Royal Australian Navy – CONTACT magazine

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.

Aussies learn the lay of the land at sea

01/05/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 600 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 559 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 642 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 571 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 478 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 496 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 602 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 499 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 338 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 529 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 409 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 725 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 400 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 453 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 332 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.

News Royal Australian Navy

Keeping Sydney Harbour moving

09/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 406 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

The ship's company of HMAS Canberra lines the upper decks, followed by JS Kumano, FNS Auguste Benebig, HMAS Brisbane and Guardian-class Patrol Boat HMPNGS Francis Agwi as they sail past Bradley's Head for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Susan Mossop.

News Royal Australian Navy

Kakadu makes history in the harbour

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 645 Views 0 Comments Exercise Kakadu

Vessels from 19 nations sailed into Sydney Harbour on March 21 for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review (KFR), commemorating 125

Able Seaman Chloe Lampasona fires the M2HB-QCB at an aerial target on the upper decks of HMAS Toowoomba in the Philippine Sea during a regional presence deployment. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

News Royal Australian Navy

A weapon that’s old but gold

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 703 Views 0 Comments HMAS Toowoomba

For all the focus on next‑generation weapons like hypersonic missiles, lasers and drones, the reality is that security often comes

From left, Commander Australian Fleet Rear Admiral Chris Smith, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and the HMAS Sydney Association treasurer stand in front of the Bradleys Head Naval Memorial in Sydney, NSW. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jonathan Rendell. Photo by Leading Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy

Memorial’s enduring significance recognised

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 549 Views 0 Comments

In a ceremony at Bradleys Head in Sydney, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh and Commander Australian Fleet

Lieutenant Matthew Jennings conducts anti-submarine warfare exercises with Leading Seaman Lachlan Wyatt aboard HMAS Toowoomba as part of Exercise Nichi Gou Trident. Story by Lieutenant Marcus Middleton. Photo by Leading Seaman Zac Dingle.

News Overseas Royal Australian Navy

Submarine hunters unite

01/04/2026 Posted by Mike Hughes 778 Views 0 Comments Exercise Nichi Gou Trident (NGT), HMAS Toowoomba, Japan Maritime Self Defence Force, Submarine

If you think ‘finding a needle in a haystack’ is the best idiom to describe the impossible, then you’ve never

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