ISSUE 145
September 2012 Vernon Parker Oration Darwin’s Importance to US Asia-Pacific Strategy Action, Reaction: are Vietnam’s growing maritime forces postured toward countering China? The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future Maritime Highways of Southeast Asia: Alternative Straits? Interview - Rear Admiral Tony Parr Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy Operation Chromite and the Merits of Maritime Manoeuvre Navy Trivia - On the Beach
Journal of the
Issue 145 3 Hamming it up in the 40’s Contents
1940s sailors hamming it up for the camera. Leading Seaman Stoker Francis Vernon Parker Oration, Australian Pipe (centre) pictured with mates from HMAS Sydney, probably leaving or Naval Institute – 4 August 2011 4 joining the ship. Pipe was posted off before the Sydney’s last voyage. (Photo courtesy Steven Pipe) Darwin’s Importance to US Asia-Pacific Strategy 14
Action, Reaction: are Vietnam’s growing maritime forces postured toward countering China? 16
Being There Still Matters 22
The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future 26
Maritime Highways of Southeast Asia: Alternative Straits? 35
Interview - Rear Admiral Tony Parr Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy 37
Operation Chromite and the Merits of Maritime Manoeuvre 40
Navy Trivia - On the Beach 46
VALE - Commodore John Alan “Rocker” Robertson, RAN (Rtd) 48
Qualities of Leadership – Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith 50
F ront page : HMS Alliance submarine set for £6.5m HMAS Newcastle (left) restoration work 62 and HMAS Warramunga at Pelorius Sound, New HDW reveals new AIP submarine Zealand, as part of the for Israel 64 Long Navigation Course
Book Reviews 66 Issue Number 145
Printed by
Visions from the Vault 79 Everbest Printing SPONSORS: Company - RAYTHEON - BOOZ & COMPANY - AUSTAL Style Notes for Headmark 81 ISSN 1833-6531 - THALES NAVAL GROUP - DMS MARITME - QINETIQ - ATI - SAAB Design & DTP by Diane Bricknell - AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE CREDIT UNION - LOPAC - BLOHM+VOSS NAVAL ANI Membership Application Form 83 [email protected]
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARKER N O O R 4 N A
T
R
I
Vernon Parker Oration E O
V
Australian Naval Institute N
E
H
4 August 2011 This article was published in the March 2012 edition, T but with some text missing as the result of a From Rear Admiral James Goldrick, RAN production error. This article contains the full text.
et me start with two caveats. The should explain that when I talk of a understanding how that seaborne first is that some of the arguments ‘fleet unit’, I am not describing a task trade operates or explaining just why as Land ideas which I will propose are group or task force as such, but a range well as how it should be protected. In ‘works in progress’. The second is that of capabilities which together provide doctrinal terms, I could describe much I will speak here specifically about a coherent construct that meets our of the debate in Australia as oscillating the Navy – after all, if I cannot do so maritime strategic requirements. And, historically between a focus on denial here, where can I? – but many of my while I will talk here only about the – the cliché of ‘fortress Australia’ – and comments do have applicability to the navy, the truth is that a ‘fleet unit’ also on projection – the cliché of ‘deployed other Services and to the ADF as a encompasses air and land capabilities forces in distant lands’ – while missing whole. when they have maritime application. much of the necessary link between The story of the Australian Navy It is clear that part of the issue over these two of control, which remains is one that reflects the continuing force structure has been partly due an abiding requirement for a sea strategic challenges faced by our to a difficulty in achieving national dependent nation like ours. Just what nation as it has evolved towards acceptance of the full span of our constitutes an effective ‘fleet unit’ may full independence and a greater maritime strategic requirements, which be change as a result of changes in the understanding of its place in the world. have always included both surety of the relative priorities for denial, control T he Australian And as I consider, from the basis of local and regional environment and and projection, but in the Australian destroyer HMAS studies that I have done over the years protection of the maritime networks situation there will always need to be Brisbane (DDG 41) on our carrier acquisition program, our upon which Australia’s economy some mix of all three. and the US Navy DDG acquisition and, most recently, depends. Perhaps there should be The second aspect relates to destroyer USS John the history of our various submarine little conflict between these two, but the national commitment, human S. McCain (DDG 56) cruise side by programs1, I perceive a recurrent there has been a tendency, despite and material, required to maintain side in Australian theme. It is one of critical mass and our dependence upon seaborne trade, the desired force structure. It is an waters during a struggle to sustain a level of effort to ignore its absolutely fundamental empirical observation, but I believe Operation Exercise which will be truly effective in relation importance – and the navy has not that we sit in Australia at a point Tandem Thrust 2001 to the resources that we devote to it. always been good at either fully at which the relationship between (Courtesy RAN) There are two aspects to this problem. The first is that of force structure – what I term the ‘fleet unit’ question, whereby Australia has repeatedly sought to create a force capable of meeting our strategic demands, but has often found it more expensive and difficult to sustain than the nation was willing to accept. I
1 See the author’s ‘Carriers for the Commonwealth’ in T.R. Frame, J.V.P. Goldrick & P.D. Jones (Eds) Reflections on the Royal Australian Navy Kangaroo Press, Kenthurst, 1991; J.V.P. Goldrick & P.D. Jones Struggling for a Solution: The RAN and the Acquisition of a Surface to Air Missile Capability RAN Sea Power Centre Working Paper No. 2, January 2000; James Goldrick ‘From Submersibles to SWUP: The First Seventy Five Years of Submarines in Australian Defence and Naval Policy’ 2011 Creswell Oration. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARKER N O O R N A Issue 145 5
T
R
I
E
O
V
N the investment required to sustain
E our desired force structure and the
actual combat capability realised is H
T at its most unfavourable. I emphasise here that I am not talking just about the resources required to maintain ships and systems in service but those needed to experiment, to innovate, to develop doctrine and to push both technological and operational boundaries. These are the really difficult things, these are the things which involve risk and, quite frequently, failure. Indeed, the problem of critical mass relates not just to sustained funding – although that remains critical - but to the difficulty, given the complexity of our defence requirements, of generating sufficient intellectual capital to have a navy which is completely self reliant. In CAPT Dechaineux, other words, while we need multiple Government had no money and would capital ship for the Royal Navy. RADM Collins, CMDR capabilities in our order of battle, it is not until greater control of tax revenues But a ‘one off’, however generous, Rayment on bridge very hard to manage the conundrum passed to the Commonwealth after was not the same thing as an Australian HMAS Australia 1944 of generating them effectively from ten years. Nevertheless, many issues navy and others prevailed who had a national base that is too small to be were identified in what was a complex a more sophisticated understanding ideal. problem. The record of small navies of the threats to its shared sea In 2011 this remains a fundamental was not good, while many in Britain dependent interests that the British challenge and, as I go on to discuss viewed with dismay the prospect of empire faced. The Fleet Unit concept the last century, I’d ask you to bear local services which they felt would which was announced by the famous this in mind, because I believe many contribute little to the British Empire’s ‘Jacky’ Fisher, at the Imperial Defence of the difficulties in our history have global security. Others, however, Conference of 1909 provided a derived at least partly from a simplistic were coming to understand that the remarkable solution because it understanding of just what is required only way to get the new dominions to satisfied both nationalist sentiment not only to maintain a navy but to contribute significantly was to allow and – at least partly – the concerns develop it and that this naiveté has them ownership of their own forces. of Whitehall. The heavily armed, fast stemmed at least in part from our early On the locals’ part, the more that a and long ranged battle cruiser (and experiences. If I have a bumper sticker navy was thought about, the more its long range was a key factor) and for the RAN – perhaps for the ADF as formidable the commitment seemed the supporting force of light cruisers, whole - it would be ‘self awareness, not to be. Australians wanted to control destroyers and submarines was capable self reliance’ and I do not think that their own naval destiny, but they were of both offensive and defensive action our journey to full self awareness is yet becoming increasingly aware that they for denial, control and projection in the complete. would have a hard time achieving that ways that our situation demanded. It is destiny without help. Conversely, with no exaggeration to say that the battle The First Fleet Unit the naval arms race with Germany in cruiser Australia was the most effective KE full swing, there was also a desire by single strategic investment ever made AR R O P R N A The first years of Federation were many Australians to support Great by this country – paying its dividend O T
I
N
O
R
N
marked by debate over the form of a Britain. It was in this spirit that, during within eleven months of entering E
V
E
H national defence effort. In part this the naval crisis of 1908, Australia Sydney Harbour. T remained theoretical because the new offered to cover the cost of a new Though its execution proved very Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARKER 6 N O O R Vernon Parker Oration, Australian Naval Institute – 4 August 2011 N A
T
R
different for countries such as Canada, I
E
the Fleet Unit concept provided the O
V
model for a successful creation of naval N
services that has continued almost E
to this day. I have elsewhere termed
H
T the process of creation as being one of cloning. However, refining the analogy, I now think it more accurate to describe it as ‘genetic modification’, because even from the outset none of the new Services was anything like identical to the Royal Navy and each steadily developed in its own way. The GM process had significant consequences. I have termed one the ‘fleet, not a navy’ syndrome in that the provision of external support by Britain, even if when was paid for, meant that the smaller nations did not have to invest to the degree which would have been otherwise required by the electorate or by industry. In cost of Australian workers (who did Significant capital for the level of combat capability that particular, Australia had little or no generally produce very high quality ships within the RAN; they sought.2 More to the point, they exposure to just how difficult it is to work), many governments funded David Martin being did not need to think about or set up to identify the right technologies and naval shipbuilding at levels so low “rowed ashore” from the aircraft carrier deal with these matters as much as they get them into service. The British did that they caused building schedules to Melbourne at the end ought. In other words, the Dominions the job and carried the risks and all become unduly protracted and their of his command (Tom acquired fleets, but they did not for Australia had to do was acquire and products even more expensive than Lewis Collection) many years operate complete navies. adapt in very limited ways to meet our they should have been. This was true Undoubtedly, in 1913 and for many needs. for the cruiser HMAS Adelaide, known years afterwards, it was an excellent There was also the question of as HMAS ‘Long Delayed’ in the early bargain because a formidable capability resources. A sustained in-country 1920s and true for the destroyer and was acquired without the need to shipbuilding effort was just possible, frigate programs in the 1950s. Here we invest in the full range of overheads. but only if money was consistently can see a direct relationship between It would also remain a much more committed. Unfortunately, although the size of the fleet unit that the nation efficient force than otherwise possible matters got off to a reasonable, albeit was willing to support and the ability because of the continuing ability to expensive start in 1911, post-war for that unit to be generated efficiently benefit from all the Royal Navy could economies would soon slow and and at reasonable cost within Australia. provide in the way of expertise and the then halt new warship construction, There were other, more subtle latest technology. initiating a series of stops and starts problems. The new Service was However, although substantial that punctuated the remainder of the sometimes viewed by outsiders efforts were made to create an century. It would always be a dilemma as uncritically reflecting British indigenous naval shipbuilding and for governments to make the choice views when in fact its people were repair industry, the way in which the between expensive and protracted local demonstrating a naval outlook, new Service was grown also meant that construction, with the significant set- particularly an outlook that appreciated many of the inherent risks were not up costs involved but with real benefits that national security was more fully understood by the government, for national development or purchasing than the simple defence of national off others’ building lines and enjoying territory. This should not have been 2 James Goldrick ‘A fleet not a navy: some the economies of scale and reduced surprising, particularly as some in the thoughts on the themes’ David Stevens & John Reeve (Eds) Southern Trident: Strategy, risks. RAN failed to make the distinction history and the rise of Australian naval However, notwithstanding the high between the United Kingdom and the power Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2001, p. 292. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARKER N Issue O145 7 O R N A
T
R
navy themselvesI and were occasionally
E
‘captured’O by the ethos of Britain to a
V
degree thatN made it difficult for them to
E operate comfortably in the Australian
national environment1, but it also
H
T tended to make it very hard for them to argue a naval case amongst national defence policy makers. The focus on professional training rather than education inherent in the Royal Navy’s culture also did not help, in that the understanding of the roles of the Navy was essentially emotional rather than rational. ‘There is nothing the Navy cannot do’ was deeply ingrained but why it should do it was rarely analysed2. I believe that this was one of the key factors in a too-slow growth of critical consciousness on naval matters within the RAN itself and indirectly within the nation as whole. Other navies, however, particularly the RN, never saw Australian personnel or ships as anything other than proud and distinctive representatives of their nation. ‘Three cheers for Wallaby Land’ was the cry from a member of the crew of the Australia at her commissioning in Portsmouth in 1913 and when the Australian destroyers passed through college were viewed with respect by the matters rather earlier than do much Significant capital the Dardanelles in 1918 after the British from the very first4 – a respect larger services.7 The question would ships within the RAN; Armistice with Turkey, the Australian sustained by their performance in the be the extent to which the RAN might HMAS Australia after national flag was prominent at their years that followed in their professional have to accept – or at least risk – a a kamikaze strike mastheads. courses and at sea.5 reduction in individual seagoing and As an aside, I am convinced that But the system of officer war fighting skills to achieve such for many years the RAN’s professional development caused other difficulties. earlier diversification and how to draw standards were maintained at the levels Given the internecine disputes the right balance. they were substantially because of the amongst senior officers that occurred It would be also a question of expertise gained through being able to in both the Australian Army and the how much was enough in terms of operate in much more complex and RAAF in the 1930s and 1940s, the shore and staff infrastructure because sophisticated environments than was RAN’s avoidance of them at this time a smaller navy faces much greater ever possible around Australia. All this must have some connection with its relative challenges in generating opened the professional and personal ability to judge and promote to external sufficient experts than a larger one. The horizons of those concerned and also standards.6 However, the career USN, for example, may be 25 times created a competitive attitude amongst profile of the RN became increasingly the size of the RAN, but it does not KE the members of the new services, who difficult to impose upon the RAN as have 25 times the number of different AR R O P R N A were determined to prove that they officers became more senior. The fact problems. Australian slowness in the O T
I
N
O
R
were as good as – and better than the was and is that smaller navies require creation of national staff capability also N
E
V
3 E
British. The young officers who were diversification of the professional skill did not help – in 1932, admittedly at H T the products of our national naval base into policy and administrative a low point, the Australian CNS had Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 8 Vernon Parker Oration, Australian Naval Institute – 4 August 2011
a grand total of 10 naval personnel government had other concerns and Great Depression, its very existence working for him on the naval staff welcomed the treaties that placed threatened and much of its offensive itself – to cover plans, operations, limits on naval strength despite the fact capability, notably its submarine force, engineering, communications and that those treaties, counting Australia’s abandoned. By 1932, only a handful of ordnance. Independent and creative navy as an integral element of Britain’s surface ships survived in commission. thought is fairly difficult in such for arms limitation purposes, did The absence of the submarines – and circumstances. not properly recognise Australian no less than six had been intended to Nevertheless, the operations independence. The agreements sealed supplement a British force in East Asia of what I term the ‘first Fleet Unit’ the Australia’s fate and she was scuttled that later peaked at sixteen operational triumphantly proved the worth of off Sydney Heads in 1924. boats - left the RAN with no serious the RAN. Von Spee did not bring his capability to contribute to the defensive cruisers anywhere near Australia – T he Second Fleet Unit campaign against a Japanese offensive achievement of denial. The German which the British planned to buy possessions in the South West Pacific A very different second fleet unit the necessary time to get their main were rapidly brought under control in concept was embarked upon in 1923, fleet out from European waters. The Australia’s first joint and multinational with a combination of heavy cruisers absence of the submarines meant that operations – achievement of and a submarine flotilla. This scheme the Navy was shorn of the offensive projection. The troop convoys were came as part of the Admiralty planning capability which would give it strategic safely escorted to the Middle East, with for the expansion of the naval forces weight. We paid a heavy price for this the destruction of the cruiser Emden in the Far East against the threat of in the Second World War because, by the Sydney in November 1914 Japan, an expansion in which it was even having focused on surface forces, confirming both the efficiency of the expected that the Australian navy the RAN never possessed the necessary new Navy in the sea control function would have a significant role. However, range of units to operate independently and the value of investing in ‘high end’ events combined to end the submarine in the Second World War for offensive capability – the Emden’s guns were project within a few years. One would operations – in the South West Pacific no match for Sydney’s much heavier be a lack of money, but there was our cruisers and destroyers had 6 inchers. Australia had cause to another factor at play – the RAN’s first always to be supplemented by at least celebrate its navy. experience of prototypes. The new equal numbers of US ships to create Yet, November 1914 marked the submarines Oxley and Otway were a sufficiently capable task force and, end of the RAN’s primacy in the public two of the first three of the new patrol lacking large scale organic air, even that eye. The submarine AE 2 successfully submarines which were effectively the force could only operate in essentially penetrated the Dardanelles, but its first British post-war design. They were supporting roles. In short, we did not sortie was only a counterpoint to not ready for operational service and have at this time a coherent ‘fleet unit’. the landings at Gallipoli. Australian their delivery voyage a debacle. The Nevertheless, rearmament and ships played a significant role in many resultant controversy soured the image expansion, albeit too late and too theatres until 1918 but they did so as of the capability. It is difficult to avoid limited, did result in a relatively minor elements of a global naval effort the impression that the British had modern force in 1939, as well as that had little or no glamour attached been so eager to take advantage of the the renewal of a substantial local to it and whose work went largely Australian commitment to a renewed shipbuilding program and the RAN unremarked, except when it appeared naval effort that they (and the RAN) was by far the most combat ready of to have failed. had not stopped to think through the the Services at that time. It went to war The RAN enjoyed a brief problems of operating brand new, on the first day of conflict and stayed renaissance in the immediate aftermath highly complex systems half a world there until the last. The grievous losses of the war, but there was trouble away from their builder. It was not it suffered are too often listed only ahead. By the early 1920s, the first until more than two years later that the in ships – but it was the people who fleet unit had become unsustainable. RN itself deployed the class to the Far counted and those losses were not only Technological development had East and then it was done in company terrible in their own right, but created rendered obsolete its core asset – the with a brand new, built for the purpose continuing gaps in the RAN’s trained Australia - and, in any case, there was depot ship. strength and talent for many years insufficient money. The Australian The RAN was hard hit by the ahead. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARKER N O Issue 145 O 9 R N A
T
R
I
E
O
V
The Navy played its part globally, the breathtaking effectiveness of the N
protecting both local waters and trade American naval advance across the E
and helping hold the line against Pacific also provided demonstration of H
T Germany and Italy until late 1941 when the benefits of the combination of sea its units were recalled to deal with the with air power. The war also saw the crisis in South East Asia. The successes development of a much more effective of the early months of the war, notably local shipbuilding, repair and naval the triumph of the Sydney over the weapons industry. Forced into such Italian Bartolomeo Colleoni were national effort by the inability of Britain followed by a series of heavy blows. to provide the support which the Sydney’s disappearance was succeeded RAN had hitherto enjoyed, Australia by the Japanese onslaught which saw began to come of age. Most notable in rapid succession the destruction of were two initiatives. The first was that, the Perth, Yarra and Vampire and in when the Admiralty were slow to give later operations that of Voyager in East priority to Australian intentions to Timor and the cruiser Canberra in the build destroyers in country, the RAN Solomons. went directly to the British shipbuilders But some points may be made. In to get the plans and specifications. an era in which Joint operations are so The second was the highly successful key to our effectiveness as a Defence class of 60 Australian minesweepers Force, it should be noted that not only – the famous Bathurst class corvettes the majority of the losses listed above – which were a local effort that very had some direct connection with land clearly demonstrated that good enough operations, but so did those of the can sometimes be the successful RAN in the Mediterranean – the Perth, enemy of the best. Had we been more Napier and Nizam were all damaged ambitious in the capabilities of these evacuating troops from Crete, while ships, we would never have got them the Waterhen and the Parramatta were out in time or in sufficient numbers. both sunk supporting the besieged Australian and Allied troops in Tobruk. T he Third Fleet Unit Many more of our operations and our successes – and Australian units were The post-war plan for the RAN which Significant capital responsible for the destruction of at the Labor Government endorsed in that a planned refit for the Sydney ships within the RAN; least seven enemy submarines, as well 1947 was effectively the third Fleet never happened. These and a whole HMAS Melbourne as other many units, and the capture Unit. Centred around two light range of other problems served to limit or destruction of over 150,000 tons of fleet carriers and their embarked other areas of the RAN’s expansion. shipping – were directly related to the squadrons, the future navy was Yet the Navy staged a remarkable protection of the global trade system intended to have both a capacity for recovery. Despite the heavy losses of and cutting the enemy’s access to it. sustained independent operations personnel and the almost complete lack Control and denial again. and to be able to make a significant of recruiting for the permanent service The last months of the war provided contribution to the global effort to during the conflict, the practically a significant fillip to a Navy which protect sea communications. Once moribund fleet of 1947 was soon the had felt for some time unknown again, the concept was straitened by effective force of the early 1950s that to the public. The heroism of the limits on resources and the pressures saw the RAN not only operationally cruiser Australia’s crew under the of continuing technological change. deploy the Sydney to Korea in late 1951, KE kamikaze onslaught gained much Australia only briefly operated two but allowed the continual rotation of AR R O P R N A coverage at a time when Australia’s operational carriers at once – the destroyers and frigates there and an O T
I
N
O
R
N
land forces were largely unemployed. Sydney and the loan carrier Vengeance increasing commitment to South East E
V
E
H Furthermore, the combination of the – and the costs of adapting the Asia. Perhaps much of this success T arrival of the British Pacific Fleet and Melbourne for jet aircraft were such was enabled by a continuing flow of Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 10 PARKER Vernon Parker Oration, Australian Naval Institute – 4 August 2011 N O O R A officers and men from the Royal Navy Indo-China but Indonesia seemed overseas commitments on land which N as well as its more formal support but, at risk. After ASW helicopters were underlay much of the discussion also T
R
in an era in which immigration was a provided for the Melbourne, she was hindered proper examination of the I
E
central plank for national development, modernised to take new jet fighters continuing need for commitment O
V
this was not inappropriate. The Navy and anti-submarine aircraft. This to protection of the global maritime N
also began to develop its own scientific expansion and modernisation were system. E
research capability, which initially well timed as the mid-1960s saw the For the Navy, the eventual victim
H
T focused – and with great success – on RAN operationally engaged in both the was the aircraft carrier. In a time the anti-submarine warfare problems defence of Malaysia and in support of of continuing budgetary restraint, which were at the heart of the challenge the American –led conflict in Vietnam. the large sums involved in finding that the Soviet bloc was perceived to TheAdams class particularly proved a replacement for Melbourne were represent at sea. their worth in operations as part of the always going to be difficult to secure. There were pressures. The fixed American Seventh Fleet. A window opened by the sudden wing naval arm always suffered from I am particularly interested in availability of the British light carrier the problem of inadequate resources, this period because it was one in Invincible was soon closed in the wake not only for itself, but because it drew which we did not at first try to be a of the Falklands War of 1982, ironically away funding from other elements of parent navy for complete systems or a conflict that demonstrated both the fleet. Furthermore, the increasing ships, but rather – and with some the flexibility and reach of seaborne capabilities of precision guided success-adapted particular systems forces. The new Labor Government of weapons provided challenges the RAN to particular platforms. The British 1983 mandated the end of fixed wing had yet to meet. Matters came to a designed River class frigates, for aviation, a decision from which this crisis with the Government’s decision example, were modified to take Dutch time there would be no return. But to abandon the fixed wing capability in radars and fire control systems. The the RAN did not become moribund. 1959, but this step – traumatic as it was Ikara anti-submarine missile was The submarine force was advancing – provided a much clearer way ahead successfully developed in an Australian rapidly with new sensors, new for the Navy because, in compensation, led venture and then installed in both torpedoes and, particularly significant, the Government was willing to the River class and the DDGs where it anti-ship missiles in an Australian invest in a whole range of areas. The proved itself to be the most effective led modernisation program that Navy was able to commission its shipborne ASW weapon system in the stands as one of the most significant replenishment ship. A submarine force world. This selective approach seems to technological and industrial successes was set up, the core of a new offensive me, whether it was conscious or not, to in our naval history and perhaps the capability and the beginning of what I have been much more realistic than a ultimate expression of the selective term the ‘fourth fleet unit’. A modern wholesale effort at being a parent navy. approach that I have already described. mine countermeasure squadron The 1970s provided a whole new Maritime forces received further was acquired and brand new missile range of challenges for the RAN, support in the review by Paul Dibb destroyers ordered from the United as they did for Australia’s strategic in 1986 and the White Paper of 1987 States. outlook. The Cold War remained which followed. Both Dibb and the and, although Indonesia was no White Paper appreciated that Australia T he Fourth Fleet Unit longer the immediate concern, a was a maritime nation and, if there was weary United States was much more too much on the ‘sea air gap’ and too The Australian Navy’s first major likely to require its partners to look little on Australia’s dependence on the purchases from the US, the Charles F after themselves. There was also little global and regional maritime system, Adams class were also the forerunners enthusiasm for defence spending on there was nevertheless recognition of a turn towards America that anything like the scale of the 1960s and that an island nation requires defence reflected not only changing strategic therefore increasing pressure to reduce at sea. Spurred by an enthusiastic realities but also where the leading edge overheads. For the next decade and a Defence Minister in Kim Beazley, the of naval technological development half, debate raged as to the appropriate 1987 White Paper helped set in train now lay. Naval aviation won a form and functions of an Australian the submarine and frigate projects reprieve, helped by a deteriorating defence force. As I consider that debate, which have come to define much of strategic situation in which not only my belief is that the aversion to further the Navy’s force structure in the new Journal of the Australian Naval Institute PARIssueK 145ER 11 N O O R HMAS Australia N A
T
R
I
E
O
V
N
E
H
T Graphic by Peter Ingman
century and which have provided an the USN. Looking back, I think that exclusive economic zones and other updated version of the ‘fourth fleet there was insufficient attention paid additions to national authority over unit’. Of the two major projects, that to the costs and, in particular, the maritime areas. This legal regime only for the eight Australian and two New demands on our expertise in trying to reflected the greater exploitation of Zealand Anzac class frigates was the be independent to the extent that we fisheries and of offshore resources more obviously successful. One hard did, largely because so many of them that marked the later decades of the fought battle, to fit the ships with a 5 had hitherto been largely invisible last century and its demands brought inch gun, was triumphantly vindicated to us – and perhaps because they about a steady increase in the RAN’s during the 2003 Gulf War when the were so difficult. The challenges of patrol and response capacity – and Anzac herself provided critical gunfire being a ‘parent navy’ inherent in the its commitment to the task. This has support to the amphibious assault on acquisition of unique ships and systems involved difficult, unremitting and the Al Faw peninsula. have received the most attention in sometimes unpleasant work but it The submarine project was more both internal and public examinations has also kept the Navy, even in an complex. It is not appropriate for me of the pitfalls and problems that we increasingly inter-agency environment, to discuss here the current state of experienced in this period, but there very firmly in the public eye in a way the class, but I do want to make some were other issues which have received that I believe has benefited the Service. observations about the project in less notice. For example, in patriating retrospect, because they bear upon so much training and reducing our T he Fifth Fleet Unit the sophistication of our national exchange programs to the extent that understanding of the task of operating we did, I am unsure that we provided Other operational deployments a navy. Two key mistakes were made adequate substitutes for the continuous mounted. While the 1980s had in what was a much more successful injection of intense professional seen the Navy focused on regional project than many recognise. The first experience that had hitherto been engagement, the first Gulf war of 1991 was that the contingency funding was maintained by these means. Similarly, was the beginning of a commitment inadequate, which meant that many of there were hidden costs, not all to the Middle East that would surge in the problems inevitable in any complex well understood, in the necessary the wake of 911 and into the second prototype were not fixed as they arose, redistribution of our ships to bases in Gulf War and which would continue but left to fester. The second, and it Western Australia and in Queensland to this day, albeit with much of our is associated with the first, is that the and the Northern Territory in effort now transferred to anti-piracy issues of risk and complexity in a brand transport, training and people, as well operations in the Indian Ocean. There new design were never really explained as the sheer difficulty of assembling have been other commitments, such properly to the electorate, so that sufficient numbers of units in one spot as the interventions in East Timor and when problems arose the nation was to create a realistic maritime training the Solomons which have emphasised ill-prepared to understand or accept environment. effective Joint operations. them. There was an additional theme in Given all these demands, it is KE There were other problems the ‘fourth fleet unit’ and this was the not surprising that the ‘Force 2030’ AR R O P R N A as the RAN took on many other need to protect the maritime domain. construct should have been devised, O T
I
N
O
R
responsibilities in terms of The 1982 United Nations Convention or that it includes such a wide range N
E
V
E
sustainment, training and doctrine on the Law of the Sea saw the extension of capabilities. Recognition of the H T that had been left largely to the RN or of territorial seas and the creation of continuing need for an ability to Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 12 Vernon Parker Oration, Australian Naval Institute – 4 August 2011
project power around the region has of them as never before. Nevertheless, come in the acquisition of the big I believe that the key problem of the new amphibious ships Canberra and mismatch between the expertise that Adelaide and the newly purchased we can generate and sustain ourselves Choules. And recognition of the need and the wide range of capabilities for an effective control capability has that we need to operate means, as come in the project for the new Air part of that self awareness, we need Warfare Destroyers. The White Paper to consider how we can go about of 2009 has provided a final element – squaring the circle. I will therefore for the moment – of the newest ‘fifth close by suggesting that at least part of fleet unit’ concept for the RAN with the solution may be a revival of some plans for a much expanded submarine of the shared approaches by which the force which will provide the core of the original fleet unit concept prospered. denial element and contribute in other For there are many like-minded navies, R ear Admiral James Goldrick AM, CSC, ways. culturally and organizationally similar RAN joined the RAN in 1974. He has to ours, who are faced with similar Conclusion problems – the Canadians and Dutch commanded many warships; lectured and, to an increasing degree, the fast in naval history and contemporary In 2011 the Australian Navy can look reducing British – and this is just a naval affairs at many institutions; back with some pride on 110 years start. Given that it is the intellectual published several books, and served in of life as a national organisation and aspect of capability management a variety of command positions ashore. a century of existence as a modern which presents us all with such fighting force. It has had its share of challenges, could it not be possible failures, but they have been outweighed to go even further than our current by its successes. If there has been a cooperative efforts and formally divide recurring element to many of the up responsibilities for experimentation, (Endnotes) problems it has experienced, it has to doctrine development and training 1 See a Canadian analysis of this question by Robert Glover ‘The RCN: Royal Colonial be said that many of the challenges between the various services, with a or Royal Canadian Navy’ Michael L. Hadley, that it faces are endemic to a Service lead navy as a centre of excellence for a Rob Huebert & Fred W. Crickard (Eds) A Nation’s Navy: In Quest of Canadian Naval which has such wide responsibilities particular area of warfare? t Identity McGill-Queen’s University Press, – perhaps the greatest relative to any Montreal and Kingston, 1996, pp. 71-90. navy – in a vast, maritime-dependent 2 See Glover’s argument in Ibid. pp. 71-90. nation with a small population and 3 Captain W.S. Chalmers ‘Australia and relatively limited resources. And, as it her Navy Today’ The Naval Review Vol. XX, No.1, February 1932, pp. 35-46, see p.44. has moved from being a unique but 4 See the Second Sea Lord’s 1922 comment closely bound element of the global that ‘The Australian young officers compare organisation led by the Royal Navy very favourably with ours in the Sub- Lieutenants examinations and are generally into a fully national service which still more self reliant and wide awake.’ 2SL contributes to the security of the global Minute of 21 April 1922. Nicholas Tracy (Ed) The Collective Naval Defence of the maritime system, it is fair to say that the Empire 1900-1940,Ashgate for the Navy journey has not been from dependency Records Society, London, 1997. p. 312. to self reliance, but from unconscious 5 See James Goldrick ‘The naval professional: Admiral Sir Francis Hyde KCB, operation to self awareness. CVO, CBE, RAN’ The Navy and the Nation The challenge for the Navy in the Op. Cit. p. 336. years ahead will come in meeting all the 6 See Richard O. Mayne Betrayed: Scandal, Politics and Canadian Naval Leadership KE needs of the new capabilities in terms AR R O University of British Columbia Press, P R N A of people and infrastructure and I think Vancouver, 2006. O T
I
N
O
R
that the nature of those challenges will N
7 Michael L. Hadley & Roger Sarty Tin- E
V
E
Pots and Pirate Ships, Op. Cit., pp. 296-297.
