAS Stirling, WA. Story by Lieutenant Mark Tesoriero. Photos by Able Seaman Jayden Fahy.

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HMAS Eyre commissioned

05/06/202607/06/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 7224 Views 1 Comment Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels (ACOPV), Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling, HMAS Eyre

Australia’s maritime frontline has been strengthened with the commissioning of HMAS Eyre in a ceremony at Fleet Base West. CAPTION: Members of

Medical personnel from the 2nd Health Battalion use a deployable CT scanner at a Role 2 Enhanced treatment facility on Exercise Viper Walk at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera. Story by Captain Chris Wade. Photo by Private Alli Craig.

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CT scanner a game changer for medics in the field

05/06/202605/06/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 600 Views 0 Comments 2nd Health Battalion, Exercise Viper Walk, Gallipoli Barracks

It’s widely regarded as one of the most important medical innovations of the past 50 years, earning its inventor –

HMAS Supply, foreground, and JS Kumano conduct a replenishment at sea during Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise. Story by Lieutenant Natalie Starkoff. Photo by Lieutenant Fred Bates.

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Aussie Supply fuels Japan’s Kumano at sea

04/06/202604/06/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 437 Views 0 Comments Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX), HMAS Supply, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

HMAS Supply has conducted a replenishment at sea with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate JS Kumano during Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASWEX). CAPTION: HMAS Supply,

Able Seaman Isabella Anderson and Lieutenant Craig Grant on board the Japanese Ship Kumano, during a port visit to Melbourne. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photos by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

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Aussies learn the lay of the land at sea

01/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 810 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Two Royal Australian Navy (RAN) members have been forging connections at sea on board the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force frigate

Royal Australian Navy Able Seaman Kieran Nieves plays the didgeridoo at the Anzac Cove dawn service on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Türkiye. Story by Flying Officer Freya Hansen. Photos by Corporal Andrew Shaw.

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Anzac Day commemorated at Gallipoli

29/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 1031 Views 0 Comments ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, Turkey

As the sun rose on another Anzac Day at Anzac Cove, Türkiye, the members of Australia’s Federation Guard and the

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defense Minister for Japan Koizumi Shinjiro hold a press conference on board JS Kumano after signing the Mogami Memorandum. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photo by Leading Seaman James McDougall.

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Contracts for future frigates signed

22/04/202626/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 690 Views 1 Comment Chief of Navy, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Minister for Defence

On Saturday April 18, Australia and Japan took a significant step in deepening their strategic defence partnership, by finalising contracts

Warrant Officer Jonathan West talks with a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sailor on board JS Kumano as the ship transits to the Port of Brisbane. Story by Lieutenant Michael Wilson. Photos: byLeading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

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First-hand look at Japanese frigate operations

22/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 622 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force

Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel recently gained first-hand exposure to Japan’s Mogami-class frigate and a clear view of the advanced

Australia’s Federation Guard alongside the Royal Australian Navy Band visits memorial sights from the Western Front in France prior to partaking in Anzac Day 2025 dawn services. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Nicole Dorrett.

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French town where war dead are not forgotten

22/04/202622/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 536 Views 0 Comments

In the farming country of northern France, a small town carries a quiet Australian accent. CAPTION: Australia’s Federation Guard alongside

HMAS Warramunga opens up to the public during the PortFest open day in Albany, WA. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photos by Leading Seaman Shaun Chatfield.

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Navy ship adds weight to celebrations

17/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 537 Views 0 Comments HMAS Warramunga, Open Day

Thousands of locals flocked to see HMAS Warramunga at Albany’s PortFest open day, marking the Port of Albany’s 200-year contribution to Western

HMAS Sydney fires the Royal Australian Navy’s first Naval Strike Missile off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii as a part of Exercise RIMPAC 2024. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

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Defence prepares for new National Defence Strategy

15/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 677 Views 0 Comments Chief of Defence Force

A bigger, stronger and more lethal Defence Force is better placed to defend Australia and its interests, according to Chief

Transit Security Element Rotation 119 members at Larrakeyah Defence Precinct in Darwin. Story by Flight Lieutenant Christopher Morris. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Ryan Howell.

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Triservice team strengthens border security

15/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 545 Views 0 Comments Larraykeyah Defence Precinct, Operation Resolute

Members of the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force deployed as Transit Security Element (TSE) Rotation

Leading Seaman Abbey Lane, centre left, with Ron and Mason during Operation Flood Assist in 2022. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers.

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From flood relief to friendship

15/04/202615/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 373 Views 0 Comments Operation Flood Assist 2022

For Leading Seaman Abbey Lane, a few hours in a flooded caravan park turned into a connection that still rings

The Ghost Shark is one of the uncrewed systems the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit will operate. Story by Lieutenant Dylan Thinee. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

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Navy names autonomous systems unit

15/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 585 Views 0 Comments AUKUS, Ghost Shark, Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU)

The Royal Australian Navy has formally named the Maritime Autonomous Systems Unit (MASU), marking a key step in Navy’s transition

Commanding Officer HMAS Cerberus Captain Ben Esler presents Navy veteran Ron Stannus with a copy of a drawing of HMAS Warramunga, at the Heritage and Learning Centre, HMAS Cerberus, Victoria. Sub-Lieutenant Andrew Murphy. Photos by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

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Passing the Navy baton with wise words

15/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 458 Views 0 Comments HMAS Cerberus, WWII

As he approaches his 100th birthday, Navy veteran Frederick Ronald Stannus returned to HMAS Cerberus, the place his Navy story began

Chief prof Army nominee Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chief of Defence Force nominee Admiral Mark Hammond and Chief of Navy nominee Rear Admiral Mathew Buckley, after the change of leadership announcement in Canberra. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite.

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New ADF leaders announced

13/04/202614/04/2026 Posted by Brian Hartigan 773 Views 2 Comments

The Australian government today announced a number of senior command changes within the Australian Defence Force. Subject to the Governor

Commandant of the Army Logistics Training Centre Colonel Charmaine Benfield presents Craftsman Jack Patman with his certificate. Story by Captain Krysten Clifton. Photo by Petty Officer Bradley Darvill.

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Marine technicians chart a new course for Army

10/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 449 Views 0 Comments Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (ASEME), HMAS Cerberus

Growing up on the coast of Western Australia, Craftsman Jack Patman spent countless hours at his father’s side, helping pull

Maritime warfare officer Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce on the bridge wing of HMAS Stuart during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photos by Leading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

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Warfare officer charts course to Kakadu review

10/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 499 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, HMAS Stuart

Acting Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce joined Navy to help people and explore the world. CAPTION: Maritime warfare officer Sub-Lieutenant Sharni Pierce

Command Warrant Officer Kathryn Holmes on the bridge wing of HMAS Warramunga's during regional presence deployment. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Keigan Gunther. Photo by Leading Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

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Trailblazer ends career at sea

09/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 369 Views 0 Comments HMAS Warramunga

HMAS Warramunga’s Command Warrant Officer Kathryn Holmes is preparing to retire this year after 37 years of service. CAPTION: Command Warrant Officer

Royal Australian Navy Maritime Trade Operations officers with counterparts from the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy at Fleet Base East, Sydney, during Exercise Kakadu. Story by Lieutenant Mark Tesoriero. Photo by Leading Seaman Iggy Roberts.

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Keeping Sydney Harbour moving

09/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 446 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu, Fleet Base East, Maritime Trade Operations (MTO)

At the best of times, Sydney Harbour is one of the world’s busiest waterways, so when the Royal Australian Navy

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