be very familiar to any student of the H T RAN’s history. We are certainly aware Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 13
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 14 Darwin’s Importance to US Asia-Pacific Strategy By Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe FDI Senior Analyst
Key Points
As part of the US realignment to the Asia-Pacific, the US and Australia have agreed to upgrade defence cooperation by deploying US rotational forces to Darwin to strengthen interoperability and engage in joint-training exercises with Australian and Southeast Asian forces. Darwin’s strategic location shall also enable US forces to conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations when required. Given Darwin’s capacity to provide Northern Territory would know, the to deploy a MAGTAF in northern Darwin has been amphibious and shipping access, it will training ranges adjacent to Darwin are Australia along the lines of a battalion facing possible northern threats for also serve as a useful focal point for world class. The Bradshaw Range is a with logistics and rotary wing support.’ 100 years. US capacity-building assistance to the huge field to conduct manoeuvre and Although the presence of large US A 9.2-inch gun Australian Army, which is currently in conventional training exercises. There forces in Darwin will provide enhanced emplacement at the process of developing amphibious aren’t many places in the world where opportunities to engage in regional the Darwin Military capabilities. we can do that type of training. Darwin activities, including humanitarian Museum Summary is also located in an opportune place as assistance and disaster relief missions, a it will also give us the ability to conduct key emphasis of the US deployment will As part of the US Government’s additional training with other Southeast focus on joint-training exercises with landmark decision late last year to Asian countries.’ the Australian military and other allied strategically refocus to the Asia-Pacific, The deployment of Marines to regional forces. Lieutenant General Duane Thiessen, Darwin shall commence in mid-2012 ‘The mutual benefit is irrefutable,’ who heads Marine Forces Pacific, or and will initially consist of approximately affirmed General Thiessen. ‘In Darwin MarForPac, spoke to Sergei DeSilva- 250 marines. By 2014, however, US we will have two forces going into Ranasinghe in mid-December last year, forces in Darwin are expected to a common training environment, about the re-emergence of Australia in increase upwards of 1,000 personnel and which will improve our relationship, US regional strategic calculations and will ultimately plateau at 2,500 troops by understanding, techniques and the intensified US commitment to the around 2016-2017. procedures. ‘We get to watch each other ANZUS Treaty and the Asia Pacific. The General further explained: ‘The to see what works, sort out difficult US forces that deploy to Darwin will be points and harmonise our forces in Commentary Border protector a combination of rotational forces from a more intensive way. Darwin also - HMAS Armidale ‘We have had an alliance for 60 years within and from outside MarForPac. In offers amphibious and shipping access, leaves Darwin that is committed to global and regional other words we will go there, operate which is useful as the Australian Army (Courtesy RAN) security,’ said General Thiessen. and then leave. Starting ‘The US President and the with rotational forces the Australian Prime Minister have both deployment in Darwin agreed to enhance cooperation. The will be along a Marine Air new arrangement will not negate or Ground Task Force, or substitute the smaller and larger pre- MAGTAF, construct. As we existing military-to-military exercises phase into this agreement that we already do on a routine basis we intend to increase the with Australia. Those will all continue as size and the duration of the I see it,’ he said. deployments to Australia. ‘As anyone who has been to the Eventually, we intend Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 15
Approximate location “swept channel” - patrolled for mines and submarines by Darwin corvettes; used by all shipping NORTH into and out of Darwin Harbour. is developing and upgrading its own ARAFURA SEA amphibious capability.’ He added: ‘We are now in the process of developing the interoperability arrangements. I am about to deploy East Point 9.2-inch a liaison team to Canberra and a (under construction 1942) coordination team to Darwin to start East Pt 6-in developing the day-to-day logistics RAAF Aerodrome arrangements and the common training Boom Civil Aerodrome Waugite 6-in West Pt 4-in Darwin City & Oil Tanks objectives. I consider this agreement Emery Pt 6-In
to be a huge step forward for both the East Arm United States and Australia.’ Stuart COX PENINSULA Highway In a policy that has also been referred Middle to as “America’s Pacific Century”, the Arm US decision to strategically realign significant diplomatic, economic and military resources over the next decade
reflects the continued pre-eminence of 0 5 10 miles the Asia-Pacific region in world affairs, Darwin Harbour Fixed Defences 1942 particularly with the rise of China. ‘The United States has an increased ARAFURA SEA interest in the Asia-Pacific. As we draw down in Afghanistan there is an opportunity for us to refit and reequip and bring more equipment into the Bathurst Melville Island Pacific. MarForPac has two Marine Island Van Diemen Gulf Expeditionary Forces, or MEFs, under TIMOR its purview. We will have more Marines SEA in the Pacific to exercise through 1 MEF Approximate e ective range East Point 9.2 inch and 3 MEF all our engagement and coast defence guns DARWIN presence responsibilities. The 1 MEF is headquartered in California and 3 MEF Darwin Harbor is headquartered in Japan. through, the Pacific. The Pacific is huge and it is dominated combined fixed ‘In no way has the US Marine Corps ‘MarForPac has continued to engage by water, which means that mobility has gun ranges in the left its amphibious roots. The US Marine in amphibious training in a real world unique strategic challenges that are both later years of WWII. Corps is light, flexible and amphibious construct with our partners throughout naval and amphibious in character.’ he Although the 9.2- inch guns were not and is a force that can move throughout Asia such as Australia, Japan, South said. completed when the region and be effective across a scale Korea, Thailand and the Philippines. Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe is a senior the Japanese carrier of contingencies, including the inherent For instance, we recently completed a analyst with Perth-based strategic think raids struck in 1942, their presence - and capability if required to work in a non- joint amphibious landing exercise with tank Future Directions International. combat capacity. the Philippines. There have also been the working 6-inch guns, deterred ‘Not only have we continued our other examples such as the USS Tortuga, Any opinions or views expressed in this surface ships amphibious legacy and capability, we which dispatched marines and sailors to paper are those of the individual author, (Peter Ingman) have developed it and are continuing Thailand to assist in flood relief.’ unless stated to be those of Future to further do so. The entire time that In conclusion, General Thiessen Directions International. we have been engaged in both Iraq emphasised: ‘The regional impact of the Released by Future Directions and Afghanistan, we have deployed Indian Ocean, the South China Sea and International Pty Ltd. Desborough the 31st, 11th, 13th and 15th Marine the Pacific is incredible and plays large House, Suite 2, 1161 Hay Street, West Expeditionary Units, or MEUs, each in all our calculations when we look at Perth WA 6005 Australia. either operating in, or at least transiting our capabilities to engage and respond. Web: www.futuredirections.org.au Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 16 Action, Reaction: are Vietnam’s growing maritime forces postured toward countering China? By Midshipman Nam Khoa Nguyen
here are concerns among strategic twice the size of the analysts that Vietnam’s build up Sea of Japan.1 The Tof maritime forces is inciting further claimed territory tension in the Sino-Vietnamese includes, but is maritime boundary dispute in the not limited to, the South China Sea. Will naval conflict Paracel Islands to develop? the north (currently The answer is not a simple ‘yes occupied by China),2 or no’. It would be prudent for the the Spratly islands Chinese to monitor Vietnam’s military to the south, and procurements with a close eye, but Scarborough Shoal in the mean time there is little risk of to the East. States large-scale military conflict developing that are bordered describes: ‘a jagged, interlocking and F igure 1 - South China Sea maritime over the maritime boundary dispute. along the South China Sea include crazy-quilt pattern of occupation has boundary claims8 There is, however, the risk that smaller Vietnam, China, The Republic of China been formed’.4 Vietnam is believed to clashes may develop. This is becoming (Taiwan), Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, occupy around 25 features, including increasingly likely in the South China Singapore, and Indonesia. most of the Spratly Islands, and China Sea as paramilitary forces from both The disputed territory is an is believed to occupy at least eight, sides add tension to the situation, but overlapping series of baselines drawn including the entirety of the Paracel the affair is civil in nature and not from archipelago chains in the sea. Islands.5 military. The key factors driving this Fig. 1 shows the overlapping claims of Vietnam and China have had an dispute can be linked back to the sea each State in the region. Of particular antagonistic relationship ever since as a resource and China’s desire to importance is China’s claim, as shown Vietnam emerged as a free State make it a region for its dominion. Both by the proverbial ‘9-dashed line’ or from Chinese rule at the turn of the countries stand to gain economically ‘U-shaped line’: China’s claim extends first millennium.6 The most recent and strategically by having exclusive to virtually the entire South China Sea, military engagements between the two rights in the claimed exclusive a claim that is based on maps drafted States were in 1979 and 1988.7 The economic zone. during the early twentieth century 1979 campaign was successful for the I examine here four aspects in the before the United Nations Convention Vietnamese in repelling a Chinese land Sino-Vietnamese maritime boundary on the Law of the Sea was introduced.3 invasion, but the 1988 conflict was not: dispute. These are: This paper will focus primarily on over 60 sailors were killed and three 1. Economic significance of the the Paracel and Spratly Islands, with vessels sunk near the Spratly Islands. South China Sea; some references to incidents that This history of conflict between them 2. The Chinese perspective; have recently occurred between the serves to fuel the domestic pressure 3. Vietnam’s maritime force – is it Philippines and China at Scarborough for governments to remain strong in being postured with a view to Shoal. making claims for exclusive rights and counter China; and Apart from Brunei, all of the extending maritime boundaries. 4. The steps to finding a peaceful claimant States have established some solution or avoiding naval form of military presence on one or T he South China Sea as a resource confrontation. more of the islands through erecting The South China Sea is abundant military features or posting personnel. with natural resources. It provides Background The installations are not just on islands approximately 10% of the world’s The South China Sea is approximately adjacent to each country’s claimed annual fisheries catch and the 648,000 square nautical miles, roughly area but as Ji Guoxing, a noted scholar, region is rich in both oil and natural Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 17
gas deposits.9 The exact figures of its dependency on how much oil is in the region are foreign oil and gas. unknown, largely due to the difficulty in conducting surveys because of T he Chinese the disputes, but the US Energy perspective Information Administration estimates that there are at least 28 billion barrels The maritime worth of oil deposits.10 As for gas boundary dispute deposits, it is believed that gas is the between Vietnam more abundant hydrocarbon in the and China is a civil region. A survey by Husky Energy, affair over access working with the Chinese National to resources and Offshore Oil Corporation, announced exclusive economic a find of proven natural gas reserves of rights. Hanoi has nearly four to six trillion cubic feet of stated that it is willing natural gas near the Spratly Islands.11 to commit to bilateral Vietnam stands to significantly pursuits to resolve F igure 2 - South gain from access to the fish stocks and the dispute with China, but Beijing public. Beijing knows that by taking China Sea oil/gas 15 hydrocarbon deposits in the South is unwavering over its claims in the this stance it has shot itself in the foot fields China Sea. At approximately 17 million South China Sea. The reasons for this at having a chance of reaching any tons, crude oil represented 22 % of are based on deep-seated nationalism, resolution that results in China having the value of Vietnam’s total exports in the Chinese psyche, the failure of less territory than what is already 2004.12 Estimates of Vietnam’s current multilateral mechanisms and the claimed. The domestic environment oil reserves indicate the output of oil realities of the status quo. Combined, would not be forgiving of the Chinese exports will decline gradually. As for these factors make it difficult for government if it sacrificed territory that Vietnam’s fishing industry, it grew Vietnam to find an effective resolution they, the Chinese people, considered fourfold between 1990 and 2002 after to the border dispute. sovereign Chinese ‘land’.18 the ‘Doi Moi’ (new era) economic Beijing’s responses to the dispute The Chinese psyche extends to the policy was introduced. Fish exports for stem from a view that the region is ‘victim’ mentality. The Chinese believe the period are estimated to have been sovereign Chinese territory, a claim the rest of the world, in particular the valued at more than $US 2 billion, at that is popular in a deep-seated US and its allies, are attempting to rein approximately 9.1% of total exports in nationalist sentiment that can be seen in China and force an international 2004.13 Thus, access to the exclusive emerging within the domestic political interpretation onto it, through economic rights of the waters around sphere. The Chinese people believe the multilateral mechanisms, in what they the Spratly and Paracel archipelagos South China Sea is sovereign Chinese consider a ‘bullying’ approach. This is will give Vietnam a significant increase ‘blue land’ due to hundreds of years clearly demonstrated by China’s refusal in economic security. of history.16 Public opinion (amongst to negotiate with parties not involved China will also benefit if it should a highly educated middle-class) is a in the territorial dispute. Beijing’s extend its maritime boundary further double-edged sword for the Chinese determination not to participate in into the South China Sea. Chinese central government; on the one hand multilateral and arbitrary mechanisms officials, from the partly state- it gives Beijing a legitimate platform is articulated in its Defence white owned China National Offshore Oil that is popular amongst an educated paper. The government refers to these Corporation, estimate the country’s population but on the other hand the mechanisms as a form of hegemony dependency on foreign oil is now at pressure it generates can force the and power politics, which China 55 %.14 By 2030, 80 % of oil and 50% Foreign Ministry into a corner.17 The stringently opposes.19 of gas imports to China will be by Communist Party of China wants to sea. By expanding existing maritime remain in power, that fact is a given, Existing frameworks are not boundaries, China would have and taking a strong stance in the effective in resolving the dispute. The exclusive rights to more hydrocarbon maritime boundary dispute will serve Chinese loosely and often mistakenly reserves in the region, thus reducing to solidify its support with the Chinese apply the Law of the Sea Convention Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 18 Action, Reaction: are Vietnam’s growing maritime forces postured toward countering China?
(LOSC) in territorial disputes, not just in the South China Sea. Although China ratified LOSC in 1996, its actions regarding maritime disputes do not align with what is stated in the articles. A recent example of this was F igure 3 - A in 2009 when five Chinese vessels Gepard class surrounded a US hydrographic ship. frigate of the 27 TheUSNS Impeccable was conducting PVN a survey 120 km off the coast when it in essence an entirely civil affair. There salaries, maintenance costs or inflation. was ‘harassed’ by Chinese paramilitary is, however, no denying that there This is true in Vietnam’s case; between vessels. The United States argued that it is a military flavour in the dispute, 2010 and 2011 the defence budget was exercising freedom of navigation in and there is always a risk of conflict. increased 25 % from 44.4 trillion dong the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) as The question is to what extent is to 55.5 trillion dong. However, during stipulated under article 58 of LOSC.20 there a risk of naval confrontation this period, the inflation rate was The Chinese, however, responded between Vietnam and China, and as almost 19%. Therefore in real terms, that their understanding of LOSC is a consequence, the rest of Southeast growth was only approximately 5.5%.24 that it requires a State to request a Asia. I believe there are three areas that The lack of transparency in accounting warship’s entry into the EEZ.21 The are an alternate way of examining the also makes it difficult to determine ‘loose’ interpretation of LOSC, when issue. Firstly, increased spending on how much the Vietnamese military it benefits China, makes it difficult to military equipment is not an accurate is directing toward expanding its determine a unified Chinese view. indication of posturing capability capability. The status quo adds another layer of around a threat from China. Secondly, Vietnam’s newest procurements complexity in the dispute. The Chinese the Chinese maritime domain is not a are inherently improvements if an military currently have installations unified front but rather a conglomerate existing capability and not a new on Woody Island in the Paracels of paramilitary and civilian agencies. one. Examples of the latest platforms and Mischief Reef near the Spratly Finally, Vietnam’s submarine include: the Gepard-class frigates archipelago, as well as on a number of procurement is a new capability, but as the major surface combatant, the other sites.22 The reality is that China is there is a risk of sensationalising it and Su-30 flankers for air superiority, and willing, and able, to patrol and maintain over-emphasising the capabilities of K-300P Bastion missile systems for its stronghold in the region in order to both Vietnam and China. coastal defence. These systems are enforce its exclusive economic zone. The modernisation of the technologically advanced, and a leap Furthermore, the strategic positioning Vietnamese Navy (PVN) is a natural forward from what the Vietnamese of installations, such as the airfield on process of replacing outdated military military already operates, but the Woody Island, could give China a base equipment. Increased military PVN have long operated these types out from the mainland and increase its spending is not in itself an adequate of platforms.25 Whilst the latest power projection capacity. China could indicator of posturing toward a specific assets may be able to provide some put forward an argument saying that threat. There is a misguided belief formidable resistance to the Chinese, since they have established bases that that Vietnam’s latest procurements it would seem the main purpose for can sustain life on some islands, the (aside from the Kilo submarines) are the latest purchases is to replace ageing Chinese should continue to maintain a direct response to China’s growing Soviet-era platforms currently being sovereignty over those parcels of land, military presence. Figures showing operated by the Vietnamese military. and the extended zones from those increased spending are not completely Vietnam’s modernisation plan, along islands. accurate as most of the budget with other Southeast Asian countries, (approximately 75-80% of it) goes appears to be a ‘tit-for-tat’ response to A modern Navy and the toward maintaining the current force, trend across the region, not specifically paramilitary domain including maintenance and salaries.23 aimed toward countering China.26 My analysis so far has focused on the Therefore procurement in an increased Most countries in the region are civil and diplomatic aspects behind defence budget is only a small portion; going through a similar process of the dispute, and indeed the dispute is the figures do not show changes in modernising, replacing or upgrading Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 19
their ageing platforms (generally within Such Chinese paramilitaries come in an operational environment, and limited budgets). under the command of different the expected operating concept of ‘two Another common mistake in departments in the Chinese boats in the water, two boats in port, analysing the dispute is assuming government, commonly referred to as and two in maintenance’ cannot be that China’s maritime authorities ‘The Nine Dragons’.29 For example, the fully realised until delivery of all the are a unified actor. The actions of Fisheries Law Enforcement Command Kilo’s around 2020.33 China’s aircraft paramilitary forces and civilian falls under the Bureau of Fisheries carrier is in a similar situation since agencies on both sides are not a true Administration, and the State Oceanic it will be a training carrier for some representation of the military element Administration controls China time and does not have a fully capable of the dispute. Indeed, the majority Maritime Surveillance.30 This poses air wing.34 Secondly, it is an ageing of clashes since 2009 have been two challenges: how to deal with each platform that is already over two purely civil in nature, as shown by the agency when they are under separate decades old. Thirdly, China is not yet following list: departments and how to find a viable experienced with operating a carrier 1. On 2 February 2010, a Chinese solution to each agency’s interests. group.35 Thus, these capabilities pose patrol boat stopped and Indeed the above list draws attention no immediate strategic threat. boarded a Vietnamese fishing to the lack of coordination in trying to Steps toward a resolution craft and seized its catch, ‘rein in the dragons’. These other actors and the risk of war navigational aids, spare parts have their own agenda, their own and tools. chain of command, and different rules The Sino-Vietnamese maritime 2. On 22 March 2010, Chinese of engagement than the PLAN. All it boundary dispute requires continued patrol boats detained a takes is for one rogue commanding effort; there is always a risk of Vietnamese fishing boat and officer to give a command to open fire confrontation, albeit at a low level. The its twelve-member crew upon civilians from the other country PVN can, and has, achieved peaceful who were sheltering near and an incident has started. cooperation with the PLAN, despite a Woody Islands in the Paracels. Vietnam has purchased six Kilo history of conflict. Hanoi and Beijing Chinese authorities demanded 636 submarines from Russia which are reluctant to use militaries to resolve payment of a $10,000 fine. This can provide a significant strategic the dispute because of the greater prompted a protest by Vietnam capability in both a sea denial and diplomatic picture. The two navies on 30 March. sea control.31 At the very least the continue to engage in confidence- 3. On 13 April 2010, a Chinese submarines will give Vietnam another building measures. In addition, naval patrol seized a second ‘sabre to rattle’. Buying a platform, Vietnam is engaging more and more Vietnamese fishing boat and however, is not the same as acquiring with the United States, who currently F igure 4 - The Chinese its crew of nine near Da Loi a capability; capability comprises the has military superiority over China. carrier, Shi Lang (ex island near the Paracels and platform itself, the manpower, training, Therefore any military action would Varyag) on sea trials demanded payment of a technical support, logistical support, not be in the interest of either country in the Yellow Sea.36 $10,000 USD fine. continued funding, 4. On 4 May 2010, Chinese and the corporate Fishery Administration knowledge of owning officials seized a Vietnamese and operating the fishing boat in the Paracel platform.32 Vietnam archipelago and demanded a faces this predicament fine of $8,000. with its submarine 5. On 5 July 2011, crew from a program. People’s Liberation Army – Vietnam has Navy (PLAN) vessel boarded a had no experience Vietnamese fishing boat near operating conventional the Paracel Islands, confiscated submarines, is not its fishing catch and allegedly yet fully trained beat the captain before forcing and experienced in the boat to leave the area.28 operating the platform Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 20 Action, Reaction: are Vietnam’s growing maritime forces postured toward countering China? and, if conflict were to develop, it projection. If a small-scale military would be short. engagement were to develop, Vietnam’s Hanoi and Beijing have been able modernised fleet would provide some to resolve territorial disputes in the deterrent to China by providing a sea- past. In 2000, the two governments denial capability, but the PLAN could agreed to divide the boundary in the easily overwhelm Vietnamese defences. Gulf of Tonkin along a 50/50 split.37 That is one reason why Vietnam is The two governments have managed increasing its military ties with other to increase cooperation in trying to countries, such as the United States find a peaceful solution by having their and India. Vietnam is allowing more navies conduct joint patrols.38 This access to naval facilities, such as Cam action could provide a model by which Ranh Bay, in the hopes of trying to Hanoi and Beijing could find a peaceful increase allies in the region.42 Both solution to the dispute. Whilst the the US and India would provide a South China Sea dispute encompasses formidable deterrent to the Chinese China’s military presence although F igure 5 – USS more complicated boundaries, this military. Even if China had the capacity they are capable of deterring China and Chafee enters Tien Sa harbour, Vietnam.44 example draws attention to the fact to counter the initial US response, the defending Vietnam’s sovereignty. that both States can, and have been diplomatic costs would be too high, The risk that a conventional able, to resolve boundary disputes. and China knows this; it would give naval conflict could develop is highly Despite not having a dispute resolution the US more reason to strengthen its unlikely; both Vietnam and China mechanism, signing the guidelines position in the region.43 understand the territorial gains would for the Declaration on the Conduct of In conclusion, the South China not outweigh the diplomatic losses. parties in the South China Sea is a step Sea has the potential to provide a Any solution to the situation will need forward in ensuring that no military significant boost to claimant states’ to address the diverse range of actors actions develop over the dispute.39 economy through fish stocks and within the Chinese government to The two countries also have other hydrocarbon deposits, both of which ensure a coherent and centralised forms of confidence-building measures. are key sectors in the Vietnamese and maritime policy. This will prevent The purpose of such activities is to Chinese economy. The challenge that misinterpretation of the other’s intent. increase trust between states, or at Vietnam faces in resolving the dispute Both Vietnam and China need to keep a minimum, make it less likely to with China is trying to understand the the lines of communication open and misinterpret what the other side domestic pressures on the Chinese attempt to resolve the issue through does.40 Confidence building measures Foreign Ministry to not give up dialogue, not gunfire. t include opening diplomatic channels or claimed Chinese territory. Indeed, ‘hotlines’ to resolve disputes, allowing Chinese paramilitary forces continue to port visits, implementing agreements vehemently enforce those claims at the and, as mentioned previously, risk of inciting conflict. It is clear that a conducting joint operations such as solution to appease both Vietnam and patrols.41 There have been numerous China will be difficult to achieve. port visits between the countries since Vietnam’s naval modernisation is 1991 to open dialogue between navies, largely a ‘natural process’ of replacing while establishing a hotline between ageing equipment, just as other Hanoi and Beijing could assist in Southeast Asian navies are currently avoiding military confrontation in the doing. This is the principal reason for region by allowing the governments a modernising the navy; keeping up with direct line of communication. Asian neighbours and having platforms The military balance is tipped to meet uncertain future threats is a toward the Chinese in this situation; common goal in the region. Although China has more ships, more aircraft the new platforms of the PVN are and more experience, albeit with highly technical and modern, most limited background in actual force were not chosen with a view to counter Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 21
the South China Sea’, Asia Report No. 223., to constrain China in the South China Sea’, Contemporary Southeast 2012. Asia, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 348-369) 10 US Energy Information Administration, 29 According to Chinese legend, the Dragon King has nine sons ‘South China Sea’, accessed 14 May 2012, and the mystic creatures are seen as symbol of power. Images of
n May the British government decided to reverse its previous Idecision to abandon short- take- off combat aircraft and therefore to relegate the first of the country’s two 65,000 ton carriers to helicopter operations while the second was completed with catapults and arresting gear. That decision was made in light of the fact that the STOVL (short take off/ vertical landing) version of the F-35 was proving too expensive. On the assumption that STOVL was dead, the government felt justified in eliminating the existing joint navy-air force Harrier fleet and laying up the three existing light carriers (one has been retained as a helicopter carrier). T he aircraft The Harriers operated by the joint STOVL fighter, there was probably cutters in the United States. The carrier USS George force were sold off (to the U.S. Marine little attempt actually to design the STOVL version is the most expensive Washington is Corps) to make sure the decision could necessary catapults and arresting gear. of the three F-35 variants, and it has silhouetted as it transits the western not easily be reversed. This was the Conversely, when the STOVL version the fewest orders. Programs with PacificO cean at result of an agonizing defense review was dropped, design work had to begin international partners are, however, sunrise-USN photo forced on the government by the on a fairly rapid basis. difficult to cancel because of the fiscal crisis, and Prime Minister David The reality is that the Libyan embarrassment involved. Cameron said that killing— albeit experience dramatized the It happens that several navies temporarily—the Royal Navy’s carrier consequences of abandoning carrier have small carriers that would have strike capability was the hardest and aviation, even when, on paper, British little future without the F-35 STOVL most unpleasant decision he made. land-based aircraft were within range variant. No one else is building STOVL Now the British will adopt the of their targets. Libya demonstrated airplanes right now, and the existing STOVL F-35 for which their new that what matters is loiter time in the versions of the Harrier are wearing out. carriers had originally been designed. target area. The farther an airplane The British alone had real alternatives. The decision was explained on two has to fly to get there, the less time it They might have pushed ahead grounds. First, it would provide is available to support those on the and converted their new carriers to naval-air striking capacity much ground. More or less continuous air conventional operation, or they might earlier. Second, analysis had shown support requires airplanes very close have opted for a ski-jump solution that the savings gained in adopting by, or else unaffordable numbers at like the one the Russians and al- most the conventional take off and landing a greater distance. That is aside from certainly the Chinese and the Indians version of the F-35 would be quickly pilot-fatigue issues. have adopted. Ski-jumps are inefficient, consumed by the cost of developing the but they work for high-powered necessary catapult and arresting gear. Other Customers aircraft. They do require considerable During the design of the British carrier, The British decision is likely to have length however, as the airplane has to much was made of “future-proofing,” considerable consequences for other build up speed to fly off the ski jump. It which meant that space and weight navies. When the British dropped out seems unlikely that the smaller carriers had been provided for catapults and of the STOVL program, it was widely operated by, for example, Spain and arresting gear. However, once the initial suspected that this variant would be Italy would be fully suited to ski-jump decision had been made to go for the particularly vulnerable to budget- operation using conventional aircraft. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 23
The U.S. Marines are of course board. Moreover, particularly thankful, because the without the STOVL F-35 can directly replace the software and the Harriers they currently operate from sensors feeding large-deck amphibious ships. The it, the F-35 is Marines see their attack aircraft as fairly inexpensive. absolutely essential supporting artillery. Its overall Ironically, it can be argued that they, performance was alone among potential users of the limited to achieve STOVL F-35, might do as well with an exactly that. unmanned alternative. The essence of the Marines’ artillery Pilots Are Vital air mission is that the airplanes are, The question, in effect, under the control of those then, is really they are supporting. They do not have whether the pilot alternative deep-strike or interceptor is essential. If missions. They are always on call. For he is not, then example, in Iraq in 1991 the Marines’ something like target, moreover, the better the chance Harriers were deliberately kept out of a stripped-down F-35 may be quite that a link may fail at a crucial moment the overall Air Tasking Order so that adequate. It may not even need an off- – and that a human in the cockpit they could deliver strikes on a quick board pilot; many modern UAVs fly may be able to think his way past that basis, and almost certainly that practice themselves from waypoint to waypoint, failure. continues. A Marine pilot contributes the operator handling several of them, Moreover, to make unmanned considerable skill in delivering weapons and intervening (if at all) only when strike the rule rather than the under tricky conditions, but in most they get into trouble. If there are no exception requires some corresponding cases he is hitting coordinates chosen pilots, there is no proficiency training, mechanism to find the targets. The by those on the ground. In effect, his and no training pipeline of aircraft. The United States deploys clouds of UAVs airplane is a reusable missile with airplanes fly only when they are needed plus other reconnaissance devices multiple independently deliverable – the way missiles fly, except that they (such as satellites). The mass of warheads. So is a UAV. are recoverable. information they collect can, at least The F-35 is extremely, perhaps Human pilots provide judgment and in theory, provide sufficient support prohibitively, expensive because it creativity. It is often pointed out, too, for unmanned strikes, even at a compensates for limitations in its that a pilot can continue to function considerable distance. It is arguable performance by offering the pilot even when the link back to the base that this mass of information might remarkable advantages. For example, or the command has been cut. For justify abandoning manned strike software merges the images from example, no one would want to bet on aircraft. F-35 JSF STOVL sensors under the airplane so that an automaton in a delicate situation Other countries lack any with Lift-Fan open the pilot in effect sees through such as the approach of an unknown comparable dense reconnaissance. (Defence Industries) the airplane’s body when he looks aircraft to a naval formation. People down through his helmet visor. may fail, too, but they are responsible, Other software provides the pilot and they can deal with novel situations. with unusually complete situational Most users of the naval STOVL awareness, partly by interpreting the F-35 are looking for general-purpose mass of electronic signals the airplane aircraft, which may function as intercepts. The operational software fighters or bombers. They might be involved is extremely complex and needed for deep strikes against well- apparently is the main incomplete defined targets (that a missile could item in the airplane’s development. handle), but they may also be needed Very little of this software would in ambiguous situations in which be needed if there were no pilot on judgment is vital. The more distant the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 24 Being There Still Matters
Their pilots are an inescapable necessity: they must find the targets they will hit. The United States enjoys perhaps a unique advantage in that targets can be located remotely. It follows that our allies are unlikely to welcome any proposal to replace pilots with robots instructed to deliver bombs to particular addresses. When our allies imagine replacing manned with unmanned aircraft, they necessarily envisage moving the pilot out of the airplane – but retaining him. In that case much depends on how reliable the link between operator and airplane is, and the threat of jamming Brazilian Navy (or perhaps cyber-warfare) must loom can fly from large-deck amphibious aircraft carrier BNS large. We also often imagine simply ships and can reliably deliver Sao Paulo (A12), moving the pilot out of the airplane, considerable loads of ordnance in foreground, comes alongside USS Ronald but our massive reconnaissance the face of serious opposition. That Reagan (CVN 76) capability gives us the alternative of something has to be a STOVL aircraft, as the ship transits moving the target-finding function because the Marines’ ships lack around South out of the airplane altogether. That catapults and arresting gear. It has to America to its new brings the airplane much closer to be somewhat stealthy, to get around homeport of San the status of a reusable missile. In this new-generation surface-to-air missiles, Diego. US Navy photo by Photographer’s sense the truest current example of an and it needs high performance. The Mate 1st Class John armed UAV may not be the Predators interesting question may be whether Lill and their ilk, which are used against the Marines’ best bet would be an al Qaeda and its friends, but Tactical unmanned STOVL operating more Tomahawk, with its ability to change like a reusable missile than a traditional targets on command. airplane. t The Marines’ situation is strikingly different from that of our allies. The Marines are interested in direct Dr. Friedman is the author of The Naval support for troops engaged on the Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon ground, in a situation that is probably Systems, Fifth Edition, and Network- impossible to disentangle from centric Warfare: How Navies Learned high overhead. The environment is changing, perhaps rapidly, so any kind to Fight Smarter Through Three World of pre-briefing is unlikely to be very Wars, available from the Naval Institute useful (there are of course exceptions). Press at www.usni.org. The pilot delivering ordnance is responding to orders from the ground, and if the link along which those orders come should fail, he is neutralized. Certainly the pilot’s skill can be crucial, as when bombs have to be delivered against masked targets. However, such cases are likely to be exceptions. The Marines need something that Journal of the Australian Naval Institute
26 The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future Bay C pt in Joseph Lukaitis RFD, RANR
he purpose of this paper is to manpower pool will disengage given At the start of World War II the examine the status and role current RAN practices, namely lack Naval Reserve, which had waxed Tof the RANR in 2011 following the of communication with Reservists and waned organisationally and limiting and downsizing of the Naval and inadequate monitoring and numerically between the wars was Reserve that took place in 2010. The engagement of Reservists. The truly quickly mobilised for sea going duties paper describes a new ‘way ahead’ for capable, committed and community with the RAN and the Royal Navy, and Reserves to contribute to Australia’s minded volunteers in the Naval filled a particular role in Australia for maritime defence capability by Reserve will seek other outlets for their port defence and the examination and proposing better management of Naval volunteerism. inspection of commercial shipping. The Reservists and better planning for their With a relatively small investment, huge expansion of RAN manpower in utilisation. which could be funded from within WWII was achieved through a Naval The paper concludes that rather anticipated NR salary ‘underspends’, Reserve Volunteer entry system that than limiting and downsizing the Naval a bespoke agency headed by a Rear enabled a speedy demobilisation of Reserve there are strong imperatives to Admiral should be formed to plan and Naval personnel after the war. do the opposite not least of which are: implement the monitoring, managing The role of the Naval Reserve • Navy’s coming Force 2030 Fleet and engaging of Naval Reservists. during the Cold War, and during • the persistent and enduring Monitoring, managing and Australia’s involvement in the Korean challenges of retention and engaging Naval Reservists will serve and Vietnam Wars focused very much recruiting (the right people) to create a group of enthusiastic on the ability to supply a reserve • the expectations of the Australian personnel who will be predisposed to operational surge capability for the community make a greater contribution to planned RAN. This was maintained by seven • Government direction, and Navy capability output and to meet Reserve Port Divisions one in each • the efficient use of Defence future contingencies. Failure to do so capital city of Australia and reached a expenditure may well prejudice Navy’s ability to peak by 1991 when the Naval Reserve meet future operational requirements provided seven Reserve Patrol Boat The Naval Reserve currently comprises at critical times. Crews and two Landing Craft Heavy around 8, 500 listed personnel of whom crews which manned various vessels only about 2, 000 are undertaking any Background attached to each Port Division. Navy work. It is important to note The last 20 years since the closure of that to be deemed ‘efficient’ and attract The Royal Australian Naval Reserve the Port Divisions has seen the Naval service conditions, a Navy Reservist has filled various roles in the maritime Reserve evolve into a pool of personnel MUST complete a minimum of 20 defence of Australia as part of the supplying part-time members to the days work each year. Yet, of the 2, 000 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) over the RAN fulfilling the day-to-day work personnel undertaking work just 1, last 100 years. Born of the Volunteer of the RAN alongside Permanent 165 managed to get funding for the Citizen Colonial Reserve Naval Navy (PN) members. The current and minimum requirement of 20 days. Brigades, the Naval Reserve was the principal role of the RANR is now as Many more Reservists seek to be backbone of the RAN efficient but are unable to contribute expeditionary brigades because of present Navy restrictions to German New on the use of Reservists and lack of Guinea (Australian planning to employ Naval Reservists in Naval and Military expanded roles in the future. Expedition Force) The Reserve pool of manpower and Gallipoli and the comprises a rich repository of potential Suez Canal (Royal capability which has had enormous Australian Navy resource invested in it during previous Bridging Train) in PN and Reserve service. This voluntary World War I. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 27
a part-time component of a Totally other FICs and are the Integrated Work Force supplying part- cornerstone of current time personnel to contribute to the and future Naval RAN’s everyday workload, both at sea capability – The Navy and ashore. This exclusive role is not Strategy 2007, p. 7. found in the current Australian Army The other FICs are Reserve and only partly in the Royal Collective Training, Australian Air Force Reserve. Organization, Command The RANR also provides a and Management, significant number of members serving Facilities, Major Systems, on Continuous Full-Time Service Support and Supplies. (CFTS) – currently over 330. It is not simply This present Naval Reserve role technology which gives is described by many as the ‘Drake the RAN its capability Overload Model’ because the Reserve but rather the way that activity in the RAN or wider ADF and Workforce can be increased or this technology is employed. It is there are Active Reservists Awaiting decreased quickly, providing great therefore Navy people who generate Employment (ARAE). The ARAE is not flexibility at minimum expense to Navy the real capabilities that surface ships, an official Navy Reserve List but it is a as an employer. This model is based submarines, aircraft and support reality of life for over 2500 Reservists on the assumption that a sufficient organizations represent. People, both who are currently doing ‘nothing’, number of Reservists will always uniformed and civilian, full time but are reported as Active, implying be available as and when needed. and part-time, are thus the most incorrectly by any use of the word that Unlike the conditions of service important factor for maintaining naval they are doing ‘something’. entitlements PN members enjoy, NR effectiveness. The RAN has a long This piece of misinformation sits members receive no commitment to history of operational achievement unhappily beside another which is the employment from Navy beyond 12 and excellence which provides a firm description given when Reservists are months. NR CFTS agreements are foundation for its current activities and working and said to be undertaking negotiated and are mostly short-term future progress, but this foundation is ‘training days’. This is a nonsense being less than two years. one that can rapidly be eroded if we of the first order. Active Reservists do not give priority to the entire naval working in the RAN today are no more R oles for Reserve Forces family - Australian Maritime Doctrine undertaking training than Chief of – RAN Doctrine 1 2010, p. 9. Navy in his role. A military Reserve force can fill a wide Naval Reservists reside in either range of roles for the force it supports of two lists: the Active Reserve Ni che,Complementary, and it is the purpose of this paper to and the Standby Reserve. In order Supplementary, examine options that might contribute to understand these lists it should Surge and Special to Australia’s maritime defence be noted that PN members upon roles in the RAN capability especially through the better discharge from the RAN are management of Naval Reservists and compulsorily placed in the Reserve At present and in the Australian better planning for their utilization. Standby List for a period of five years. setting, Reserves are considered as an The Active List is filled with Reservists option to fulfill various roles. Roles for The People Capability who have made an election to make Reserves vary in the Australian Army, themselves available for service Navy and Air Force. The Fundamental Input to Capability whether as an ex-PN Reservist or (FIC) provided by the Naval Reserve is a direct entry Navy Reservist. The Niche Roles. People. current number of Reservists in the • Today the NR provides the The importance of this input is Active List belies the label ‘active’ Maritime Trade Operations consistently highlighted in Australian because they fall into two groups (MTO) capability for the Naval and Defence doctrine. People ‘active’ and ‘inactive’. There are Active RAN. There has been a long are critical to the performance of all Reservists undertaking some employed history going back to WWI of Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 28 The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future
Reservists specialising in this Recruiting for Niche Roles. There Supplementary Role. The majority Primary Qualification (PQ), is a slow trickle of civilian ab initio of Active working Naval Reservists which is presently only open to (“from the beginning”) or direct entry supplement shortfalls in the Permanent Reservists. The MTO Branch recruiting into these niche roles. The Navy workforce working part-time or has recently been reviewed, re- current RAN Recruiting Directive on CFTS in the Supply, Engineering, structured and re-directed to notes a total of 10 (4 x MTO; 4 x Aviation and Seaman categories across have its focus centered in Border OPLOG; 2 x PREL) annual targets. all ranks and sub-specialisations. This Protection Command whilst The total number of Active Reservists includes Naval Reserve Divers and retaining its traditional roles in engaged in these Niche Roles is less Musicians who work in small state Fleet Headquarters and Joint than 150 Australia wide. Last year, the based units (See Note 1). Operational Command. Border NR recruited a total of six into these This supplementation role is a first protection is an agency outside the workgroups. While there are some priority to ensure that the RAN can RAN but commanded by a senior additional Niche Role Reservists in the fulfill its mission which is ‘to fight and naval officer. Standby List, there is limited ability to win in the maritime environment’. • Public Relations (PREL) officers quickly expand these capabilities. The experience over the last decade are a second important area Overall Niche Roles are filled very has been that this would not have been where Reservists fill a niche role efficiently by an enthusiastic cohort of possible without the contribution of for Navy. They also work in the Reservists at low cost to Navy. Reservists both at sea and ashore. To tri-service environment. The date, the NR supply of personnel has PN has no equivalent PQ open Complementary Roles. The NR also generally met increasing PN demand; to PN members so it is the NR’s contributes capability to areas where however, this may not be the case in responsibility to provide this the PN has inadequate personnel or the future. Various factors will impact specialised support which is in where the PN does not normally hold upon the number and availability of increasing demand. skills or maintain them in sufficient Reservists to work part-time under • A new PQ open to Reservists was numbers or at appropriate skill levels casual conditions of service. established in 2008. Operational that may be required. These include: Logistics (OPLOG) is in its early Medical, Dental, Psychologist, • The bbe and flow of the Australian stages of development and is also Chaplain, Legal and Intelligence economy and the unemployment a Niche Role in the RAN within Branch Naval Reservists regularly rate the Supply community. OPLOG make valuable contributions to Navy. • The run down of DFRDB pension officers will provide expertise on Complementary Reservists deploy recipients (See Note 2) how to plan, support and execute regularly, particularly in Health roles. • Levels of ongoing engagement logistic requirements during ship At present, excluding Senior Officers with non-working Reservists visits, exercises and operations (06 and above), there are 71 Active • Reserve conditions of service at a tactical level including port Reserve Medical Officers; 17 Dentists; compared with PN conditions of services management and support 35 Psychologists; 31 Chaplains; 127 service including the absence of for materiel and personnel Legal Officers; and 92 Intelligence superannuation entitlements for movements. Officers. Naval Reservists • The RAN’s Geo-spatial • The maintenance of morale within Intelligence Library (GSIL) Recruiting for Complementary Roles. the Reserve community Personnel are supplied by Naval Last year, a total of only 20 personnel • The hangingc experience level Reservists located within the were added to these ranks via ab initio of Reservists as the length of Hydrography Branch and is direct entry civilian recruiting. The service periods in the PN generally yet another niche function that number of sailors entering the NR via decrease and personnel enter the Reservists provide to the PN. the ab initio route is much less with Reserve lists with relatively less There work is a small but critical five only recorded last year who had no experience compared to their component of amphibious prior service. predecessors operations. Recruiting of officers to health roles • The hangingc operational levels remains challenging especially for of the RAN and the demand for specialist doctors. Reservists The results of “ab initio” Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 29
direct entry civilian recruiting in a short time frame and lacked capability input by Navy Reservists efforts transparency and fulsome consultation. in Niche, Complementary and • Career management input to It is my contention that these Supplementary Roles was introduced Reservists cut backs were fiscally driven only in 2006 by the Naval Reserve Capability • The ompetencyc and effectiveness and were tactical in nature; they did Enhancement Program (NRCEP). This of Permanent Navy Human not take into account any long-term program provided funded training, the Resource Managers strategic view of the whole of Navy maintenance of currency and funded • The budget available for Reservists workforce and the impacts such travel for Reservists in Funded Reserve to travel to work cuts would have on the NR People Commitment (FRC) positions that • Budget funding available for Capability. were established to provide operational Reserve salaries The real impact of these very severe and seagoing capability input to the cuts followed throughout fiscal year RAN fleet. It also introduced a fully During the last decade the NR has 2010 - 2011 by a previously unknown ‘integrated’ management system for the supplied Navy’s demand for part- level of disengagement by the PN with reservists in these new positions within time personnel and has done so at non working Reservists is yet to be felt. the then Navy Force Element Groups increasing levels each year until June It may be that in the future (FEGs). 2010 when Naval Reserve positions the NR will be unable to respond Five years on the program has were cut by 35% (900 positions reduced with an adequate supply of willing been partly successful. It has seen the to 604) and Reserve work days for most volunteers due to a loss of goodwill creation of 106 new FRC positions positions were cut back by 25% to 50%. amongst Reservists who perceive attached to the then various Force This was done allegedly to contain the that the 2010 cuts were not well Element Groups and has flourished overall workforce Navy budget due to managed or communicated. This in the Patrol Boat Group but has the very large number of PN sailors and negative perception may continue to had mixed results in other areas. officers under training. be exacerbated if the present level of Experience has shown that there has Until June 2010 the NR contribution almost negligible engagement and been a direct correlation between in the supplementary role overall had communication with non-working successful implementation of this increased steadily in the preceding Naval Reservists continues. program and the quality of leadership decade peaking at 10.5% of the RAN The present isolation of individual and management within the FEGs. workforce. Reservists presently prevents The Program is designed to enable The Naval Reserve Whole of mentoring, the development and a Reservist to maintain a class of ship Work Force Capability Review maintenance of morale, camaraderie currency over a number of years and, (NRWOWCR), however, cut Reserve and an ‘espirit de corps’. Continued importantly, to have a career path salary funding by approximately 35% isolation will prevent the development in parallel with growing experience. and subsequently the number of Active of peer motivation and education and In short, NRCEP Reservists provide Reservists working in the Navy for will degrade the level of engagement a pool of available personnel for more than 20 days a year has reduced with Navy culture and the Navy sea going relief and operational from 1, 577 in 2, 010 to 1, 165 in 2011 family. The existing being a decrease of 26% whilst days low level of recruiting worked by Reservists fell by 41% (See outcome for Niche and table right). Complementary Role NR The management, communication positions may only add to and implementation of the this predicted problem. NRWOWCR, which cut Active Reserve positions by 35% was Naval Reserve executed ‘overnight’ and without any Capability notice or explanation given to many Enhancement individuals. The consequences for Program 2006 Navy is that many Reservists became disenfranchised and demoralized. A model for delivering The review process was conducted a definitive ongoing Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 30 The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future supplementation. Patrol Boat Group experience, could In particular, no detailed The NR review and cut backs in be used very appropriately in the LHD monitoring and assessment of non- 2010 removed the guaranteed budget (Landing Helicopter Dock) context. working Reservists’ level of training, lines for NRCEP training, travel Given the very large range of skills availability, currency, willingness to and currency expenses. This has and competencies that these vessels serve, age, medical category, health or diluted one of the original and critical will require in their crews, there is fitness is being or has been undertaken. strengths of the program; notably the still enough lead time to achieve a To illustrate this point, there are provision of a surge component in its significant level of contribution from continuing examples of contact being structure. the Naval Reserve before the first LHD made towards Standby Reservists who (HMAS Canberra) commissions in have passed away. Th e White Paper 2009 2014. The diagram above right seeks An attractive function of the to illustrate the complexity of Naval “The Navy will continue its workforce NRCEP model is that the program Capability planning and the many integration program, which focuses is designed to achieve longevity and possible permutations that may involve on discrete capability outputs. The stability of Reserve involvement whilst different levels of Reserve participation Navy Reserve Capability Enhancement providing work satisfaction and career noting that the RAN fleet is ever- Program, currently in its third year, will progression for individual Reservists. changing as is the operational dynamic. continue the participation of trained This compares to the often ad hoc The diagram illustrates the potential reservists in providing surge capacity appointment of Reservists to FRC and danger of disengaging with the non- for all Navy force elements. The Navy Short Term Reserve Positions (STRP) working Naval Reserve if future will continue to assess the optimal on an annual basis without certainty of contingencies are to be adequately workforce size and mix, including part- tenure and the ability to plan careers. addressed. time service, in the transition phase It is my strong contention that the Various levels of surge capacity to the new amphibious capability to Naval Reserve guidance in the White could be planned for different levels be provided by the LHDs from 2011 Paper should be embraced rather than of operational tempo up to the point and beyond.” Defending Australia in cast off. of full-scale war. This planning, the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030 – which could commence at low levels Defence White Paper 2009, ch. 10.18. The Surge Role and at small cost, will all depend on Although the 2009 White Paper the planning and management of assessed the NRCEP as integral to There is no articulated plan within individual Reservists including: the way ahead for the NR it is not the RAN at the present time for the • the gathering of current data about clear what the future of the program RANR to provide surge capacity in all non-working Reservists will be following the cutbacks to the the event of a rapidly escalating or • an analysis of that data 2010 Reserve budget and the slashing changing operational tempo. Events • ongoing engagement and the of positions and a low level of Naval which may lead to a surge requirement ability to communicate with Reserve Capability planning. are numerous and accordingly any individual Reservists The Supplementary Role of plan needs to incorporate a range • the recognition for the need the Naval Reserve could be better of options for various contingencies for ongoing training and developed with closer capability and the spectrum of operations the familiarisation and currency alignment using an expanded NRCEP RAN may be directed to undertake by • other activities as deemed model. The model was carefully government. appropriate and will require designed to be capability driven, Navy’s expectation is that surge consideration of Government responsive to Reservists needs and personnel comprising non-working strategic guidance and the importantly, to provide a reliable pool Active Reservists and Standby List formulation and articulation of of Reservists. The architects of the Reservists will materialise into effective RAN capability surge demands for NRCEP carefully analysed personnel personnel if and when called upon. It the NR. (See Note 3). soft spots and set up Naval Reserve is assumed that in the present strategic positions to supplement and support context there will be a reasonable Planning for the utilisation of Naval them. lead time to mobilise Reservists. This Reservists in a complex strategic The NRCEP model, given the thinking is flawed for many reasons. environment is in our national interest. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 31
The critical factor in examining the of relevance to note that surge role for the NR is that at present all Naval Personnel are there is limited useful data about non- trained firefighters. working Naval Reservists and hence Consideration may be the ‘surgeability’ of the NR is based given to combining state more on guess work and hope rather based Naval Reserves than hard, reliable evidence with Army and Air Force The trend in western defence Reserves for these types forces is to use Reservists more of emergencies under tri rather than less. This trend (UK and service administration USA especially) is driven by current within the DACC economic conditions and the high framework. cost of Regular Defence forces as against the cost of Reserve forces. It is A Way Ahead my contention that the RAN will not E nhanced escape this trend in the future and the Supplementation & Escalated of Reservists should be undertaken lack of planning for it will be deeply Supplementation in relation to category or Primary regretted. Qualification, experience, rank, The NR could quickly and easily currency of training, currency of skills, Special Roles move to a next level of capability health and medical category and, most input by means of an ‘Enhanced importantly, availability and desire There has been no major contribution Supplementation Structure’. An to serve. This will enable an overall by the Naval Reserve to disaster relief incremental increase in the monitoring, assessment of what capability can or civil emergencies in Australia in management and engagement of reasonably be provided and in what the last 20 years. This has caused Reservists has the potential to pay roles and for what periods. great frustration to many individual immediate dividends and then Banding and classifying Reservists Reservists who have wanted to help in prepare the way for a second stage of in relation to availability and lead times such civil emergencies and is in stark supplementation that might be termed for operational deployment and/or contrast to the various and significant ‘Escalated Supplementation’. shore based employment would be contributions of the Army Reserve As I remarked earlier the RAN a feature of this monitoring. This is in the Victorian Bushfires and the has no management process or presently undertaken to some extent in Queensland Floods. This highlights the any active communication plan for the Air Force Reserve. absence of an articulated plan for the Naval Reservists unless they are There is also a need to evaluate and Naval Reserve to mobilise for national currently working part-time. If those correlate Reserve civilian skills as they emergencies and/or disaster relief as non-working Reservists presently may be of use to Navy in a range of part of the Defence Assistance to the disengaged from Navy (2, 577 in special circumstances and it is noted Civil Community mechanism (DACC), the Active Reserve and 3, 968 in that initial work to do this is taking or as Defence Force Aid to the Civilian the Standby List) were monitored, place. Authority under the Defence Act, 1903. managed and engaged, a potent people Monitoring non-working Reservists One negative outcome of the capability input could be identified and as a first step would help answer, for Totally Integrated Work Force is the best or better people might become example such questions as: that it has resulted in a disintegrated available for selection to fill FRC, STRP • ‘What is the Reserve supply of Naval Reserve organisation lacking and CFTS positions and any emerging engineering relief and project any ability to be swiftly mobilised for demand for extra supplementation. personnel noting the findings of a civil emergency or disaster relief at a These monitoring, engagement the Rizzo Review?’ ‘Plan to Reform local state level as there is no separate and management processes for Naval Ship Repair and Management organized capability structure. Reservists align closely with New Practices, Paul J Rizzo, July 2011’. In particular, there may be a role for Generation Navy Cultural Change (See note 4). Naval Reserve diving teams, which are People signature behaviours. • ‘What opportunities are there to presently located in each state, and it is Analysis, evaluation and assessment use Reservists to man minor war Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 32 The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future
vessels and in particular the LCHs call out in specific and/or their replacements?’ circumstances. Reservists • ‘Can Reservists deploy in rotations have agreed to put as Aviation Handlers and in other themselves in harm’s way roles on the LHDs?’ for their country. As such • ‘Can Reservists supplement it is only a right on the engineering positions within Navy other side of the social at higher levels etc?’ contract that they have • ‘How many Reservists can deploy entered into that they in Surface Combatants on one have a properly managed month’s notice?’ career. Competent career management highlights These type of questions are presently and exposes their capacity answered by ‘Russell Hill’ experts, and availability for future usually in the negative based on contribution. (See Note 5). subjective and anecdotal information, This means maintaining carried out by an agency dedicated without any statistical basis or real appropriate training and currency exclusively to that task. feedback from Reservists. for each individual, understanding Experience clearly shows that the The use of evidence to develop and counselling Reservists about Permanent Navy is not very successful good policy appears to be non-existent career and promotion expectations, at managing Naval Reservists even even though such evidence is readily proper and timely officer and sailor when adequate resources are provided. available from a variety of sources. reporting, organising the provision of Success is the exception in this area – a Regular and good communication mentoring and setting realistic goals for common excuse is that PN managers should be undertaken with all individuals. Management also includes are already overworked and do not Reservists but particularly those ensuring that conditions of service are have the time to put in the effort not working. The present lack of provided appropriately and employer needed to manage additional part- communication with Reservists by issues are dealt with by the responsible time personnel. Other factors involved Navy is a puzzling development and no agencies (Defence Reserve Support are the short posting cycle of PN explanation has been offered for it. In Committees and the Office of Reserve members, lack of awareness of Reserve the past there have been well-developed Protection etc). idiosyncracies, inadequate or no business plans for communicating with It is through good management human resources training and in some Reservists. of the individual Reservists that the rare cases, an overtly anti-Reserve Communication should be active potential of the Naval Reserve can be attitude. and encouraging using a range of assessed and developed to meet the There are no reasonable grounds media from meetings, musterings, demands placed upon it by Navy and to expect this will change. It may get magazines, training, interviews, the wider ADF. worse. service magazines, telephone, letters and internet. Communication should Implementing engage the whole pool of Reservists ‘Enhanced and provide full and fair information Supplementation’ to all Reservists especially about work and Establishing a opportunities. Head Naval Reserve This engagement process should People Capability also be commenced as part of the re- settlement process provided to PN Failing to plan is members as they leave the Navy so planning to fail that they have a good understanding of opportunities in the Naval Reserve. The work of enhancing The Naval Reservist is a civilian the present Naval Reserve volunteer subject to compulsory can in my view only be Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 33
For serious change a Naval Reserve whole LHD program both at sea Rear Admiral should be appointed and ashore as Head of Naval Reserve People • How the Naval Reserve might and Capability (HNRPC) to oversee support new Niche Roles and the Monitoring, Management and develop existing ones under utilises a major defence Engagement of the Active Reserve • How direct entry recruiting might capability which the community and to review the Standby Reserve be increased and in which areas has already largely paid for. It is my and to contribute to planning for the of the complementary Reserve to contention that lack of adequate utilisation of the Naval Reserve. solve long term deficiencies management and engagement with The organizational structure • How the NR might support those who are volunteers for service diagrams below show the existing Navy submarine crewing diminishes morale and erodes goodwill. organisation and the proposed change • The transfer of selected longer The cost of enhancing the NR and to implement a new head of Naval lead time capabilities to the Naval developing meaningful long-term Reserve People Capability. Reserve careers for its members is small indeed. It is only an officer of two star rank • The use of civilian skills in The potential to unleash and use Naval with adequate support who will have industry in developing Reserve Reserve Capability in the immediate the status and impact to influence Capability future and the unknown future may and liaise effectively with senior naval well be critical in the defence of planners on the best way to maintain B udget and Cost for Reserve Australia. and utilize the Reserve People Rear Admiral Rather than limiting and Capability. At this rank the position The proposed appointment of a part downsizing the Naval Reserve there are is more likely to be enduring and able time Naval Reserve Rear Admiral strong imperatives to do the opposite to withstand the vagaries of pro and and activating a new plan to develop not least of which are: anti Reserve support levels amongst enhanced supplementation would be • Navy’s Coming Force 2030 Fleet senior permanent officers. Importantly an incremental change for Navy and • the persistent and enduring he or she will be able to plan, liaise is not in overall terms expensive to challenges of retention and and resolve issues with Deputy Chief achieve. Funding could be immediately recruiting (the right people) of Navy (DCN) as the head of RAN provided from the NR budget • the expectations of the Australian Capability and with Head of Navy underspend. In the first fiscal year it community People and Reputation (HNPAR) as is understood expenditure might be • Government direction, and head of the supplying authority for the planned at less than $500K to cover • The efficient use of Defence people capability. staff costs, overheads and travel expenditure The way ahead proposed in this to support such an office and the The Naval Reserve currently comprises paper establishes a part-time Naval preparation of a business plan and its around 8, 500 personnel of whom Reserve Rear Admiral in Navy Strategic initial implementation. only about 2, 000 are undertaking any Command. Expenditure could be staged and Navy work. Many more seek to be budgeted thereafter regulated by the engaged but are unable to contribute Naval Reserve Capability capability demand and the numbers because of present Navy restrictions Projects of Reservists to be engaged at higher on the use of Reservists. This pool of The new Rear Admiral might in early levels in either an enhanced pool of manpower comprises a rich repository work address some of the following Reservists or the escalated pool of of potential capability which, in the after analysing initial results from Reservists. main, has had enormous resource monitoring the Naval Reserve: Budgeting for this work should be invested in it during previous PN and • The hollowness in RAN stand alone and ring fenced otherwise Reserve service. To let the majority engineering and how it might be the temptation to raid the cookie jar is of this manpower pool wither on the supported by the many hundreds of too much. vine through lack of communication engineers and technical personnel and inadequate monitoring of in the Naval Reserve Lists Conclusion status represents a neglect of public • How the NR might bolster the It is my contention that the existing investment. expertise and support for the Naval Reserve model and role greatly With a relatively small investment, Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 34 The Role of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve: today and the future Reserve is a very good example. It is largely, which could be funded from within if not wholly, engaged in keeping the Navy anticipated NR salary underspends, at sea. As the White Paper 2000 pointed out, Reserves must not only sustain, they must a bespoke agency headed by a surge capability when the need arises. Being Rear Admiral could be formed to absorbed into the ‘sustain’ role, reserves are in danger of losing the capacity to ‘surge’. establish and maintain thorough and This is an important consideration for force reliable data which could be used in development planners. In addition to making an important contribution to contemporary conjunction with Demand and Supply military operations, Reserve forces must imperatives, to ensure the greatest always stand ready to surge when the need arises. When a Reservist moves from part- possible value is extracted from this time to full-time service, an individual surge group of individuals. is provided. It is only the Reserves that can give many parts of the ADF a 24/7 capability, Increased interaction with non- if and when the need arises.” Extracted from working Reservists would serve to ‘ADF Reserves, Strategic Directions for the Future’ by MAJGEN Greg Garde, AO RFD create a group of engaged and more QC in The Australian Reservist October enthusiastic personnel who would, 2010, p. 26. unless predetermined to have no Captain Joseph Lukaitis RFD, RANR is NOTE 4 contact with Navy, be better disposed a Maritime Warfare Officer who spent ‘Plan to Reform Ship Repair and to make some contribution to Navy. Management Practices, Paul J Rizzo, July his first 15 years in theRANR in sea 2011.’ Navy would then enjoy a greater level postings mainly on Minor War Vessels NOTE 5 of reliability from its Reservists in time as a Navigator and Executive Officer. In All Reserve members are liable to be called- of need. out in time of war, defence emergency, or in To continue only using the Naval the last 13 years he has served part time other circumstances pursuant to the Defence Act 1903. Call-out under the provisions Reserve as an ad-hoc mechanism as a StaffO fficer in Navy Headquarters of the Act is by order of the Governor- for filling gaps in Navy capability and Navy Strategic Command. He was General. Depending on the circumstances represents a lack of imagination and the Governor-General may elect to ‘call-out’ Director of Naval Reserve Capability Reserves in full or selectively, for continuous foresight, poor personnel management fulltime service. and may even prejudice Navy’s 2006 – 2010. In civilian life he is a ability to meet future operational Solicitor and Notary Public. requirements at critical times. t
NOTE 1 One of the assumptions about the Naval Reserve is that 95% or so of Naval Reservists are ex Permanent Navy. Whilst this may reflect the proportion in the total number of listed Reservists of the 1156 Reservists who are active and efficient in 2011 the proportion of ex Permanent Navy Reservists is estimated to be as low as 65%. NOTE 2 The Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit Pension Scheme will eventually phase out fully and be replaced by the Military Superannuation Benefits Scheme. There are still around 900 serving Navy members who are in the DFRDB Scheme. NOTE 3 “Increasingly in recent years, our Reserves have been absorbed into current operations and commitments, as well as disaster relief, support to the civilian community, filling gaps in our regular forces, and innumerable other tasks. The danger is that we have no Reserve left, our capability being fully absorbed in what we do right now. The Naval Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 35 Maritime Highways of Southeast Asia: Alternative Straits? By Mohd Hazmi bin Mohd Rusli
Synopsis As the largest archipelagic state miles at its narrowest point at the Growing shipping traffic congestion in the world, Indonesia has many Philips Channel, the Sunda Strait is in the Straits of Malacca and islands separated by interconnecting much broader; about 13 nautical miles Singapore has led to a search for waterways. These straits are part of wide at its narrowest. alternative shipping routes. While the Indonesia’s archipelagic waters and However the Sunda Strait is less Indonesian archipelagic waters have have been designated by Indonesia as convenient than the Straits of Malacca been identified, how viable are these archipelagic sea lanes. Vessels may sail and Singapore as it contains many alternative waterways? through these interconnecting waters navigational hazards including strong under the international regime of tidal flows; sandbank formations Commentary Archipelagic Sea Lanes Passage. along the waterway; a live volcano; A PROJECTED increase of shipping poor visibility during squalls; and the traffic in the next decade has sparked Sunda Strait existence of numerous oil drilling concerns about traffic congestion in Currently, the Sunda Strait remains platforms and small islands and reefs the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. an important waterway for ships which may disrupt safe navigation. Alternative shipping routes through travelling by the Cape route to East Yearly, about 2, 280 ships transit the the Indonesian archipelagic waters Asia, as well as for vessels sailing from Sunda Strait carrying in total some 100 have been identified, three in particular Australian ports to Southeast or East million tonnes of cargo valued at US$5 being the Sunda Strait, the Lombok Asian destinations. The Sunda Strait is billion. The ships have to travel from and Makassar Straits and the Ombai- quite deep at its western entrance but the Indian Ocean through the Java Sea Chinese Luda class Weitar Straits near the island of the depth decreases towards its eastern which is linked to the South China missile destroyer - the first surface warfare Timor. While these routes have their exit with irregular bottom topography. Sea. A plan to build a bridge across vessel designed and advantages, their viability remains Unlike the Straits of Malacca and the Sunda Strait to connect Java and built in China, shown moot. Singapore which is about 1.3 nautical Sumatra is under study. in 1997
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 36 Maritime Highways of Southeast Asia: Alternative Straits?
A pre-feasibility study conducted to Yokohama, Japan is about 6,600 by a construction firm found that the nautical miles via the Malacca- 29-kilometre bridge would cost up Singapore route. However the journey to Rp 100 trillion which translates to by the Lombok-Makassar route would US$10.8 billion. If this project does add another 7,500 nautical miles. The take place, it will, directly or indirectly, route through the Lombok-Makassar affect the passage of maritime traffic Straits would incur an additional in the already navigationally difficult shipping cost of between US$84 billion Sunda Strait. and US$250 billion per year. As a result, compared to the Straits of Malacca and L ombok and Makassar Straits Singapore route, both the Sunda and The other alternatives to the Straits Lombok-Makassar passageways are of Malacca and Singapore are the little used by international traffic. Lombok and Makassar Straits. The Lombok Strait is wider and deeper than Ombai-Weitar Straits the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The Ombai-Wetar Straits route near As its depths are greater than 150 Timor is another alternative shipping metres, it is not draught-limited, and route situated within Indonesian its minimum width is 11.5 miles. It archipelagic waters. The route is used is therefore used by the largest ships generally by local shipping including of over 100,000 deadweight tonnage vessels proceeding between Australia (DWT). Tankers of over 230,000 and the Java Sea. The Ombai Strait is DWT have to use the deeper Lombok- located between the islands of Alor and T he aircraft carrier Makassar route because of the under Timor, and its counterpart, the Wetar Still, these archipelagic straits play USS Theodore keel clearance limitation of 3.5 metres Strait, is located between the northern a critical role in the flow of the world’s Roosevelt, background, joins and the 23-metre depth of the Straits of coast of Timor and the southern coast shipping. Any disruption of shipping a multinational Malacca and Singapore. of Wetar. Ombai-Wetar is not really a traffic through these straits in the formation The Lombok Strait provides a preferred alternative to the Straits of Indonesian archipelagic waters would including the shipping route connecting the Indian Malacca and Singapore as this route compromise the well-being of seaborne People’s Republic Ocean to the Makassar Strait and East is longer in distance for West to East global trade and the world economy, of China Navy Asia via the Sulawesi Sea.The Makassar traffic. particularly the Asia-Pacific region. t missile destroyer Guangzhou (DDG Strait stretches about 400 nautical Nevertheless the extremely deep 168) and the miles from its northern gateway to its channels of the Ombai-Wetar Straits By Dr Mohd Hazmi Bin Mohd Rusli, who Pakistan Navy southern access. While little east-west provide an undetected access route for completed his PhD at the Australian frigate PNS Badr (USN photo) traffic transits Lombok-Makassar, it is submarines between the Pacific Ocean National Centre for Ocean Resources still an important route for Australian and the Indian Ocean, making them north-south shipping. Yearly, 420 collectively, an important waterway for and Security (ANCORS), University of ships ply the Lombok and Makassar American defence interests. Wollongong, is a lecturer at Universiti passageway carrying a total of 36 Sains Islam Malaysia. He contributed million tonnes of cargo worth US$40 More complementary than alternative? this article especially to RSIS billion. Given the geographical inconvenience Commentaries. Even though the Lombok-Makassar of the passageways through the route is much safer as it is relatively Indonesian archipelagic waters, it wide and deep and does not pose is reasonable to conclude that these significant navigational hazards, it is routes through the Indonesian not as navigationally convenient as the archipelago, though vital for Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This international shipping, are more is because passage along this route complementary than alternative routes consumes more time: a typical voyage to the primary maritime highway of the from an Arabian Gulf port, Rastanurah, Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 37 Interview - Rear Admiral Tony Parr Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy By Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe
s a leading small-nation navy direction and it has occupied a lot of consisting of only 12 warships, our thoughts over the past 12 months Athe Royal New Zealand Navy has set as we implement policy into strategy.” in motion an ambitious development “We are going ahead with programs program that has evolved as a result to either replace or enhance those of the 2002 Maritime Forces Review, capabilities over the next ten to fifteen the 2010 Defence White Paper, and years,” explained the Rear Admiral. more recently, a New Zealand Defence The cornerstone of the upgrade has Force Statement of Intent released fallen on the Navy’s principal warships mid-last year, all of which have taken - the two ANZAC-class frigates Te into account New Zealand’s evolving Kaha and Te Mana. strategic interests up until 2035. After “The main upgrade to the frigates more than two and a half years in the has been what we call a Platform top job Chief of Navy Rear Admiral Systems Upgrade. We practically Tony Parr says the modernisation and re-engined the two frigates in the acquisition of new capabilities has first phase and we expect the second enabled greater flexibility for the Navy phase to replace the computerised to confront a new era of challenges. control and monitoring system to get “We are one of the best small- under way in 2012. What we have to nation navies in the world,” stated Rear address next then is identifying the Admiral Parr. “Materially, the Navy has frigates mission systems – the weapons grown significantly, though we have and sensor systems to take the ships Chief of Navy only marginally grown in numbers. through to the end of their operational until we have a replacement for both Rear Admiral The most important thing for the lives after which they will be replaced.” Resolution and HMNZS Manwanui, Tony Parr Navy is the introduction of the Project “Furthermore, our five SH-2G the latter being the Navy’s diving and Protector fleet, which has almost Seasprite helicopters of No. 6 Squadron mine countermeasures vessel.” doubled our size. We commissioned will either have to be enhanced, “The Navy is also currently seven new ships to our patrol fleet and modernised or replaced.” searching for a replacement vessel for HMNZS Wellington gained significant new capabilities.” “The amphibious sealift ship our fleet oiler – HMNZS Endeavour – is a Protector class offshore patrol The seven-warships commissioned HMNZS Canterbury was based on a which is likely to be decommissioned vessel of the Royal between 2006 and 2010 comprised of roll-on-roll-off COTS design. As she is by 2016. New Zealand Navy. two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) to a bespoke ship – she is a one off – there “More recently, we acquired a Built by Tenix, the conduct long-range surveillance, one is nothing quite like her in the world. marine engineering simulator ashore ship entered service Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) for sealift As a result there are several design in Devonport. We can train our marine in 2010. (Photo and amphibious operations and four and functionality issues to address and engineers in a simulated environment courtesy RNZN) Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) for littoral there is a remedial operations. program in place to He continued: “The government progress these.” release of the 2010 Defence White “HMNZS Paper is significant for us as it is a Resolution, our major policy statement and blueprint hydrographic for the way forward. Essentially the survey ship, will message from the White Paper is that decommission the Government is quite comfortable in June 2012. We with the size and the shape of the will redeploy the Navy as it is today. This has given us military hydrography some distinct and prescriptive policy capability to our OPVs Journal of the Australian Naval Institute QinetiQ Maritime Oceans of Experience
QinetiQ is a leading international provider of independent technology based services and solutions to Defence, Aerospace and Security Markets. Our clients benefit from 300 specialist staff based in Australia and the ability to draw upon the expertise, experience and knowledge of over 10,000 QinetiQ employees from across the globe. As Australia’s largest independent provider of specialist technical advice services to Defence and industry, QinetiQ provides through-life Design, Delivery and Sustainment services to help our maritime customers complete challenging missions safely and effectively.
For more information contact our Maritime team: Tel: 1800 038 081 www.QinetiQ.com.au Issue 145 39 Interview - Rear Admiral Tony Parr Chief of Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy
which means there is less downtime on platforms and we can make people productive far more quickly.” “This simulator complements very well the navy’s bridge, damage control and combat system simulators which are delivering significant efficiencies in our training system.” In recent years, the Navy has deployed on a wide array of roles and operations across the world, and has become an increasingly important component of New Zealand’s wider diplomatic strategy. “In Afghanistan, the Navy has provided specialist input to strengthen the New Zealand mission deployed in support of PRT Bamiyan.” HMNZS TE MANA - photo by Chris Sattler “In 2011 we took command of Defence White Paper provides a long- Combined Task Force CTF 151 off the term outlook, the Navy’s attempt to Horn of Africa for a two-month period. fulfill its objective to strengthen its As time and resources allow the Navy expeditionary capabilities is likely to will set out for more deployments in remain a major long-term challenge. Southeast Asia and the Middle East.” This is especially the case given “The stability in our region – the budgetary restrictions that could be South Pacific – is important to us. With amplified by ongoing global economic the acquisition of new and advanced turmoil. capabilities the frequency of our “We anticipate a period of financial deployments to the Southeast Pacific constraint and restraint from now up will increase. In addition, we will be until 2015,” said Rear Admiral Parr. “At spending a more time in the Southwest the moment we number about 2,000 Pacific and Antarctica in the summer uniforms which is about 150 short of months.” an ideal number. We need to grow to “Closer to home, we are well about 2,150 personnel to be optimally engaged now with other Government manned. This may not seem a lot in departments with the Naval Patrol comparison to others but in a small Force around the New Zealand coast. navy the contribution of every person We went down to Antarctica last year in uniform and their civilian support is with our OPVs – our first deployment magnified.” there for 40 years. Similarly, in He further emphasised: “Despite the aftermath of the devastating the challenges we will continue to be a Christchurch earthquake the Navy was Navy that strives to deliver excellence Snowbound - HMNZS Wellington (Photo heavily involved in rescue and salvage across the spectrum of maritime courtesy RNZN) operations.” operations that we engage in.” t Clearly, New Zealand’s enhanced naval capabilities have already given it the ability to be more influential than it was previously in shaping regional geopolitics where its interests First published in Jane’s Defence Weekly are concerned. However, while the in Vol 49 Issue 03, 18 January 2012. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 40 Operation Chromite and the Merits of Maritime Manoeuvre By Lieutenant P.S. Waring “We drew up a list of every natural and geographic handicap—and Inchon had ‘em all.” Commander Arlie G. Capps, USN
“...the greatest successes in war have been the boldest departures from the normal. But for the most part they have been departures made with open eyes by geniuses who could perceive in the accidents of the case a just reason for the departure,” Sir Julian S. Corbett
t midnight on the 15th of September 1950 a beacon Aflickered to life atop the lighthouse on Palmi-Do, an Island along the approaches to Inchon Harbour on Korea’s Yellow Sea coast. The beacon’s F ig.1 Approaches to rhythmic flashing was soon marking relevance to the ADF as it considers its month. Further exasperating the Inchon. safe passage for a flotilla of landing own amphibious future. situation was the garrisoned island of craft carrying troops of the US 1st Wolmi-Do lying along the approaches Marine Division toward their crucial Operation Chromite to Inchon which would need securing objective. The stunning success of before the main landings could what followed remains a paragon of Following a powerful drive south by the proceed.2 audacious military planning; but as Soviet equipped North Korean forces Against the advice of his own staff the amphibious landings at Inchon in the spring of 1950, the US 8th Army and even his superiors in Washington, recede further into the grasp of and its UN allies were besieged within a MacArthur remained insistent that history they edge ever closer to the slim slice of territory around the coastal the operation proceed. Replying to a realm of mythology, now and forever city of Pusan. To relieve his trapped pessimistic briefing by Admiral James synonymous with the legend of forces, MacArthur as Commander in Doyle, Amphibious Force Commander General Douglas MacArthur. Chief of the Far East, decided upon a of the Seventh Fleet, MacArthur Military historian Max Hastings daring amphibious assault against the gave an impassioned response which described Inchon as ‘a monument port city of Inchon on Korea’s west displayed all his immense powers of to ‘can do’, to improvisation and coast. Inchon lay at the end of the shoal persuasion; he challenged the Navy by risk-taking on a magnificent scale;’1 infested and snake like Flying Fish declaring that it ‘has never let me down hero worship and mythmaking aside, Channel; an astronomical tidal range in the past and it will not let me down the shadows of Inchon, especially of approximately 10 metres flowed this time.’ Following 45 minutes of those cast by the timeless glow of at up to eight knots and at low water calm, resonance and confident oratory, ‘improvisation and risk-taking,’ uncovered extensive mud flats barely the General, in language intended stretch through to the present. The capable of supporting landing craft. for posterity, proclaimed that, ‘We monumental geographic challenges The tidal range, along with a series of shall land in Inchon, and I shall crush posed by Inchon and the methods high sea-walls, limited amphibious them!’3 employed to overcome them have great operations to only a few days each With the Commander’s intent Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 41
clear, the task of overcoming the geographic challenges fell partly to a Navy Lieutenant employed as an intelligence officer on MacArthur’s staff. Lieutenant Eugene Clark, USN was inserted near Inchon and given two weeks to collect and disseminate all operationally relevant information. The pre-existing geographic data was appalling, American charts and tide tables differed dramatically from older Japanese surveys and there was no information regarding the landing sites and their approaches. Clark verified the superiority of the Japanese tidal and bathymetric data, he confirmed the channel free of obstructions F ig.2 Chartlet and conducted night surveys of the forward defence, one that includes showing the invasion mud flats to delineate their extent. FROM THE SEA the expeditionary deployment of plan for D-Day. The information he gathered on the Australian forces. When examining gradient of the approaches along with Inchon was unquestionably a triumph the White Paper and the burgeoning the location of shoals and enemy of manoeuvre warfare. MacArthur, bulk of Defence documentation on positions was vital in permitting the trapped in Pusan like a caged tiger and the conduct of amphibious warfare, landing craft operators to move safely desperate to exploit the elements of it seems clear that the ADF will be toward their objectives. Finally, on the freedom and movement, conceived fashioned to conduct “maritime eve of the landings Clark repaired the a plan that dramatically altered the manoeuvre” operations. “Maritime” Palmi-Do beacon thus ensuring safe course of the war. because of the inherent nature of our passage for the hundreds of Marines As the ADF trips and stumbles strategic geography; and “manoeuvre” making headway toward Inchon in the along the path toward the conduct of so as to ‘avoid battle on unfavourable early hours of D-Day.4 its own amphibious operations, the terms, apply force in a precise The Marines landed at Wolmi-Do landings at Inchon should give comfort manner, in a way the adversary is not on the morning tide and secured the to those extolling the merits of joint expecting, and seek to overmatch at garrison before nervously waiting for warfare in the littoral. Ostensibly a decisive points in battle.’5 A recent the main landings to take place on model for and validation of the concept Semaphore paper nicely applies the evening tide. The success of the of Manoeuvre Operations in the maritime manoeuvre to Australia’s morning assault was repeated in the Littoral Environment (MOLE), the circumstances: evening and within two weeks the account of Operation Chromite should ...in our geographic situation the Allied troops had recaptured Seoul. nonetheless give contemporary military scope for manoeuvre in the land In one bold stroke MacArthur had planners some reason for pause. For environment is generally limited. severed the North Korean supply lines although Inchon can serve as historic Hence our situation favours joint Fig.3 LSTs and a right at the logistical and emotional proof of a contemporary strategic manoeuvre, exploiting the sea by bulldozer caught heart of the Korean Peninsula. The fixation, the vagaries of context and using amphibious operations to on the mud flats of Wolmi-do. allied forces stranded in Pusan, in circumstance can tell us much about bypass and dislocate enemy forces.6 concert with the landing at Inchon, the challenges ahead. broke free and pushed northward; As the strategic and doctrinal soon the entire communist army was flux of the past decade settles toward retreating as a disorganised rabble back equilibrium in the wake of the 2009 across the 38th parallel. Defence White Paper, the conceptual wheel seems to have come to rest upon a broadened understanding of Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 42 Operation Chromite and the Merits of Maritime Manoeuvre
Although the ADF will no doubt be called upon to conduct humanitarian sea-lift and other low intensity operations, preparing for war will remain a fundamental task. When considering the shape of future capability and the growing prominence of amphibious warfare it seems reasonable to conclude that the training, doctrine and capability of the ADF will be aimed toward conducting expeditionary operations at the higher end of the intensity spectrum. The White Paper rightly predicts that the ADF’s involvement will likely be limited to contributing elements rather than composing the whole force itself, however the emphasis remains inexpensive weapons such as mines, apply when the enemy is skilful and A n American built firmly on maritime power projection. fast missile boats, land based anti- inflicts his style on us?’10 landing ship in South Korean service, date The government’s decision to procure surface missiles or even those aimed There is very little operational unknown (Headmark two large amphibious ships represents at the electromagnetic spectrum may recourse if an adversary shows Collection) a significant alteration in Australia’s have a significant, possibly terminal, surprisingly adroit skills at situating his strategic posture and has initiated a impact. Tactics to combat these forces, utilising anti-access weaponry frenzied effort to remodel the ADF threats and control the complex littoral and positioning our now vulnerable along amphibious and joint lines. The environment have not yet been fully task force in a manner that best suits concepts are not without merit but developed.8 their objective. Furthermore, what the “hype” has obscured any thorough Much of the literature on MOLE if the adversary is not a state with a discussion of the limitations of such seems predicated on the assumption traditional centre of power and readily missions. that an amphibious task force is exploitable weaknesses? At the very heart of manoeuvre capable of deploying force when and The last decade has seen a growing warfare is the objective of leveraging where it desires. ADDP 3.2 says that an interest in and awareness of hybrid an adversary’s strategic centre of Amphibious Task Force ‘can poise at warfare conducted against insurgent gravity. But noting the substantial sea, raid or land on a potentially hostile and terrorist groups. In this type of advances in anti-access technology coast at a “time and place of military operation the swift and clean combat it has become increasingly likely that choosing.”9 This is misleading for two of manoeuvre warfare gives way to even a modestly capable enemy will reasons. Firstly, if the operation is to the messy work of counter insurgency. easily corral an allied task force away of manoeuvre then by its very nature There will be little need to manoeuvre from strategic vulnerabilities. The US it needs to be directed toward a vital from the sea against a guerrilla Defense Department’s Quadrennial strategic position which the enemy force able to inflict damage rapidly Defense Review. published in February cannot ignore. The deployment of before dispersing back into the local 2010, devotes an entire section to the troops ashore is therefore obviously population. significance of anti-access tactics and limited to those areas most likely to By making use of the operational states that: “Prudence demands that the allow rapid and decisive victory. concepts of Ship to Objective department prepare for possible future The second problem is that it Manoeuvre (STOM) and Sea Basing a adversaries likely to posses and employ underestimates the capability of any commander can limit the requirement some degree of anti-access capability.”7 potential adversary and portrays them for establishing logistical elements As any loss of momentum can as inherently reactive. A very pertinent ashore. But once an amphibious prove devastating to a manoeuvre question in this instance is ‘does operation has begun support ships operation, the employment of relatively manoeuvre warfare as a style of war and their escorts become locked in Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 43
space until the mission is complete. In twin enabling pillars of amphibious O ut Of Their Depth the words of retired US Navy Captain operations. While such an assertion is Wayne P. Hughes ‘just when the difficult to refute, a clear delineation In November of 2010 the RAN Seaman Marine Corps is living by manoeuvre, exists between securing space for Officer Primary Qualification was the Navy may be dying for a lack of power projection on the one hand and changed to Maritime Warfare Officer i t ’. 11 A smaller ‘logistical footprint’ exploiting that space as a medium of (MWO). This name change was ashore only increases the necessity of manoeuvre on the other. accompanied by a transformation of afloat support, thus placing further The UN forces in Korea enjoyed the MWO training continuum to better pressure on sea lines of communication an almost unprecedented degree of reflect the integrated, complex littoral and allowing the adversary greater sea control and air superiority yet operations likely to be conducted in opportunity to target an increasingly MacArthur’s staff remained deeply the future. But as yet the hydrographic vulnerable task group. If the mission opposed to the landings at Inchon. branch has done little to alter its own proceeds successfully there may be Clearly maritime and air supremacy training pathway. ADDP 2.3.1 (REA) no concerns but if delays occur the was not enough. It was geography lists ‘relevance’ as a key principle situation may rapidly deteriorate. that presented the greatest challenge of REA, but with little exposure to at Inchon. Marine General Edwin the complexities of littoral warfare, R oom for Manoeuvre Simmons said: “the ‘anticipated how can hydrographers adequately hydrographic conditions were much assess the relevance of information?14 A mphibious The use of geospatial information more frightening than the quality of It is worth noting that prior to his heritage - sailors as an enabler of operations is well the expected enemy resistance.”12 exploits at Inchon, Lieutenant Clark from the amphibious command ship USS understood. ADDP 2.3.1 Rapid Macarthur looked at these challenges had commanded a landing craft and 15 Blue Ridge parade Environmental Assessment (REA) not as mere problems requiring served as an intelligence officer. He the colours as the more than adequately encapsulates solutions but as an opportunity to was not formally trained in geographic ship pulls into port as the role of government and defence gain advantage over the enemy. As the data collection but his experience of part of a scheduled geospatial agencies in the preparatory General himself stated: amphibious warfare allowed him to port visit to Busan, phase of an operation. This article does The very arguments you have made judge what information was most Republic of (South) Korea (USN photo) not purport to lay judgement upon as to the impracticalities involved important. doctrine or specific agencies but is will tend to ensure for me the rather an attempt to directly link the element of surprise. For the enemy importance of geospatial information commander will reason that no one with the guiding operational principle would be so brash as to make such of manoeuvre. Nor is it the purpose of an attempt.13 this article to completely disparage the The efforts of Lieutenant Clark concept of maritime manoeuvre – but provided MacArthur with adequate rather highlight its inherent limitations intelligence to not only gain awareness and offer a different perceptual tool as a of the battlespace but to exploit it for means of mitigation. his purpose. The North Korean forces, It is wrong to imagine the maritime convinced that geography prohibited environment as a realm of unhindered amphibious operations at Inchon, movement, where forces can deploy, were caught completely off-guard. withdraw and redeploy whenever and MacArthur used an accurate picture of wherever they please. If we accept that the sea-shore interface, including tidal the littoral environment is not as easily data, currents, bathymetry and beach traversed as some believe then the gradients to achieve the manoeuvrist’s effective use of geographic information dream of striking rapidly at a vital may increase the scope for surprise, vulnerability; in this instance the manoeuvre and decisiveness in an beating heart of the Korean peninsula: otherwise inhospitable environment. Seoul. In almost all of the literature sea control and air superiority form the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 44 Operation Chromite and the Merits of Maritime Manoeuvre
The shape of the Navy’s into deployed task groups, will need hydrographic training is driven by to be incorporated into the training the need to maintain international and employment of hydrographic standards for the important elements. The current limitations of the national task of nautical charting. survey platforms along with the lack Rather than scrap this requirement of exposure to task group operations altogether as some have argued, the may, unless adequately addressed, H2 Hydrographic Surveying course lead the hydrographic branch toward should be lengthened to incorporate irrelevance. common warfare skills, including task To western militaries embroiled group organisation and amphibious in the messy complexity of irregular planning. Redevelopment of the core conflicts such as Afghanistan and Lieutenant Peter Waring RAN joined the Navy in January of H2 curriculum also seems necessary Iraq, the landings at Inchon offer a 2006 as an undergraduate seamen officer.F ollowing the to better serve the growing need for dose of reassurance; a pure model of completion of his studies he commenced his naval training Military Geospatial Information (MGI) the warrior’s craft. As long as these products and the burgeoning areas militaries continue to worship at the gaining his BWC in October 2009. He successfully completed of automation and remote sensing. altar of ‘operational art’, MacArthur’s the H2 Hydrographic Surveying course in December of 2010 Exposure to the world of littoral masterpiece will take pride of place and was subsequently posted to HS Blue Crew. warfare will enhance operational amongst the greatest works. Few would awareness and assist hydrographers argue with Wayne Hughes when he to appreciate the need to sacrifice the states that: (Endnotes) rigid quality control measures required Inchon characterises the very 1 Hastings, M. The Korean War (London, 1987) p139 for nautical charting when operational nature of manoeuvre warfare; high 2 Winters, H. Battling the Elements: Weather and Terrain in the necessity demands. At present the task risk, high reward. A watchword of Conduct of War (Baltimore, 1988) pp191-214 of aligning the hydrographic training manoeuvre warfare is “audacity” a 3 Quoted in Op.cit, Hastings 1987, p147 continuum with the skills likely to be quality that if success is to result, 4 Fleming, T. “MacArthur’s Pirate” in The Quarterly Journal of required in the future has begun to must be accompanied by a high Military History, Vol. 12, No.4 Summer 2000, pp30-37 noticeably lag behind the other MWO level of experience.17 5 Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, Defence White Paper 2009 p53 specialisations. MacArthur’s island hopping advance 6 Amphibious Manoeuvre Operations, Australian Sea Power Centre Following the insertion of forces northward through the Pacific during Semaphore Issue 11, August 2009 accessed at http://www.navy.gov. ashore the naval units of a joint task World War II provided him with au/Semaphore_Issue_11,_August_2009 force will be limited in manoeuvrability this experience, and his subordinates 7 Quadrennial Defense Review, Department of Defense (US) by the need to sustain and support with the hard-won proficiency at February 2010 the elements ashore. The effective use landing troops ashore. The intangible 8 Hughes, W. “Naval Manoeuvre Warfare” in Naval War College Review, Vol.5, Issue 3, Summer 1997, p47 of geospatial elements can broaden elements of audacity and intuition, so 9 Australian Defence Doctrine Publication (ADDP) 3.2 Amphibious the area safe for navigation, providing wonderfully demonstrated at Inchon, Operations larger units with greater sea room were not produced in a vacuum 10 Op.cit, Hughes, 1997, p29 to provide Naval Gunfire Support nor bestowed by inherent traits of 11 ibid, p39 or increase the over-land range of personality; they were forged in the 12 Quoted in Shaw, R. “Reinventing Amphibious Hydrography” ship borne helicopters. An Offshore crucible of war. in Unites States Naval Institute Proceedings, Vol. 135, Issue. 9 Combatant Vessel (OCV) modulated It was experience that allowed September 2009, pp67 for hydrographic survey may therefore MacArthur to see opportunity where 13 Ballard, J. “Operation Chromite: Counterattack at Inchon” in Joint Forces Quarterly, Spring/Summer 2001, p33 become a vital component of any future others could see only prohibitive risk. task group. Commander Steward As modern anti-access weaponry 14 Australian Defence Doctrine Publication (ADDP) 2.3.1 Rapid Environmental Assessment Dunne, RAN correctly says in a recent advances, and familiarity of amphibious 15 Op.cit, Flemming, 2000, p31 Headmark article that the OCV “brings warfare slides from living memory the 16 Dunne, S. “Future Operating Concepts for Maritime Geospatial a different capacity and concept of importance of geographic information Forces and Defending Australia in the Asia-Pacific Century” in employment to the hydrographic as an enabler of manoeuvre will only Headmark, Issue 133 (July 2009) p11 world.”16 These concepts, namely the grow. t 17 Op.cit, Hughes, 1997, p34 integration of geospatial elements Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 45
Become a Member TODAY
Ships Systems Solutions
Blohm + Voss Naval
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 46 Navy Trivia - On the Beach
By Greg Swinden
ecently while watching the movie On the Beach (not the R2000 remake but the much better original 1959 version starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins), I noted in the credits that there was an RAN Liaison Officer who assisted with the making of the movie. This was a Lieutenant Commander AA Norris-Smith, RAN. The movie On the Beach is based on the post nuclear war apocalyptic book, of the same name, written by Australian author Neville Shute. The book was published in 1957 and is set in Melbourne. Much of the movie was filmed in Australia and also starred the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the submarine HMS Andrew (which played the part of the USS Sawfish). Additionally there are several sections in the movie showing ‘The Navy Department’ even though by the late 1950’s Navy Office had been moved to Canberra. Andrew was a British submarine based in Australia as part of the Royal Navy’s 4th Submarine Squadron which was located in Sydney at HMAS Penguin from 1949 until 1969 (the British subs departed after the arrival of the RAN’s own Oberon class Anthony Alan Norris-Smith for officer training and became a submarines began to take effect in the was born at Brighton, Victoria on 8 Midshipman, RANR on 8 September late 1960’s). Supposedly Andrew was October 1923 and enlisted in the RAN 1942. After graduating from his Officer used to represent a US Submarine as Reserve on 16 December 1940 as a 17 Training Course on 28 September 1942 the US Navy refused to cooperate in year old Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class he went on to serve in a variety of ships, the production of the movie. I will not (Communications Branch); allocated as a Seaman officer, including HMA spoil the story any more by providing official number PM 3211. He served at Ships Assault, Kanimbla, Bingera, too much detail but it’s well worth HMAS Lonsdale and HMAS Cerberus Westralia, Manoora and Ping Wo until viewing; and a young Anthony Perkins as a Wireless Telegraphy rating until being demobilised as a Lieutenant, plays the role of an Australian naval 19 January 1942 when he joined the RANR on 23 July 1946. However on lieutenant loaned to the USS Sawfish cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA in which 24 February 1947 he was re-mobilised which is commanded by Gregory Peck. he served until July of that year. This for service in the RAN and joined the But I thought I would do some service included the Battle of the Coral frigate HMAS Quadrant. quick research to find out who was the Sea in May 1942. Over the next few years Norris- mysterious Liaison Officer; Lieutenant In July 1942 Ordinary Seaman Smith saw extensive sea service in Commander AA Norris-Smith. Norris-Smith returned to Cerberus HMA Ships Shropshire, Australia, Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 47
Bataan and Cootamundra. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in August 1953 and during the period February 1955-October 1956 he commanded the corvette HMAS Junee. From 1956 until 1959 he served at the Melbourne depot HMAS Lonsdale and it was here that he became involved as the RAN Liaison Officer for the movie On the Beach. What duties he actually performed will perhaps be never fully known but his name does appear in the credits. Norris-Smith went on to specialise as an Intelligence Officer and served overseas in Singapore, during 1962-64, as the Fleet Intelligence Officer to the Flag Officer Commanding the Far East Fleet. Upon return to Australia he became the Base Intelligence Officer at HMAS Kuttabul and was retired from the RAN on 7 October 1968 aged 45 (noting that age 45 was the compulsory retiring age for Lieutenant Commanders at this time). Anthony Norris-Smith and his wife resided in Woollahra after his retirement and he died, on 7 March 1981, at the relatively young age of 58. t A va Gardner (above), Gregory Peck in scene from ‘On the Beach’ (below)
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 48 obituary ommodore Rocker Robertson was one of the ANI’s fathers. He was a VALE - Commodore John Alan Cman of great character and breadth of mind born of decades of service in war “Rocker” Robertson, RAN (Rtd) and peace. He was one of that group of young FND RANC graduates who 11th September 1926 - 20th June 2012 went straight to war in RN ships. By the time of his retirement in 1979 Australia and the RAN had been transformed by modern communications – the technology in which he had specialised. Alan Robertson was born in Footscray 1926 and joined the RAN College in 1940, graduating in 1943. He was posted to the United Kingdom and joined his first ship, HMS Cumberland in Jan 1944 from which he went to HMS Paladin. Both these ships were based in Trincomalee in Ceylon. He then proceeded to India and undertook a minesweeping course in early 1945; on completion of the course he returned to England and joined HMS Vanquisher at Sheerness. Later in 1945, he joined HMS Excellent for courses before joining Shropshire for 18 months. In mid 1947 he joined HMAS Australia, then Swan and later HMAS Lithgow as part of the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla which was formed to clear the minefields in New Guinea-Solomons area, Torres Strait and the Great Barrier Reef. In mid 1948 he was posted to HMAS Arunta for several months and then served ashore in Cerberus at the Flinders Naval Depot as a Divisional Officer for the young Melville and served there until mid- Communications and in 1971/72, Officer Cadets of the RAN College. 1961 before proceeding to Voyager as he commanded HMAS Hobart. In In 1952 he returned to the the Executive Officer. February 1975 he commanded Stalwart United Kingdom and specialised in After passing the RN Staff course and in August 1977 was promoted to Communications and, after a period at Greenwich in 1963 he had a Commodore and appointed as Director on RN Exchange, joined HMAS further two years exchange Royal of Naval Officers Postings. It was Melbourne for her commissioning in Navy service in Singapore as a Joint during this period that he with Vernon 1955. As a communicator, he served at Planner on the staff of the CINC Far Parker initiated the ANI and became Harman in 1956/57, Lonsdale in 1957, East. Subsequently, he was posted as one of the Australian Naval Institute’s and Melbourne in 1958 /59 before he Executive Officer of Melbourne in 1966 founding fathers. He was respected for became OIC NAVCOMMSTA and the following year he commanded his innovative thinking both during and Darwin. During his time at Darwin he Duchess until 1969. Later in 1969 after his naval career. became the Executive Officer of HMAS he became the Director of Naval In retirement he wrote for the ANI Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 49
Journal and for other publications. We owe a great deal to those winner usually travels to the United He lectured and in 2001 he published visionaries who like Rocker saw that States Naval College at Annapolis in a book, Centre of the Ocean World – the Navy needed its own independent Maryland. Many of these essays are Australian Maritime Strategy. Rocker institute where ideas could be published in Headmark and are widely was Australian Defence Association developed and discussed. He saw that read and discussed. national president from June 1989 to the best research and writing needs Rocker’s passing is poignant for June 2001 and a much respected elder to be encouraged and published in all who knew and served with him of the ADA for over three decades. every generation if we are to remain through his busy naval career. It is also He enjoyed watching rugby with a a creative and forward thinking Navy. of significance to all those of us who glass of good red. The founders also saw that it would be did not know him personally but who Since his death his online obituary possible for the institute to make the have been his beneficiaries through site has been visited by his former maritime case publically. We continue the activities of the Institute he helped sailors paying tribute to their former to be engaged in that founding vision, to found. That is a living legacy of Skipper. ensuring our fellow citizens do not continuing importance which we, and forget that Australia is a maritime those who come after us, will continue Fair winds and following seas nation, permanently dependent on the to appreciate. use of the sea for our livelihood and President’s Appreciation protection. As President of the ANI I wish to pay In recent years the ANI’s “Rocker tribute to the sterling work done in the Robertson” essay competition has been F rom: Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, AM, H MAS Hobart leads early 1970’s by Rocker as one of the first a way of linking his name with some Stuart,Swan and others to champion the founding of a naval of the most creative and intellectually ANI President in the 1986 Review institute in 1975. able of our young officers. The (Courtesy RAN)
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 50 Qualities of Leadership by Dr tom lewis
his series examines selected Inspirational see it, putting his telescope to his blind Ttraits of leadership to This leader inspires others to perform eye and exclaiming: «I really do not see compare Royal Australian similar deeds. Often this is shown by the signal». The British won the battle Navy leaders against a criteria. the leader’s actions in front of their with much help from Nelson’s use of The first of the articles took subordinates. Nelson inspired his initiative. Admiral Lord Nelson, the followers in being resolute, courageous hero of Trafalgar in 1805, as and honourable. It is one measure of Impressive Physical a model, as well as examining the man that so many did: Hardy, who Qualities the characteristics of other well- was with him when he died; his fellow This might be rephrased as “looking known leaders, both civilian and admiral Collingwood whose battle the part of a leader”. Would anyone military. line he raced to be first to engage at have said that Horatio Nelson achieved Seven qualities of leadership Trafalgar; ship commander Berry, who this? Yes – and no. A short, thin man measure the subject matter, followed him from ship to ship, and not blessed with good looks, he first suggesting a capable naval Captain Hallowell, who after the Battle entered the British navy in 1771 as leader is an achiever; expert in of the Nile made him a present of a a midshipman at 12 years and three his or her field; inspires others, coffin fashioned from the French ship months.1 Despite being prone to and takes initiative; impresses L’Orient’s mainmast – Nelson kept it in sickness: “I have had all the diseases by their physical qualities; his cabin and was indeed buried in it. that are”, he once said; he adapted well empathises with others, and is to the vigorous and often dangerous life an effective communicator. Initiative that was the Navy. Sometimes described as “going Nelson was a man of raw physical A chievement in where angels fear to tread”, this courage who led by example. He lost Did the person under discussion measure means to use judgement and an eye when an enemy shell, exploding improve their organisation? Did advance where necessary. The leader is during the siege of Calvi in Corsica, they leave it a better place by being a brave in psychological terms and takes drove splinters and dust and rock member? Promotion is recognised as the lead where necessary. It does not fragments into his face. He suffered a measure of achievement. With this mean going forward rashly. most terribly and often from wounds, and other measures which traditionally Nelson was a man who had the quite willing to lead from the front. mark out achievement – education; courage of his own convictions, who His right arm was amputated after the decorations; amassing of physical could often have left off and blamed battle of Santa Cruz in Teneriffe due to wealth perhaps – we gain some superiors for failure. Instead, he was his being hit by grapeshot. beginnings of whether a person is a a man who chose to use initiative and This is what is meant by “looking the success. advance when he knew the defeat of part of a leader”: behaving in such a the enemy was attainable and essential. way that people can be inspired. It Expert in one’s Field At the Battle of Copenhagen, walking means to look resolute and act with Anyone who aspires to be a leader and the deck while the guns roared their resolution – as did Nelson. To lead an example to others must obviously broadsides, and deadly splinters by example. To not show physical have expertise in their craft. In naval whistled about his ears, he confided cowardice. It might include «panache»; terms, that translates as being an expert to Colonel Stewart, commander of “the almost untranslatable expression “ship-driver”; an aviator par excellence; infantry, who was with him on the of dash, of valour, the ability to do an engineer possessing a wealth of quarterdeck, that he would not be things with an air of reckless courage theoretical and practical knowledge «elsewhere for thousands». Whether and inspiring leadership».2 Finally, we - and so on. Nelson, for example, was he was fearful or not – and who would might add that the bearing, carriage a master at strategy – which becomes not have been – Nelson led by example. and speech of a leader should be of the a commander of fleets – but also of And when his uncertain superior, highest standards. tactics, which behoves a ship captain. Admiral Parker, made the signal to He was also an inspired man-manager. leave off the action, Nelson refused to Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 51
Empathy Communication to use words effectively to persuade The great soldier of the 18th century, One needs to be understood at others. Winston Churchill was a great Frederick the Great, had good advice all times. Nelson employed in his exponent of this. Eisenhower, then a on how to attain the next quality of the leadership style something unusual US General and later President of the leader – Empathy: for its day: the art of effective United States, experienced the British ...talk with the soldiers, both when communication. One characteristic Prime Minister in action: you pass their tents or when they was to invite others to contribute their Churchill was a persuader. Indeed, are on the march. Sample often to ideas for a campaign, or a battle, or a his skill in the use of words and logic see if the cookpots have something change of some sort; to educate his was so great that on several occasions good; find out their small needs and men and get them – and him – to when he and I disagreed on some do what you can to satisfy them; know each others’ minds. Nelson important matter – even when I was spare them unnecessary exertion. embarked upon the Battle of the Nile convinced of my own view and when But let fall the full vigor of law on the in 1798 by letting his captains engage the responsibility was clearly mine – I mutinous soldier, the backbiter, the in individual fashion. The French had a very hard time withstanding his pillager...3 fleet, anchored by the bows in a line in arguments.9 shallow coastal water, engaged in ship Empathy means to be able to imagine to ship fashion by five British vessels 12 yourself – as leader – in the role sailing inside the line and anchoring, of your people, and to show that. and the rest engaging from outside. A capable naval leader is an achiever; It is “the power of understanding Thus the French were caught between expert in his or her field; inspires and imaginatively entering into two forces. At the end of hours of 4 others, and takes initiative; impresses another person’s feelings”. General fighting, the French had lost 1, 700 men Montgomery said to his troops at to the British 200; their fleet was largely by their physical qualities; empathises the Battle of Alamein: “We will stand pounded to pieces, and Napoleon with others, and is an effective and fight here. If we can’t stay here and his army were stranded in Egypt. communicator. We have seen many 5 alive, then let us stay here dead”. Nelson had hoisted just two signals great leaders who exhibited those Montgomery was entering into the through the entire battle.7 traits. This series examines how many feelings of all of his people, who feared For the autocratic manager this would that they would die. Churchill’s speech have been disastrous: an authoritarian of Australia›s naval leaders performed of WWII did the same: “We shall leader would not trust his subordinates in these fields. defend our island, whatever the cost to make momentous decisions and may be, we shall fight on the landing fight on their own. Nelson trusted his grounds, we shall fight in the fields and individual captains. So too, in the long 1 Description of Admiral Lord Nelson and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills: pursuit of the French, years later in his career are drawn from Kenneth Fenwick’s HMS Victory; Christopher Lloyd’s Nelson we shall never surrender.” Alexander 1805, he had regular meetings with his and Sea Power; Peter Padfield’s Broke and the Great “shared in the men’s dangers, «Band of Brothers» – the name applied the Shannon and Robert Southey’s The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson. as the scars of his wounds testified…he to those who fought under him at the 2 Welch, Ronald. Tank Commander. London: ate the same food as they did. He was Nile.8 During the long chase the officers Oxford University Press, 1972. (135) highly visible….he fought hard himself would pool their ideas for forthcoming 3 Connelly. (16) but he was ever on the watch for any battles; the best use of tactics; what 4 Collins English Dictionary. Sydney: Harper Collins, 1991. (510) acts of conspicuous courage in the face a following ship would do when its 5 Adler (116) 6 of danger amongst his men. fellow was sighted engaged and so on. 6 Adler (232) Such statements say to you that Consequently even the necessity for 7 Ireland, Bernard. Naval Warfare in the Age your leader will be with you, no matter signals within the ensuing battle was of Sail. London: Harper Collins, 2000. (148- 151) what the cost. dispensed with; the captains knew each 8 Thursfield, James R. Nelson and other Naval others’ minds. Studies. London: John Murray, 1920. (125) Communication means to be able 9 Adler (76) Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 52 Studies in Trait Leadership – Father of the Fleet Arm Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, ac, kbe, cb, dsc, ran
Often described as the “father who occasionally visited the Cub pack of the Fleet Air Arm”, Admiral to teach knots and splices and give Sir Victor Smith had a lengthy talks on Navy life. Smith sought further and distinguished career in the information about the entrance exam Royal Australian Navy, and an for the RAN College at Jervis Bay. After exciting time too: he was shot a year of coaching, he passed, joining down twice and sunk twice the intake of 1927. and carried out many a hair- Smith’s overall time was happy, and raising attack on his country’s he was impressed by the officers and enemies. Eventually known in masters, in particular Commander conversation throughout the Fogarty Fegen, the Executive Officer. force as “VAT Smith”, he went (Fegen won a posthumous VC in into aviation at a time when WWII, commanding the coincidentally its future was unclear, but named Jervis Bay, taking on the far- his commitment to the new superior Admiral Scheer in sole defence technology was unswerving and of a convoy.) Apart from being a rewarded when he was chosen pleasant personality who entertained to play a key role in planning groups of cadets to his wife’s afternoon a new direction for the RAN teas, Fegen coached Smith in rugby. after WWII. He oversaw many In his last year at the College, the changes within the Navy, not Jervis Bay site was closed down and VTA Smith as a least the acquisition of aircraft officer training to HMAS Cerberus on In May 1932 the five midshipmen Lieutenant (Courtesy carriers and the transition from the Mornington Peninsula. Australia left of the 1927 entry – the others Lady Smith) propeller to jet aircraft. One was going through the time of the having had to leave the Service because of the first RAN members to be Depression, and cost-cutting drove the of Defence cuts – travelled on the promoted to full Admiral, he was closure. VAT Smith graduated at the liner Oranto to the Mediterranean well known for his dedication end of 1930, and was presented with a to join HMS London, the RN’s first to those serving with him and silver cigarette case in recognition of cruiser squadron flagship. This was a for his abilities as a great “man- having become a Cadet-Captain. wider and more useful experience of manager” through his 49 years The newly graduated midshipmen Navy life, and it was while attached in uniform. were posted, for more learning, to one to London that Smith undertook a of the ships of the fleet. They were two week air course on board the ictor Alfred Trumper Smith given realistic roles: being placed in carrier HMS Glorious. The experience was born on 9 May 1913 in charge of a cutter, participating in “awakened an interest in me towards V 1 Chatswood, Sydney. By his own signal drills, or assisting in the firing the Fleet Air Arm” as he put it, and account, he had a happy childhood. of the ship’s weapons systems. Smith although soon embarked on board a His parents, George and Una Smith,2 was posted to the cruiser HMAS destroyer for more courses, he began were “middle-class” he later described, Canberra. The ship visited Tasmania, to look at aircraft and ships in a new and his father worked for a pastoral Fiji, New Zealand and many Australian light.3 In August 1933 he sat his sub- company. “VAT Smith” was a keen ports. His personal report of this time lieutenant’s seamanship board, and member of the local Cub pack; a described him as “…of the stolid, slow passing it, left the midshipman’s white member of a choir, and a player of type, whose personal bearing and tabs behind. tennis and rugby. appearance, although not yet up to Further training followed at the Smith’s interest in the navy was standard, has improved considerably in Royal Naval College at Greenwich in sparked by a Lieutenant Commander the ship”. academic subjects. Smith played Rugby Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 53
with enthusiasm, and while finding learning French frustrating, enjoyed the training, the impressive buildings and time off exploring London. He was poor, with expensive uniforms and a sword having to be purchased from his pay. After a gunnery course, Smith returned to Australia to join HMAS Canberra again, this time in a more exalted position as “Sub” of the Gunroom: the senior of the midshipmen’s mess. In early 1936 he joined HMAS Australia in the Mediterranean and was promoted to lieutenant. He successfully applied to 7 Class of 1927 undertake an Observer’s course. This Australia he found himself posted to German Battle Cruiser “Scharnhorst”. with VAT Smith was held in Britain, with seven months the carrier HMS Ark Royal. The ship In August 1940, after a successful right of rear row of flying at RAF Lee-on-Solent. The was soon at sea in the South Atlantic application to join a fighter squadron, (RAN College) duties of an observer were manifold, participating in the search for the Graf Smith was transferred to 807 Squadron and ranged through navigation to radio Spee, the search ending in that ship’s near Winchester. After a time aboard operation – and later radar – and bomb scuttling after the Battle of the River HMS Pegasus, the Squadron embarked aiming, all depending on the type of Plate. with the two seater fighter Fairey aircraft. Upon successful completion Back in Britain 821 Squadron, Fulmars aboard HMS Furious. They Smith was posted to Glorious, the taking Smith with it, moved to Naval proceeded to Gibraltar, where they carrier which had awakened his Air Station Hatston in the Orkneys transferred to HMS Ark Royal. Smith interest in flying. Flying was conducted and undertook anti-submarine patrols. recorded that it was around this on the Swordfish biplane, which Smith Soon information was acquired that the time he contracted malaria, which held in affection – he observed that German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and he endured for several years. In May H MS Ark Royal it could have “several cylinders” of an accompanying force of ships were 1941 Smith’s aircraft attacked a flight lists while sinking (Courtesy RN) its engine shot out and still be under moving south down the Norwegian of enemy bombers and was severely power. Smith was a busy officer: as well coast. 821 Squadron was ordered to as several ship duties he was also “Fleet the attack. Six long range Swordfish water polo officer”, Although these were deployed under Smith’s command were happy times, Smith remembered and after a flight across the North there was considerable uneasiness, Sea found their target. They carried about the deteriorating international out torpedo attacks but no hits were situation. recorded, although two of the aircraft In August 1939 Smith was were lost. Smith later recorded it as posted off Glorious to undertake a “a frightening experience.…you are in meteorological course - a fortunate some respects a sitting duck” when appointment, as the carrier was moving into torpedo aiming range sunk early in the war in controversial and unable to change course because circumstances, and with heavy loss you were also in the ships’ gun range.6 of life.4 However by the time he One of his personal reports of the reached Britain in early September time noted “He has plenty of fighting the embryonic conflict was changing spirit…” and this was confirmed a matters rapidly – he arrived on the while later when, along with the senior day5 war was declared – and instead of pilot, he was awarded a Mention in the course and the planned return to Despatches for “bravery when attacking Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 54 Studies in Trait Leadership – Father of the Fleet Arm Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, ac, kbe, cb, dsc, ran damaged in the process. The aircraft down a second time, this time after three Japanese midget submarines at had to be ditched and Smith and pilot he and pilot Lieutenant Commander the end of May, with the submarines Lieutenant Nigel Hallett spent some Sholto-Douglas were again attacking torpedoing HMAS Kuttabul and time in the water. Hallett was badly enemy bombers. Once more the pair generally causing a night of mayhem shocked by the crash and began to lose were rescued. In November Smith and mistakes. heart, saying he did not think he could was on board Ark Royal when it was Canberra was then deployed to go on for much longer.8 Smith rallied torpedoed. Smith recorded that “there the Pacific and was soon in action, him and some time later they were was nothing dramatic about leaving the culminating in the Battle of Savo Island. picked up by the destroyer Cossack. Ark, a destroyer came along side and This action saw units of the American Smith later noted that the destroyer’s getting aboard was no problem”.11 At and Australian navies surprised at night sailors mistook them for Italians the end of the year he was awarded a by a Japanese squadron. American owing to their suntans, leading to a Distinguished Service Cross for service radar-equipped “picket” ships did few moments of potential hostility. in 807 Squadron; the citation reading not see the oncoming enemy, and the Hallett later maintained that Smith had “…for outstanding zeal, patience and attack was both a complete surprise saved his life; typically Smith did not cheerfulness and for setting an example and a total victory for the Japanese. mention this aspect of the crash in his of wholehearted devotion to duty”.12 Smith’s ship was annihilated; as one later biography. Once back in Britain with the account put it: ”In only two minutes, This episode was probably enough rest of the Ark Royal survivors, VAT Canberra without firing a shot, had excitement for Smith for a while, for Smith was invited to become the been reduced to a burning hulk”.13 he does not mention in his biography senior observer of the reformed 825 Although not sinking immediately, the the hunt for the German battleship Squadron, which he had to decline cruiser was a total loss. It was Smith’s Bismarck which was taking place at as Australia House had passed along second sinking but he was reticent the end of May 1941. He went to sea instructions for him to return to about in his later autobiographical as part of the hunt on board Ark Royal, Australia. Smith noted later that 13 account, saying he had “nothing to add but later noted that the weather was out of that Squadron’s 18 pilots were to the many accounts which have been too rough for the fighter squadrons killed shortly afterwards in an attack written”.14 to operate.9 Peter Howson, later an on Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz On 14 September 1942 Smith Australian Federal Minister, who Eugen. was appointed to HMAS Assault in served with him at the time, is of the Arriving back in Australia in Port Stephens on the central coast opinion that this incident caused VAT February 1942, Smith was surprised at of NSW. This newly commissioned to realise the importance of an air the conditions and attitudes he found shore establishment was where beach component for the RAN at a time when at home. 1941 and the beginnings of landing techniques were taught: very few others shared those views. 1942 had been a bad year for Australia specifically the “commando training” Howson, an RNVR pilot from 1940 – the attacks on Pearl Harbor had of 120 sailors who were being readied until 1946, later emigrated to Australia brought Japan into the war and the war for covert assault techniques in jungle and transferred to the RAN. He was a closer; HMAS Sydney had been sunk warfare. Smith was not involved with Member of Parliament from 1955 to in the duel with Kormoran; Singapore the highly rigorous training; he later 1972; Minister for Air for four years, had fallen, HMAS Perth had been lost commented that he had a “rather idyllic and sometimes Acting Minister for the in the Battle of the Java Sea, and HMAS existence” there instead, involved Navy. His maiden speech in Parliament Yarra shortly afterwards. Yet here were in the administrative side of the stressed the importance of naval plentiful supplies; no blackout, and an establishment.15 aviation. Throughout his career he attitude of “business as usual”. From here he travelled to Britain kept in touch with VAT, and watched Posted to HMAS Australia, but to become part of the ship’s company the thoughtful forward thinking that from there attached to the cruiser for HMAS Shropshire, the replacement developed on Ark Royal transform him USS Chicago as liaison officer, Smith cruiser for Canberra. Lieutenant Bryan into “the expert in airpower in the RAN found much to interest him in the way Castles, later to become an RAN in the 1950s and 1960s, and certainly the Americans did business. He was Admiral himself, met Smith for the first an inspiration to the Naval Board to detached from there as observer for time during this appointment, and was spend money on a Fleet Air Arm”.10 Canberra’s aircraft and experienced struck by his “search for knowledge”. A month later Smith was shot the attack on Sydney Harbour by This was shown in his willingness to Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 55
always listen to others and learn from their experiences. Castles later further commented that: “Al’s understanding of and dedication to his fellow officers and men and to the RAN was an outstanding feature, the like of which I never experienced again my service career”.16 Smith’s appointment to Shropshire was short-lived. The removal of her H MS Tracker aircraft facilities meant there was required in Australia for the move to (Red Cross) Conference in Geneva underway whilst no requirement for an Observer. A the Pacific of RN units. The Normandy which drew special comment in his escorting a convoy, request to join the aircraft carrier appointment was also an opportunity personal report as being of note to the with Avenger HMS Tracker was successful, and as for which Smith recorded he was Australian Ambassador in Paris. torpedo-bombers on the deck aft (RN an Acting Lieutenant Commander, always thankful - the opportunity to The commissioning of the aircraft photo) Smith joined her on 21 July 1943 as meet, court and marry Miss Nanette carrier HMAS Sydney took place in Operations Officer. The carrier’s main Suzanne Harrison, an ex-WAAF 1949, and a son – Michael – was born role was as an Atlantic convoy escort member who was now working in a to the Smith family in the same year. and Smith flew many patrols from her solicitor’s office. Upon hearing of an On 9 January 1950 VAT Smith joined deck in search of U-boats. Early 1944 imminent posting to Australia the two her as Executive Officer. A little while saw Tracker deployed on the run to were married at five days notice. later the Combat Air Group was landed Murmansk. Flying conditions were In November 1944 Smith returned on board, and the officers all met extremely taxing with ice often forming to Australia via a two-day flight aboard Smith over an informal drink. Later on the flight deck, and indeed on the an Air Force Lancaster.20 He was asked that day he introduced the entire 35 ship’s railings. The ship’s company saw to begin plans for a two carrier force members of the Group to the Captain, little of land ice however: they were for Australia after the war. In late 1945 “…virtually name and rank perfect” not even allowed to disembark for he was despatched to Britain to fill – an impressive feat of memory that exercise at Murmansk.17 Nevertheless gaps in the draft plan. He was able to showed what a man-manager he really the aircraft were involved in sinking meet up with his new wife once more. was.22 However, his personal report of two U-boats and shooting down six The planning in Britain took over a the time noted his lack of experience enemy aircraft.18 VAT Smith was year and resulted in the formation of in the role; an interesting contrast to noted during this time as being an an air planning staff for Navy Office the report of 18 months later, which effective communicator: “…the door under the direction of a Captain. commented that he had performed “… of his office, which he hardly ever Smith formed the fourth member of the onerous and difficult duties of an left, was always open and he ensured this office together with officers with Executive Officer of an aircraft carrier aircrew were kept fully up to date…”19 Engineering and Supply backgrounds. with complete success….a thoroughly His personal report suggested that he This was a time of much infighting good seaman with high personal, moral was a “…most zealous, conscientious between the RAAF and the Navy as to and professional standards”.23 and capable air staff officer. Most loyal which should operate various elements The ship sailed to Britain in the and intrepid, he is always a strong of any maritime aviation. However, middle of the year to embark her influence…” VAT Smith was a crucial linchpin: one Air Group and in September 1951 Operation Overlord claimed VAT of his personal reports noted that “… proceeded to Korea as part of the Smith early in 1944, and he was busy he had a happy knack of persuading the United Nations operations there in planning air components of the D-Day R.A.A.F. and R.A.N to give help freely the war against North Korea and landings. He moved ashore into and willingly”.21 her backers. Three squadrons were France once the landings had been In late 1947 Smith became Air Staff embarked on the carrier, which Smith made and planned Channel shipping Officer on the staff of the Naval Liaison records made her somewhat crowded. protection and off the French beaches. Officer in London and in December “Lofty” Watson, a seaman on board, In September he moved back to Britain was promoted to Commander. He remembers: to begin planning for shore facilities carried out work with the Diplomatic VAT Smith, the best Commander Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 56 Studies in Trait Leadership – Father of the Fleet Arm Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, ac, kbe, cb, dsc, ran
under whom I ever shipped…. ran I generally spoke to him if I spaces the stokers were working just about everything, except things encountered him on his forays in up to one foot of sea water. In to do with flight deck operations... throughout the ship. Some days he the Hangar, a two ton power plant being vitally interested in the replied “G’day Chief”, another time almost broke loose and the Naval condition of the ship and anything it would be “G’day Price”, and on Airmen risked their lives in lashing to do with seamanlike operations. rare occasions a grunt. I gauged his it to the bulkhead… a number He was not a Commander who degree of stress by his reply. I had of fires broke out caused by sea wandered about with a telescope great admiration for him.26 water getting into the electrical under his arm looking important equipment and we heard the pipe - (the normal role of a RN ship’s While in Korea the aircraft carrier FIRE - FIRE - FIRE - time and time commander). He never yelled at managed to survive Typhoon Ruth, again.… The Executive Officer, crew members, just suggested more than just a normal storm. Alan Commander “Vat” … worked for things should be done THIS way, Zammit, on board at the time, recalled 36 hours without a break, directing and get on with it. His Daily Orders that the ship had been ordered to damage control, fire and working always were, to me, based on leave harbour along with all other parties.27 commonsense... large warships to try to ride out the Smith may well have done the ship He later compared Smith’s oncoming storm: another service. He apparently management abilities on board Sydney It was a night of terror. …Once mentioned to Captain Harries that with later experiences: clear of the sheltered harbour, the some of Sydney’s bow plating had been ...when I was in the commissioning 19500 ton aircraft carrier began to damaged in 1950 by steaming directly crew for the loan carrier roll like a pig in mud, in a brown into heavy seas while deployed off the ‘Vengeance’ I soon realised it sea with torrential rain beating United Kingdom. Harries consequently WASN’T the ‘Sydney’, and some down on the crew working on the took the sea very fine off the starboard further years later when I was flight deck….By late afternoon bow.28 Chief Radio Electrician in the the typhoon was getting worse. Upon return to Australia the commissioning crew for the new To prevent damage, speed was ship’s company – together with those carrier ‘Melbourne’ and did 3 years reduced to two knots…At this time of Tobruk and Murchison – were on her, I knew for sure that having the wind was circulating in an anti accorded a march through Sydney, VAT for a ship’s Commander had clockwise movement at about 130 with Smith leading the parade.29 On been a privilege.24 kilometres. Visibility was down 25 April 1952 Smith was appointed to Bryan Castles, who had served with to the length of the ship. The air Albatross II – in the western suburbs Smith in 1942, was teamed up with him was filled with spray and foam and of Sydney - to prepare it to be a naval again in Sydney. He later recalled: the sea was almost totally white, air station; the establishment soon This posting was the opportunity vaguely resembling steep hills or becoming HMAS Nirimba. The CO to experience ‘Al’ at his best (and) houses covered with soap suds. commented on Smith’s performance his ability to bring this ship to At about 1700 hours (5 PM), the later: “…entirely to my satisfaction. This its peak of efficiency and at the “Skimmer”, a fast 16 foot motor officer has considerable knowledge, same time create a very happy boat also known as the “Jolly Boat”, ability, power of application and ship’s company….He had the which was stowed just below flight capacity for getting things done”.30 extraordinary know-how and deck level, 36 feet above the water Smith went on to become Executive outstanding ability to achieve his line, was washed over the side by Officer of Nirimba until 21 July 1953. responsibility.25 a wave close on 45 foot high. This This period saw the transition of Colin Price agreed. Then on board was followed 45 minutes later by Nirimba from ex-airfield, hostel and as part of the aircraft maintenance a fork lift truck also going over the combined RAAF/RAN establishment teams, Price had known Smith from side from the flight deck. An hour to an Aircraft Repair Yard and its time they had served together in the later, our starboard 36 foot Cutter, commissioning in April 1953 – a very United Kingdom. Although Lady Smith stowed inboard on the weather busy period and one that would have remarks that VAT Smith would never deck was smashed to pieces by a seen Smith in the thick of things.31 have used the Australian universal huge wave… Indeed, he was more than happy to greeting in this way, Price relates: Down below, in the machinery take an active role. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 57
Colin Price, then the Chief aviation after sixteen years and taking improve morale within the base. Instructor at the School of Aircraft up ship-handling, anti-submarine Gardening was undertaken by all of Maintenance, remembered a Gannet warfare and so on after such a long the staff, on Friday afternoon after aircraft32 which was the centre of some break. This was borne out in criticism lunch. A goldfish pond was built, and attention as its pilot had retracted its contained in one of his reports, with VAT offered fish from the wardroom’s wheels while readying it for a take-off. comments noting “My only concern pond to stock it – the four donated Price had decided to hoist the aircraft is his poor showing at ship handling… were subsequently named Victor, up with a crane and get a tracked He tends to take unnecessary risks”.36 Alfred, Trumper and Smith.41 A visit salvage platform underneath it when Nevertheless, Quadrant was awarded in 1959 by Rear Admiral DH Harries VAT Smith arrived in a car. He got out the Duke of Gloucester Cup37 at drew the deserved comment that the and walked across and suggested that the end of the year, singling her out establishment was “a shining example Price try lowering the undercarriage as a highly efficient ship. The same of the Service at its best”. Another with the hand pump instead. This year saw the birth of Smith’s third view of “VAT” during this time is one worked, and as Price later recorded, son Piers. The Captain transferred remembered by Commissioner of Smith “…walked back to his car with to HMS Queenborough on 10 April NSW Fire Brigades ID MacDougall, a triumphant grin on his face”.33 At 1956, and that ship too won the same AC: “…as Captain, NAS Nowra, he the end of the year, on 6 December, Cup at the end of the year, with Smith took the time to counsel a brash the Smiths’ second son – Mark – was later commenting it was “very good young Acting Sub Lieutenant (me) on born.34 fortune”.38 some aspect of my performance. The With promotion to Captain, the It was “very satisfying” in the next entirely deserved kick was delivered next appointment was as Director of appointment to return to HMAS in private and gently. I never forgot his Air Warfare Organisation wise words and kindness”.42 VTA Smith featured and Training. A decision Bruce Ziegler, later a in a cartoon with his was being made at this time Commander in the RAN, well-known phrase to cut the two proposed remembers VAT Smith as about being “Second carrier air groups to one, “…a gentleman and a scholar to None” (Courtesy and to make a number of – admired by all who served RAN College) modifications to the new under him, and the rest of carrier Melbourne before others near him!”43 she was commissioned The RAN College into the RAN: the flight returned to Jervis Bay in deck was to be angled; a mirror Albatross, Smith recorded, as he had this period, having been moved to landing system was to be fitted as so much to do with the planning of HMAS Cerberus in 1930 as a result of well as a steam catapult and internal Nowra as the base for RN aircraft the Depression. The buildings of the modifications. Vengeance was loaned 12 years earlier.39 The feelings Smith establishment were being used as a to the RAN in the interim, and had for this part of NSW were made series of profitable hotels, and there Melbourne commissioned in 1955. stronger over the next three years, was some resentment towards the The angled flight deck was Smith’s as he was invited frequently to open Navy’s return from those employed proposal: he wrote a paper which many and various functions. Some of there. However, by the end of 1957 the pointed out the savings to be made this concerned heated local politics move was complete, with Smith noting with the much lower crash rate an – the local Shoalhaven Council it was “a happy day for me personally angled deck would bring. The Chief of had been recently dismissed by the when the College returned to Jervis Naval Staff was enthusiastic, and the NSW Government, and Smith was B a y ”. 44 proposal was approved.35 performing functions that once were 1960 saw Smith enrolled in the On appointment to HMAS the province of local councillors – Imperial Defence College in the Quadrant, Smith was now Captain (F) but Smith and his wife were popular United Kingdom for the one year of the First Frigate Squadron, known figures in the area, and the Navy “staff course”. He noted that mixing as FOX1. Taking up the post on 28 was warmly embraced by the local with other naval officers from many June 1955, he confessed later to some population.40 nations made for a “course of excellent trepidation at leaving the world of Smith went to some trouble to value”. But even more satisfying was Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 58 Studies in Trait Leadership – Father of the Fleet Arm Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, ac, kbe, cb, dsc, ran to return to sea in 1961 in command Naval and Air Stores, Victualling and not too enamoured of the occasion, of HMAS Melbourne, the aircraft Armament Supply. Smith amalgamated and after necessary formalities would carrier. Although he had only 18 them to a degree after some study into quietly disappear, with instructions to months in command, the short time organisations that came under one his Staff Captain to “carry on”.49 was tempered by the knowledge he Director General of Supply. On 23 November 1970 Smith was to be promoted to Rear Admiral. In 1966, on 30 January, Smith was relinquished command of the Navy Overseas voyages to Hong Kong and appointed Flag Officer Commanding to Rear Admiral Peek, and became Japan were a challenging part of the Her Majesty’s Australian Fleet. He Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff appointment, with Smith noting that: was able to go to sea once more, and Committee and full Admiral. After “If anyone wants the testing experience was soon exercising with an American 43 years he was no longer concerned of remaining on full alert throughout carrier group off the NSW coast. This directly with the Navy but rather the entire night, then taking an was followed by deployment north to the armed forces as a whole, as the aircraft carrier at night through the Singapore and other ports for exercise. equivalent of what later would be Shimonoseki Strait is worth trying”.45 Early in the following year Smith was called “CDF” – or Chief of the Defence Those who served under him on made Second Naval Member and Force. The new appointment saw board were complimentary about his Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, with much negotiation with overseas forces operations with the ship: “…according an announcement being made in and governments, in particular those to many aircrew who served with November of that year that he would of Britain and the United States. him, ‘Captain Smith, and only one or serve for three years from April 1968 as Rear Admiral Neil McDonald noted two others, operated Melbourne as an Vice Admiral and First Naval Member, that VAT Smith: “…realised that the aircraft carrier as often as he could’”.46 the equivalent to today’s “CN”, or Chief politicians had to be kept on side… On 6 July 1962 Smith was of Navy. (he) played straight down the line and appointed as Second Naval Member of Several matters were pressing did his best for those under him”.50 As the Australian Naval Board and Chief during Smith’s term. The first was an aside, the Smiths had an interesting of Personnel. He was awarded the the ongoing Vietnam war to which aspect of one trip to Europe: they had CBE the following year. The naval brief Australia was committed. Smith a private audience with the Pope, then noted: decided to visit Vietnam personally and Paul VI, when visiting Rome with the …he is reported as being a was able to view the work of the Naval then-Minister for Defence, Lance successful staff officer, an above Helicopter Flight – an unusual role for Barnard.51 average leader and an able, intrepid naval personnel but one they fulfilled The Prime Minister of much of that observer….(an) exceptionally to the maxim of their motto: ”Get the time, Gough Whitlam, later noted: strong sense of duty and attributes bloody job done”. He also visited the Sir Victor had the administrative of leadership, determination, Clearance Diving Teams on operation responsibility for the armed integrity and reliability.47 there and later commented that he forces of Australia and Papua felt “proud to be in the same service” New Guinea throughout three 4 February 1964 saw the collision of as these two unique naval efforts in years of exceptional changes – Melbourne and Voyager, the biggest this difficult war. In 1969 he was made amalgamation of departments, peacetime loss of life the RAN has a KBE – a knight commander in the attractive conditions for an ever suffered. 82 men were killed, Most Excellent Order of the British all volunteer Defence Force, and careers wrecked in the ensuing Empire, and knighted by the Governor development of a uniform code of inquiries. Smith was not involved with General.48 discipline and review of defence the investigations, but the incident left While on Smith’s staff during this treaties with our neighbours and an indelible memory in the mind of all period, Bryan Castles was in a position arrangements for shared bases in Australian naval personnel. “…to witness him at the top level”. He Australia. These changes would In 1965 VAT Smith was involved remembers that Smith was a “good not have been possible if there had in a reshuffle of the Board positions, listener”; possessed the ability to not been complete confidence and with the result that he became Fourth quietly probe for information that he trust between the Prime Minister Naval Member, and in charge of Supply needed from any useful source, and and the defence ministers on one – in those days conducted through communicated well. During social hand and the chairman of the the separate civilian directorates of occasions, however, Smith often felt Chief of Staff Committee on the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 59
other….He was a great leader of the Defence Force and a great servant of the Australian people.52 Back at home the 1972 Tange Report saw some changes to the way the Defence forces were structured, and eventually the end to the Vietnam war. Sir Arthur Tange was a formidable public servant, and Smith may have been no match for him.53 The Tange Report led to major changes to the Defence Organisation, including the disestablishment of the separate Service departments and what some perceived as a weakening of the position of senior military officers vis- Vat Smith meets the a-vis their civilian counterparts. retained since boyhood.56 He played Rourke commented: “He always set 57 Pope (Courtesy Lady On 2 December 1974 VAT Smith tennis into his 70’s. He was chairman very high standards, for himself first, Smith) opened the Naval Aviation Museum, of the ACT Birthright Movement, and for others”.62 Commander PD as it was then called, at the Naval which supported fatherless families. Jones, RAN, then writing from the Air Station, HMAS Albatross, near In 1986, on 5 October, the 75th frigate HMAS Melbourne, suggested: Nowra.54 In 1975 he had another Anniversary of the formation of the “…he simply represents an illustration honour to add to his knighthood – he RAN, he opened the Naval Historical of the finest leader and friend that any was made a Companion in the Military Society’s Museum in Building 31 of person may encounter and cherish…. Division of the first list of the new the Garden Island establishment in his legend survives as a model for Order of Australia, with the post- Sydney.58 all who wish to strive for integrity, nominal of AC. In 1992, after much persuasion, professional excellence and above all, Upon his retirement on 23 VAT Smith penned a short version of an accomplished life”.63 November 1975 Admiral Sir Victor his life – A Few Memories of Sir Victor On 12 May 2002, a memorial plaque Smith ended 49 years of service with Smith. In its foreword, General Sir to him was dedicated in the chapel the Royal Australian Navy. He was the Peter Gration, AC, OBE, Chief of the of HMAS Creswell, in Jervis Bay, and first graduate of the RAN College to Defence Force, summed up the author: a poster encapsulating his life was achieve the rank of full Admiral, and “…a man of rare distinction and ability, displayed within the RAN College’s his 49 years of service were unequalled modest and underspoken, yet with a Historical Collection. It includes some by any other naval member. The commanding presence and manner, a of VAT Smith’s most-loved quotations, accolades on his retirement were warm personality and a keen sense of and some of them give a little more impressive: The Minister for Defence, humour”. insight into one of Australia’s most the Honourable Jim Killen, summed Smith suffered a “long and sterling naval leaders: up many people’s feelings when he traumatic illness” in the later years of “Second to None” – as he was said that “All who had the privilege his life.59 As a result, he died on 10 July affectionately known of working with you greatly admire 199860, aged 85. Accolades followed “There should be loyalty up and and respect you”. The former Prime in quantity, and they all mentioned loyalty down” Minister, Gough Whitlam, later noted: the sterling qualities of VAT Smith. “We knew Admiral Smith well. He was Vice Admiral DB Chalmers, then “Things should be shipshape at all times” a very decent person, competent and Chief of the Navy, noted that “Sir shrewd…”55 Victor personified the true meaning “Manners maketh the Man” In his retirement the Admiral of honour, integrity and virtue, the “Punctuality is the Quality of became patron of the ACT Rugby three traits that continue to be instilled Kings” and Union League, continuing an in the men and women of the Royal several verses from Kipling’s association with the sport he had Australian Navy”.61 Rear Admiral WJ poem “If”64 Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 60 Studies in Trait Leadership – Father of the Fleet Arm Admiral Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Smith, ac, kbe, cb, dsc, ran 5 Letter from Lady Smith to the author. 11 VAT Smith was one of the highest June 2002. achievers within the Royal Australian 6 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (31) Navy, in that he saw a vision of a Fleet 7 Royal Australian Navy. Personal Reports Air Arm, went after it, and worked of Victor Alfred Smith. Navy Records, Canberra. steadily until it was achieved. He was a 8 Winton, John. Obituary of Admiral Sir major participant in the introduction of Victor Smith. The Daily Telegraph. (British aviation into the Navy. This far-sighted newspaper) 30 July 1998. (Article was not change saw the RAN embrace fixed- by-lined, but was noted as being the work of Naval Historian John Winton’s in a letter to wing and rotary-wing aviation, and Lady Smith from Captain Edmund “Splash” although, foolishly through political Carver, which was forwarded to the author by Lady Smith.) short-sightedness, the former was 9 Noye, Larry. “The Father of the RAN’s dispensed with, organic helicopter Fleet Air Arm”. The Canberra Times. 24 carriage is part of every major RAN Dr Tom Lewis OAM, has served in September 1989. (19) surface platform today. Smith was a variety of PNF and Reserve roles 10 Interview with Peter Howson. 10 January 2002. also distinguished by his qualities of within the Navy. He led US forces on 11 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (34) leadership and management, and also deployment in Baghdad in 2006. He by his vision for how navies’ capabilities 12 Royal Australian Navy. Personal Reports of Victor Alfred Smith. Navy Records, could be advanced by embracing is now the Director of Darwin Military Canberra. aviation. Where he led, others followed, Museum. 13 Payne, Alan. HMAS Canberra. NSW: inspired by his example. In particular, Naval Historical Society of Australia, 1991. (93) the success he made of his career in the 14 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (37) aviation field must have been a major encouragement to other officers. 15 Jones, Ted. RAN veteran and later author. Letter to the author. 11 June 2001. Within his personal qualities, 16 Castles, Rear Admiral Bryan J, CBE, Smith is rightly remembered by RAN (Rtd.) Letter to the author. 10 October those he served with for his interest 2001. in their careers. He was a strong 17 Lady Smith to the author. 11 June 2002. communicator: all of VAT Smith’s 18 Winton, John. Obituary of Admiral Sir Victor Smith. The Daily Telegraph. people knew what he and his organisation needed. It is a testimony 19 Winton, John. Obituary of Admiral Sir Victor Smith. The Daily Telegraph. to his communicative qualities that 20 Lady Smith to the author. Letter. June his vision of air assets for the RAN 2002. (Endnotes) was realised so comprehensively. He 21 Royal Australian Navy. Personal Reports 1 Biographical detail in this chapter is of Victor Alfred Smith. Navy Records, looked and acted the part of a leader largely drawn from Sir Victor Smith’s own Canberra. throughout his career. VAT Smith autobiography: Smith, Sir Victor. A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. Canberra: 22 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. made immense achievements for the Australian Naval Institute, 1992. Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, Navy in his chosen field of aviation, and 1998. (79) 2 Dadswell, Commodore ‘Toz’, AM, in the force overall. He must rate as one RANEM. “From Midshipman to Admiral in 23 Royal Australian Navy. Personal Reports of the RAN’s leaders of great strategic a flying forty-nine years”. Australia’s Navy of Victor Alfred Smith. Navy Records, 1991-92. Canberra: Government Publishing Canberra. vision. Service, 1991. (69-74) 24 Watson, “Lofty”. Seaman 1946-58, and In summary, an officer who, like 3 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (19) later author. Letter to the author. 14 August, 2001. Creswell and Burrell, laid strong 4 Glorious and her two attendant foundations of a future Navy. A strong destroyers were sunk very quickly by two 25 Castles, Rear Admiral Bryan J, CBE, German warships in 1940 off Norway. The RAN (Rtd.) Letter to the author. 10 October leader, well-liked and respected, VAT carrier did not have one aircraft flying in the 2001. Smith also was a man of action and a normal precautionary Combat Air Patrol, and the three ships were surprised and 26 Price, Colin C. RAN member. fine fighting officer. He can truly be quickly overwhelmed, with the majority Manuscript: “A Tiffy’s Odyssey: being the called the father of aviation within the of their ships’ companies lost - testimony recollections of a Royal Australian Naval to the Glorious’s Captain’s contemptuous Artificer 1941-1961.” December 1995. (In Royal Australian Navy. t opinion for naval aviation. John Winton’s the author’s possession.) (24) Carrier Glorious provides an excellent study 27 Zammit, Alan. “HMAS SYDNEY”. http:// into this tragedy. www.kmike.com/oz/kr/chapter28.htm
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 61
28 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. 50 McDonald, Neil, Rear- Admiral, RAN July 1998. (10) Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, (Rtd.) Letter to the author. November 2001. 1998. (93) 58 The avalN Historical Society of Australia 51 Lady Smith, note to author, May 2002. Inc. “30 Years On”. NSW: Drawquick, 2002. 29 Jones, Colin. Wings and the Navy. NSW: (18) Kangaroo Press, 1997. (94) 52 Whitlam, The Honourable EG, AC, QC. Letter to Lady Smith. 21 December 1998. 59 Smith, Lady. (Admiral Sir Victor Smith’s 30 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (47) (Courtesy Lady Smith) wife.) Letter to the author. 7 October 2001. 31 Royal Australian Navy. “Welcome 53 Discussions with a former senior flag 60 Coulthard-Clark, Chris. “A leader in Aboard HMAS Nirimba”. 1979. Historical officer of the RAN. However, according times of war and peace”. The Australian. 29 Collection, RAN College. to Lady Smith, she has been told that her July 1998. (10) husband was one of the few people not 32 Dr Sam Bateman, a retired Commodore intimidated by Tange. Letter to the author. 61 Chalmers, Vice Admiral DB, Chief of the of the RAN, advises however that the March 2003. Navy. Letter to Lady Smith. 15 July 1998. aircraft was: “…more probably a Firefly. (Courtesy Lady Smith) Gannets did not arrive in Australia until 54 Plaque commemorating opening, with the Melbourne in 1956. Although Australian Museum of Flight. October 2002. 62 Rourke, Rear Admiral WJ , RAN. conceivably one might have been shipped (Rtd.) Letter to Lady Smith. 13 July 1998. out earlier for training purposes, I don’t 55 Coulthard-Clark, Chris. “A leader in (Courtesy Lady Smith) think they were even in operational service times of war and peace”. The Australian. 29 July 1998. (10) 63 Jones, Commander PD, RAN. HMAS in the RN in 1953”. Conversation with the Melbourne. Letter to Lady Smith. 17 July author. July 2002. 56 Australian Capital Territory Legislative 1998. (Courtesy Lady Smith) 33 Price, Colin C. RAN member. Assembly. Extract from Hansard: “Death of Admiral Sir Victor Smith”. (1324) (Courtesy 64 Poster of Sir Victor Alfred Trumper Manuscript: “A Tiffy’s Odyssey: being the Smith, courtesy of Lady Smith. recollections of a Royal Australian Naval Lady Smith) Artificer 1941-1961.” December 1995. (In 57 Coulthard-Clark, Chris. “A leader in the author’s possession.) (26) times of war and peace”. The Australian. 29 34 Conversation with Lady Smith. May 2002. 35 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1998. (111) 36 Royal Australian Navy. Personal Reports of Victor Alfred Smith. Navy Records, Canberra. 37 Robert Purves advises that the Cup was named after Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, third son of George V, who was Governor-General 1945-47. 38 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (48) 39 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (48) 40 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1998. (134) 41 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, 1998. (135) 42 MacDougall ID, AC, Commissioner of NSW Fire Brigades. Letter to Lady Smith. 20 July 1998. (Courtesy Lady Smith) 43 Ziegler, Bruce M, Commander RAN (Rtd.) Letter to the author. 28 February 2002. 44 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (52) 45 A Few Memories of Sir Victor Smith. (53) SMARTER AND SAFER 46 The ustralianA Naval Aviation Museum. Flying Stations. NSW: Allen and Unwin, UNDERWATER SOLUTIONS 1998. (153) 47 National Archives of Australia. Series: ...Since the beginning A1945/29. Item: 133/1/39. “Honours: Military Division – Birthday List, 1962”. (via Lady Smith) 48 Photograph of granting of knighthood ceremony, in the possession of Lady Smith. For more information, please contact: [email protected] 49 Castles, Bryan J, Rear Admiral, CBE, RAN www.thalesgroup.com.au (Rtd.) Letter to the author. 10 October 2001. Photograph © Australian Department of Defence Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 62 HMS Alliance submarine set for £6.5m restoration work
ork has started to Wsave a historic World War II era submarine in Hampshire. HMS Alliance, based at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, is set for a £6.5m makeover. The vessel will be a memorial to 5, 300 British submariners who gave their lives in service between 1904 and the present day. The 1940s submarine, which is on display on the quayside outside the museum, had begun to fall into the sea. The museum said it had been given £3.4m in lottery funding and the rest through funds and pledges. Efforts continue to meet a shortfall of £400,000. Jason Lowe, Saving HMS Alliance Project Manager, said: “The first stage of works will involve constructing a permanent hard standing platform underneath Alliance. “This will then allow access to conserve the 1940s’ submarine’s outer metal casing which has suffered from severe corrosion and also give Inside HMS Alliance (Courtesy Totnes SubAqua Club) visitors a whole new view of this important The vessel, which has been at the museum since 1982, was in service for more than 25 years. It is listed in the historic vessel.” UK’s historic ship’s register, alongside the Cutty Sark, the Mary Rose, and HMS Victory. t
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 63
A rtist’s conception of how the completed project will look (Project brochure)
Corrosion damage to the stern of HMS Alliance (Public domain)
Bow damage (Public domain)
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 64 HDW reveals new AIP submarine for Israel
n 17 February 2012 Othe German shipyard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, (HDW), rolled out the first Israeli Navy air independent propulsion (AIP) submarine. Harbour test trials for the second generation submarine have started.
The 68 meter Dolphin Batch II submarine is the largest submarine built in Germany from WWII, and is fitted with 10 weapon tubes. The complement is 35 persons.
Story and photo by Michael Nitz
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 65
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 66 Book Reviews
and expands on the panoramic The Gardiner makes the point that by 1982 the UK defence Battle for the Falklands by journalists establishment’s priorities had become NATO and central front Max Hastings and Simon Jenkins, first centric to the exclusion of any remaining capability in the “Rest published in 1983. They dealt with 45 of the World.” The Royal Navy was being confined to a limited Commando’s seizure of Two Sisters in ASW Atlantic role under command from the USN in Norfolk, three pages. Ian Gardiner devotes a 37 VA. My recollection is that there was a serious proposal to page chapter to it and it is the climax of make the RN an all-submarine force and scrap all the frigates. the book. The two Fleet Carriers, Eagle and Ark Royal were both gone by But this book is far more than just an 1978. Out of Area and amphibious operations, and the ships account of that night action. It is also a and expertise to sustain them, had been slated for disbandment fine addition to the Falkland’s literature by Whitehall, with far too little resistance from the UK service on many other levels. Though written chiefs. 30 years after the events it describes, it is Gardiner makes the point explicitly that if Galtieri had fresh and detailed and funny and thought waited just 12 more months there could have been no provoking in equal measure. The late platforms from which to mount a task force to recover The Yompers: With Professor Richard Holmes, the doyen of South Georgia or the imprisoned Falklands islanders. The 45 Commando in the modern military historians, wrote of Ian new carrier Invincible would have been flagship of the RAN; Falklands War Gardiner’s previous book, In the Service Fearless and Intrepid, the Royal Marines’ landing ships, of the Sultan, his account of his service in decommissioned and awaiting disposal, and Hermes up for By Ian Gardiner the Dhofar Campaign, that it was ‘one of sale. Even the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Stromness, that took Pen and Sword Books UK 2012 the best books about soldiering I have ever Gardiner’s 45 Commando to the war was due to be sold to the Seaforth Publishing read,’ This high praise from one of our USN. Gardiner also reveals from research he later did within 208 pages greatest military historians, the author of Whitehall what has been long suspected - that without the Firing Line, no less, is equally applicable Falklands War the Royal Marines would not have survived the R eviewed by LCDR Desmond Woods, RAN to The Yompers, and had he lived another mid 1980’s planned defence “rationalisations.” year I am sure Richard Holmes would Considering the role that ‘Royal’ has played in every This new book, by retired Brigadier have given this book the same accolade. operation since the Falklands, and is still undertaking in RM, Ian Gardiner, marks the 30th In the opening chapters the political Afghanistan, it can be said that not the least important anniversary of the Falklands War. It context from which the conflict outcome of Galtieri’s folly was that this corps of supremely provides the best account of the Battle erupted is properly dealt with. Due versatile troops was not disbanded by insouciant Whitehall for Two Sisters I have read anywhere. acknowledgement is given to the First mandarins with no understanding or what they were This is not surprising as it is the Sea Lord, Sir Henry Leach, who gave throwing away. Gardiner draws a very clear line between the author’s eyewitness description of his Mrs Thatcher and her dismayed war British determination to honour their commitments to the rifle company in action in the crucial cabinet rational grounds for hope that Islanders and the subsequent increase in respect and restraint break in battle designed to seize those a naval task force could reverse the demonstrated by the Soviets. Clearly the British were still rocky twin summits astride the route invasion. Equally, responsibility for capable of responding with force when necessary. This needed to Stanley. The details of the night the failure of deterrence which caused to be factored into all Soviet risk calculations relating to the action and the determination and skill the invasion is obliquely laid where it Cold War which in the early 1980’s was in a particularly frigid at arms of the young marines under deserves to be. Without naming him, period. his command, fighting their way up prime responsibility is placed on the I was briefly an Education officer with 40 Commando into enemy trenches with “butt, boot vacillating shoulders of the ignorant in Plymouth in late 1982 and helped to resettle into civilian and bayonet”, are vividly described. The and strategically illiterate Secretary of life Royal Marines who had been too seriously damaged in stress of stumbling across rock runs Defence, Sir John Nott. He confessed the Falklands for continued service as commandos. These in fighting order while carrying Milan years later that in 1982 he hardly knew included amputees. I also saw the tired marines of 45 missiles to the start line, the grinding where the Falklands were, far less what Commando on their way home from Norway to Scotland hours of attrition battle in darkness, the Britain needed to retain in its order of board Hermes in 1983, fresh from three months in snow caves uncertainty, the exhilaration and the battle in order to defend them from and bivvies. I went on exercises led by Royal Marines. This exhaustion are all here vividly told in Argentina. His offer to resign should book smells to me of wet webbing and saturated sleeping bags, clear soldierly prose. have been accepted by his embattled hexamine cooking tablets, old liniment, gunmetal and sweat. The Yompers perfectly complements Prime Minister. It feels like those interminable waits in companionways and Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 67
flats lit by red light before leaving a ship miserable, half starved, dishevelled operations and maritime logistics. in the pre-dawn cold grey light. It feels troops: “Well of course you won. Look There will need to be a real emphasis on getting back like cramped movement in wallowing at your fine soldiers and look at the to basics with lessons learned from amphibious doctrine landing craft. It brings back my rubbish that my country gave me to and military history. The Australian Command and Staff memories of trying to sleep in two man fight you with!” To which the Warrant Course will need to teach the fundamentals and the theory bivvies laid on cold rock interspersed Officer replied: “Excuse me Sir, it isn’t to a generation of officers who are going to need to become with patches of Dartmoor bog. I was a question of the quality of your men; adept at planning and commanding amphibious exercises and not in danger of sudden air attack – just it is a question of the quality of your operations. When they put the theory textbooks down the cold and wet. Ian Gardiner’s describes officers. Look at yourself and look at ACSC course members would do well to pick up The Yompers. the exhausting business of, carrying my officer!” He pointed with pride to It would be every bit as illuminating as the doctrine and a overweight packs and weapons and a young RM officer who was, like his damn sight more entertaining. It is highly recommended to all ammunition and yomping on cold, marines, covered in grime after a month who care to learn from experience by listening to the voice of wet, often blistered feet. Gardiner in the field. His insignia of rank had been one who was at the sharp end and has reflected throughout his knows what it was like to be below the overlain with mud. His eyes were red military career on what his experiences meant, then and now, roaring forties, with an Antarctic winter from sleepless weeks. The only thing personally and professionally. t approaching, and carrying responsibility that distinguished him from the men he for 120 men’s health, morale and lives led was that he was the one carrying a as battle approaches. In war there is no map case. ENDEX to wait for. The war finishes Brigadier Ian Gardiner is retired and when it is won. That is the stress of now lectures in leadership. He writes command and not surprisingly the about the subject very well. He must details of Gardiner’s mental landscape have a fund of material to draw on from are well imprinted on his memory. Some those months of Operation Corporate. of the best passages in this book describe Training, trust, personal leadership these deeper and most secret thoughts through example at every level, which passed through his mind as the professionalism and sheer determination scale of what was being asked of him and were what won the campaign. No of his marines became evident. wonder Mrs Thatcher famously stood When eventually the Globe and outside 10 Downing Street and told Laurel green berets yomped into Stanley the nation to thank God and the Royal Gea rman C pital Ships of the in June 1982 there was a well-witnessed Marines! Second World War: The Ultimate brief encounter between a Royal Marine This is a book about what it is like Warrant Officer and an Argentinean to be at the spear point of a maritime Photograph Album Major. It took place at the surrender and amphibious campaign, far from By Siegfried Breyer and Miroslaw Skwiot of weapons on the bleak airfield where home and support bases with winter many Argentine conscripts had been approaching and a logistics chain Seaforth Publishing / Pen and Sword Books Ltd semi-starving without their officers stretched beyond all expectations. It ISBN 978 1 84832 143 4 present to care or share their privations. is all about making the most of what 432 Pages. Hardback Though it is not in this book this short you have, rather than dwelling on what Reviewed by LCDR Desmond Woods conversation is a key to understanding you lack. Amphibious operations the difference between the defenders and supporting troops from the sea The great German capital ships of World War II met and the attackers. It explains more is a subject which the ADF re-taught their fates alone but their destruction was every bit as than any other single factor why the itself, briefly, in 1999 on the unopposed Wagnerian as that of the collective sinking of the High Argentine Army lost the land battle and beaches of East Timor and in later Seas Battle Fleet after the Great War. The Kaiser’s ships the British won. The well nourished, operations to clear Indonesian-backed went to a simultaneous watery grave in Scapa Flow in freshly shaved, sleek major, who had militias. With the arrival of the a Gotterdammerung that was shared by them all and commandeered a house in Stanley, new Canberra class LHDs and the meticulously planned by their officers. That twilight of the mistook a mud covered Warrant Officer withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Gods took only steel and pride, not sailors, to the bottom. for a commissioned officer. He said to Australian Army and RAN’s main The fate of Germany’s next fleet of capital ships was to him in good English, pointing to his game from 2014 on will be amphibious be destroyed one by one, three in surface battle, and the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 68 Book Reviews rest sunk alongside, or at anchor, by Admiral Graf Spee, Scharnhorst, Their appearance does not date in the way that the passenger modern airpower. Gneisenau, Bismarck and Tirpitz. The liners of the interwar era have done. These German capital The ships were designed for an era Hipper Class heavy cruisers are not ships were without issue and therefore remain incomparable. which ceased to exist almost as soon as covered in the book but interestingly The photographs include not only the German the war at sea started in 1939. Like the the never commissioned aircraft carrier ‘official portraits’ of ships under way and firing their main sirens of the silent era silver screen the Graf Zeppelin receives an extensive armament, but also the pictures taken aboard of sailors and glamour and the tragedy of their brief appendix. The pre-dreadnoughts that officers at work. Here also are the wartime shots taken of lives in the spotlight are inseparable. were not at Scapa and survived the the ships by low-flying reconnaissance aircraft. There is one, Like HMS Hood they were destroyed allied edicts from Versailles to become taken by a Spitfire pilot, of Tirpitz in her Norwegian lair, because they were outclassed by better, the elderly German fleet of the 1920’s which is so clear and detailed, taken from such low level, that newer, technology. They were made are also pictured. Ironically one of these one has to assume that the pilot was very bold but may not in turn made obsolete by the evolving survived all her younger, bigger sisters have survived to become very old! ability of the RN and the RAF to reach into the 1950s, in Soviet hands. Here are the well known photos of Graf Spee’s self- out and strike them from above and These hundreds of photographs, immolation at sunset, outside Montivedeo. It was after below the surface, as well as in the most published for the first time, have the Battle of the River Plate in December 1939 that Hitler traditional naval surface gunnery duel. been taken from previously unavailable ordered her Captain, Hans Langsdorff, to destroy his These ships collectively absorbed naval archives. They are the reason trapped ship rather than fight it out with what Berlin was vast amounts of German treasure to why the book is a pleasure to own. The tricked into believing were overwhelming odds waiting for build, maintain and repair. Much was sheer quality of the black and white him. Hitler then decided to change Deutschland’s name to expected of them by those who never images remind the reader that it was Lutzow. The loss of face inherent in a ship named after the understood the limits of German partly the superb Zeiss lenses that ‘Fatherland’ also being sunk was too embarrassing for the sea power and Germany’s unhelpful Germany ground that gave her gunnery Fuhrer to contemplate with equanimity! It was one of his geography. They underperformed in the officers such a decisive advantage over many interferences in naval matters he did not understand. war at sea and disappointed and finally their RN opponents when it came to This interference in the operational deployment of the enraged Hitler. They were eventually, optical range finding, in both world Kriegsmarine by a strategic ignoramus made a difficult like most battleships by the end of the wars. situation impossible. Grand Admiral Raeder was deprived of war, reduced to shore bombardment The photographs of these seven the strategic flexibility he needed to use his ships as a potent and fire support missions for troops. ships show the combination of hawkish fleet rather than singly or in pairs. Helping beleaguered troops resist the elegance and raw power of the designs Whatever else one may say about these warships none Russian advance in the Baltic was their that German naval architects perfected of them was lucky for very long. Graf Spee’s likely position last useful role. In 1944 in an irrational in the interwar period. These were off South America was correctly guessed by Commodore fury Hitler ordered the surviving capital beautiful vessels and despite their Henry Harwood who brought her to bay with three cruisers ships to be decommissioned. Though employment as instruments of Nazi prepared to take on her lethal 11 inch guns. They raced at this order was reversed it is apparent oppression and terror their images her like terriers attacking a wild boar and dividing her fire. that he understood that they had remain wickedly magnificent. All were Three ships were one too many for twin turrets to keep brought to his war effort nothing much laid down within seven years of each under attack simultaneously. apart from expense and humiliation. other and they clearly come from the Bismarck, after destroying Hood and giving the Home This new book, published in the UK same understanding that form and Fleet the slip, was nearly free and clear when Admiral by Seaforth, and written by a Polish function are the same whether on the Lutjens unnecessarily signalled Berlin and gave away her and a German, both naval historians smaller scale of the pocket battleships, position. Even so she should have been on a home run to of note, is a monumental photographic the Panzerschiffs, Graf Spee and Scheer, Brest and waiting air cover when it was her terrible ill fortune essay with over 100 new photographs or on the enormous scale of Bismarck to have her rudder struck by a Fleet Air Arm torpedo which illustrating the evolving story of each and Tirpitz. These ships were the jammed it so that she could only make circles in the Atlantic of the seven ships. The photographs final expression of Germany’s marine and await her doom. That a slow semi-obsolescent Swordfish run from birth to death and are engineers’ capacity to innovate and biplane should have been her death dealer is one of the more accompanied by a precise illustrated improve on what other nations had improbable truths in all naval history. explanation of what happened to each built. These vessels were the BMWs of Scharnhorst was considered by her crew to be a lucky ship during the course of its brief the deep, in the late 1930’s. Because ship. Her impressive speed, which in February 1942, had career. The ships are Deutschland, they had no German successor ships taken her with her sister Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen on their later renamed Lutzo; Admiral Scheer, they remain icons of the modern era. successful Channel Dash could not save her when her luck Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 69
ran out on 25th December 1943. She the Atlantic oceans, these rediscovered queued to see the ship in Melbourne and over half a million was convoy hunting off North Cape images are all that preserves the Australians lined Sydney Harbour to see her arrive there on and believed that the endless Arctic memory of these German battleships 9 April 1924. Her loss on Empire Day 1941 had a devastating night would keep her safe from prying into posterity, effect on allied morale. lookouts. But British ‘state of the art’ These powerful ships were in their Bruce Taylor wrote an earlier book about this ship, The radar directed gunnery from HMS time, rightly feared and grudgingly Battlecruiser HMS Hood: An Illustrated Biography 1916- Duke of York penetrated the darkness admired by those that fought the 1941 which included a considerable amount of technical and turned her Christmas into a pagan regime that they armed and guarded. detail as well as insight into the men who manned her and Walpurgisnacht, with the ship as the This book is highly recommended for details of her operational service. When I received my bonfire. With her own radar shot away those who wish to admire seven of review copy of End of Glory I wondered if it might prove early in the battle she was striking our the most magnificent warships built merely to be an abridged version of the earlier work but my like a blind heavyweight and taking anywhere in the twentieth century. We concerns were entirely unfounded. Technical descriptions terrible hits to which she had no will certainly never see their of the ship have been omitted in order to focus on the people answer. Her ‘witches sabbath’ ended in like again. t that made the ship what she was and this approach adds a fire and icy death for her 1900 sailors significant new dimension to the earlier work. Taylor says when 11 torpedoes found their mark in his preface that his aim is “to reaffirm the centrality of the and her exploding forward magazine human experience in naval life and naval history” and he blew her bow off. succeeds rather well in doing so. It was Tirpitz’s misfortune that The author has drawn his material from official Hitler insisted that she remain available documents, biographies, verbal accounts and contemporary for Arctic convoy attack in northern letters written by more than 150 men who served in Hood. Norway where she was able to be The result is a remarkable and very readable book which attacked by Fleet Air Arm torpedo traces the ship’s history from her first commission to her loss. bombers, X-craft midget submarines Her availability at sea in support of British foreign policy and finally RAF Lancasters with was considered so important throughout the late 1930s massive ‘Tall Boy’ bombs. She never that time could not be found to modernise her and by May had a chance to show what she could 1941 she was an old ship carrying a number of defects that do, but the mistaken belief that she limited her operational capability. The descriptions of her was at sea caused the tragedy of PQ17, wet, over-crowded mess-decks and the grime accumulated when the Admiralty scattered an The End of Glory: War in her relentless war service are quite striking as is the story Arctic convoy, 23 ships of which were of a tiny artificer who was retained on board because he then destroyed by U-Boats and the and Peace in HMS HOOD was just able to crawl into the condensers to effect repairs in Luftwaffe. A bloodless victory caused 1916-1941 1940. He wore only bathing trunks to reduce bulk and was by a “fleet in being” consisting of just sustained for hours on end with sherry and hot drinks while By Bruce Taylor one ship. It was not until Tirpitz’s working by his larger mates. monstrous potential was finally Seaforth Publishing £19.99 The human dimension tells the Hood’s story more eliminated in 1944 that the RN could Hardback. 256 pages including index, effectively than a more conventional history and allows safely move a main carrier battle fleet sources and 49 photographs the reader to relate closely with the changing conditions in into the Pacific. Reviewed by Commander David which successive ship’s companies found themselves. The All of these events and many accounts of her three survivors are woven together with Hobbs MBE RN (Rtd) more are superbly illustrated in this accounts by others who left the ship on draft only hours beautifully detailed book. One does HMS Hood was the symbol of British before she sailed on her last, fatal, voyage and the known not have to be a naval model maker sea power in the period between facts to draw a vivid picture of the last minutes of the ship’s to appreciate these photographs and the two world wars. She was as well life. If ever a ship died in action, the Hood did, transformed plans, though no doubt they would be known in Australia as she was in the from the largest warship in the Royal Navy firing salvoes at of great use to such craftsman. The rest of the British Empire and, during the Bismarck into a shattered, sinking wreck in seconds after importance of this collection is self- her world cruise with the Special her magazines exploded. evident. It exists in the fact that other Service Squadron in 1923/24, Joey Four days after her loss, The Times published a letter from than the wreckage of those on the the wallaby joined the ship as her new Admiral of the Fleet Lord Chatfield, First Sea Lord between bottom of the Baltic, the Arctic and mascot in Fremantle; 486,000 visitors 1933 and 1938 which remains the most cogent statement Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 70 Book Reviews ever made on the subject of her loss. In War II, Fighting Flotilla: RN Laforey it he said that “the Hood was destroyed Class Destroyers in World War II, is because she had to fight a ship that was typical in its focus on the technical 22 years more modern than herself. and tactical minutiae of surface and air This was not the fault of the British weapons systems. seamen. It was the direct responsibility By far the most interesting chapters of those who opposed the re-building are oddly enough not the accounts of the British battle fleet until 1937, of the wartime careers of the eight two years before the second great war Laforey class destroyers he investigates started. It is fair to her gallant crew but the two chapters on the pre and that this should be written”. early war debates about design of the This is a remarkable work that ships. complements Bruce Taylor’s earlier In this, we see a gradual shift in Big Gun Monitors: Design, work on HMS Hood and gives insight focus away from conventional surface- into the lives, hopes and aspirations ship engagement – which seemed Construction & Operations 1914-1945 of those who served in her. I can to many to call for bigger ships and By Ian Buxton honestly say that there were large guns but more expense and so lower Seaforth Publishing 2012; paperback, 245 pages; passages that I could not put down and numbers – and towards more stress numerous b/w photos, drawings and diagrams. have no hesitation in recommending on the need to deal with aircraft GBP £19.99 this book strongly to anyone with an and submarines. In the end, as Peter interest in naval history in general and Smith shows in his ‘operational’ ISBN978-1-84832-124-3 a remarkable ship in particular. t chapters, the design worked and the Reviewed by Commander David Hobbs, MBE RN (Rtd) Laforeys became one of the RN’s most successful class of destroyer, but the Over the past century a number of warship types have been fact that so few of them survived the used to project power from the sea and influence operations war shows just how challenging were on land. Aircraft carriers, missile firing submarines, big- the circumstances they faced. gun battleships, cruisers and even destroyers have all There are inevitably a few slips achieved success in varying degrees, although land attack in the book: Admiral Tom Phillip’s was not considered to be their primary role when they name is spelled incorrectly and the were built. The USN is procuring two expensive DDG- Italian tanker Tanaro is sunk twice 1000 ‘ZUMWALT’ class multi-mission destroyers with an in two pages and given very different emphasis on land attack which are to be fitted with two new displacements; the ship drawings are 155mm guns and tactical Tomahawk missiles. A major very hard to make out and the tone reason for fitting 127mm guns in the RAN’s current ANZAC sometimes is a bit ‘Boy’s Ownish’ but class is to give gunfire support to amphibious forces in the overall it remains an interesting and early stages of their deployment ashore, although there are enjoyable read, well up to the standards concerns about their slow rate of fire. They also give the of what has become a veritable library capability to fire a ‘warning shot’ in low-intensity conflict. Fighting Flotilla: RN of this author’s work. t The subject of ships designed to deliver land-attack from Laforey Class Destroyers the sea is, therefore, of very real and contemporary interest, giving background to a current requirement that has tended in World War II not to be given the degree of importance it deserves. (Barnsley,Yorks: Pen and Sword, 2010) In the first half of the twentieth century the Royal Navy By Peter C Smith built and operated specialised gun-equipped, land-attack warships; it was the only navy to do so. They were designed Reviewed by Professor Geoffrey Till to be cheap, quickly built, almost disposable warships that made use of ‘spare’ weapons from other projects and were The latest in the author’s prodigious manned, largely, by ‘hostilities-only’ men serving in the naval achievement in producing nearly 60 reserves. These ships were known in service as ‘monitors’ books about the naval side of World and this book tells their fascinating story in well-written Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 71
detail. Ian Buxton’s first work about and even of the last monitor being affordable edition of a classic book which should form part these unusual warships was published scrapped at Inverkeithing. of every naval collection and is highly recommended. It is in 1978 with a second revised and Buxton’s descriptions of the not only a fascinating read in its own right but will, hopefully, expanded edition published in 2008. ships, weapons and operations are stimulate discussion on how best to achieve similar effects in My review copy came from the third, painstakingly well-researched and future. t paperback, edition published in 2012. incisive but he goes further and The RN built 40 monitors in World analyses their effectiveness as part War 1 and a further two in World War of the whole war-fighting machine. II; the last of the type, HMS Roberts, He notes that these ships played a went to the scrap yard in 1965. significant role in both world wars but Buxton explains the monitor’s in the first their manning, construction origins in the amphibious projects and shore-based support amounted to planned by Admiral Fisher and only 1.6% of the total RN expenditure. Winston Churchill at the Admiralty in In the second, with fewer ships, their 1914 and gives details of the existing construction and use amounted to only weapons that were incorporated into 0.35% of total RN expenditure. the design. Marshal Ney and Marshal This is a first class book that has a Soult were given 15-inch guns and wider canvas than one might think. turrets that became available when Monitors fired far more rounds at the orders for Repulse and Renown greater ranges than more conventional were changed from battleships to warships fitted with the same weapons; battlecruisers with three, rather than thus they contributed in no small four turrets. The turret from Marshal measure to the development of Descent Into Darkness: Pearl Harbor Soult was eventually removed and gunnery techniques and the technology 1941, a Navy Diver’s Memoir fitted into Roberts at the beginning that kept the weapons serviceable. of World War II. Her sister-ship Monitors were able to remain off the Abercrombie had a ‘spare’ 15-inch coasts on which allied troops had By Commander Edward C Raymer USN (Rtd) turret that had been built as ‘insurance’ been landed for extended periods Naval Institute Press, US$18.95 in case the 18-inch guns in Furious and support them as long as their Paperback, 240 pp, 21 photographs, eBook available proved to be a failure and which had ammunition lasted, often providing been stored in Chatham Dockyard for a practical balance with the short- Reviewed by Commander David Hobbs MBE RN (Rtd) 24 years. Furious’ 18-inch guns were duration close air support missions of removed when she was converted into land-based aircraft from remote bases. My only experience of diving was a demonstration beach an aircraft carrier and used to equip the With the greater focus on survey during an amphibious training exercise in the Persian monitors Lord Clive and General Wolfe. amphibious operations that will follow Gulf when I was serving in a tank landing craft for a short They were mounted to fire on the beam the introduction of the Canberra class time as a Midshipman. The experience was enough to with only ten degrees’ training and LHDs, persistent land attack is a very convince me that I was not cut out to be a diver and I can were the longest ranging guns used by topical subject for the RAN and this only applaud the raw courage of the author and his team any navy in World War 1. new edition brings the work into a who entered the total darkness inside the hulls of sunken The book includes sections on every lower price range that will appeal to battleships at Pearl Harbor. They had been on the west class, including those requisitioned a number of new readers who will coast of the United States on 7 December 1941 but were from Norway and Brazil, every type wish to understand the historical flown through the night in a Catalina to join the search of gun used including the American background. As long as it has no for survivors in the stricken hulls. Once this task was 14-inch and the British 18, 15, 9.2, 6 embarked close air support aircraft of completed, the author and his team removed anti-aircraft and 4-inch. There are comprehensive its own, land attack from the sea is one guns from Nevada and other ships before helping to prepare histories of every ship and drawings of of a number of capabilities the ADF the hulls that could be salvaged for raising. internal arrangements together with will have to demonstrate expertise Author Raymer was the senior sailor in the group that a large number of black and white in the years ahead and, if nothing worked inside the West Virginia, Nevada and California to photographs showing ships under else, this work will stimulate ideas block holes and make the hulls watertight so that they could construction, being launched, in action, and discussion. In summary it is an be raised and moved into dry dock for reconstruction. His Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 72 Book Reviews only break from this work in two and published in 1996 and was Raymer’s such it is both a history of the main characters’ works and a a half years was a spell in the salvage only book. He died in 1997 and study in ‘history wars’. The feud occurred during the 1960s vessel Seminole which was sunk in the Naval Institute Press is to be and early 70s when the writing of British naval history had a action off Guadalcanal! congratulated for re-issuing it for a new wide institutional interest as many of the participants from This is a frank, honest story which generation. It offers unique insight the two world wars were active commentators. Readers gives insight into a very different aspect into a neglected aspect of events at familiar with the two historians’ main works – Marder’s five of the attack on Pearl Harbor. There Pearl Harbor, seen through the eyes of volume From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow and Roskill’s was no instruction manual, no-one had an enlisted sailor. Apart from the big three volume The War at Sea 1939–1945 – will probably ever raised a sunken battleship before, picture it also offers a pen portrait of a derive the most benefit from Historical Dreadnoughts as the and the divers, dressed in cumbersome contemporary sailor’s life and outlook book provides an intimate study of Marder’s and Roskill’s hard hats and lead boots and attached in the USN. I thoroughly recommend characters, life and works. The author, Barry Gough, is a to the surface by a lifeline, air hose and it. t Canadian historian whose works include many maritime- telephone cable, had to make their way related themes, and he masterfully investigates and analyses hundreds of feet into dark hulls. They the professional and academic tensions which resulted in were guided by their sense of touch, the publication of Marder’s and Roskill’s works, and the and aided by advice from divers’ mates unfortunate feud which subsequently developed between on the surface who had blue-prints them. for the ship in question. They had to Arthur Marder’s early background was an unlikely one be prepared for falling objects such for the reputation he subsequently acquired as a historian as damaged fan trunking, floating of late 19th and early 20th century British naval history. Born bodies, loose ammunition including into a Jewish emigrant family in Boston, his father’s payday unexploded Japanese bombs and, book gifts to his son engendered a passion for history. potentially, sharks. If his lines became Entering Harvard College in 1927, his discovery of British entangled there was little hope for the naval history had the flavour of destiny. As told by Marder, diver, and a second diver was always in a downstairs rush to keep an appointment in May 1930 ready to go to his aid but there were he collided with one of his professors. After the initial casualties. Many of the dives were on apologies, a discussion on Marder’s academic interests the Arizona and it was not clear at first H istorical ensued. The professor – William Langer – thought Marder’s that she could not be raised. proposed study of the influence of German generals on In order to work in such appalling Dreadnoughts: Arthur pre-war (pre-1914) German foreign policy was ‘too diffuse conditions over a protracted period Marder, Stephen Roskill and difficult a subject for a 50–100 page undergraduate the author and his team inevitably and Battles for Naval thesis.’ He suggested instead that Marder write his thesis adopted an element of ‘black’ humour on the 1912 Haldane Mission to Berlin – in which attempts that kept them going but the respect in History were made to control the naval armaments race between which they held their dead comrades Britain and Germany – as the relevant British Foreign Office and especially the bodies that could By Barry Gough documents had recently been released. Marder took this not be removed from the wrecks is Seaforth Publishing: http://www. advice and: ‘By that autumn I had found my mission – to evident throughout the book. The seaforthpublishing.com/ study the Royal Navy in all its ramifications from the pre- failed attempt to remove bodies from dreadnought era (the quarter century prior to 1905) through the Arizona is told with dignity and the First World War and its immediate aftermath’. Reviewed by Dr Tim Coyle shows Raymer to be a thoughtful and Marder’s initial work The Anatomy of British Sea Power: diligent professional sailor. He was A History of British Naval Policy in the Pre-Dreadnought selected to show a number of VIPs This book is a study of the two titans Era, 1880–1905’ – published in 1940 – was a great success, including Eleanor Roosevelt and press of Royal Navy history (the ‘Historical not the least because an American historian, using his representatives around ships that had Dreadnoughts’) Arthur Marder (1910– novel status and personal charm (as Marder glibly states), been raised and it is not surprising to 1980) and Stephen Roskill (1902– gained access to previously unavailable official documents learn that he subsequently gained a 1982). It links the high drama of the of the era. This access, having been denied resident British commission. His description of some researching and writing of British naval academics, raised some ire in those circles. Marder events is moving. history with the feud which developed capitalised on these qualities in his future research through Descent into Darkness was first between the two historians and as befriending Admiralty archivists and retired senior RN Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 73
officers alike to achieve his life’s aim to Warspite – he refused to sign off work Roskill’s Washington years saw many disputes with the chronicle the RN’s history to 1919 and done in his department during the US Navy over the supply of lend-lease equipment to the beyond. ship’s extensive upgrade. This resulted RN; however he enjoyed good relations with ordnance and In the mid-1930s, while Marder was in furious rows between the Roskill experimental agencies which led to his last appointment setting out on his lifelong fascination and the dockyard. Subsequent morale as senior observer of the British delegation to the Bikini with the Royal Navy, Stephen Roskill and work-up problems in the ship saw Atoll atomic tests. The RN recognised his expertise in this was a part of it as a gunnery specialist. Roskill appointed as Warspite’s first new field; however, he was deteriorating physically due Born into a barrister’s family, he lieutenant as well as gunnery officer, to war injuries and deafness attributed to his exposure became imbued with the ethos of which did much to resolve these issues, to years of heavy caliber gun firings. With no prospect of empire through his early schooling and his promotion to commander. further command at sea to qualify him for promotion, he and his headmaster’s enthusiasm for Roskill’s next appointment was to discharged from the navy in 1949. However, his reputation imperial and naval aggrandisements. the Admiralty where his reputation as the ‘atomic secrets man’, his knowledge of ordnance, It was as a cadet at the Royal Naval for irascibility followed him. There experiences of working with the US and his forceful writing College, Osborne, where he first met he ‘again made himself unpopular style were remembered by some at the Admiralty, who a whiff of anti-Semitism because of by insisting on the Admiralty buying judged him to be the man to write the official history of the his Jewish connections on his father’s Swiss Oerlikon 20 mm guns in war at sea. side. A senior master’s remark – within preference to the inferior British Marder’s war service was rather opaque. He drifted in earshot of his fellow cadets – that design, by opposing Professor and out of intelligence assessment roles with government he did not like Roskill ‘…because he Frederick Lindemann’s pet idea of agencies, learnt Japanese for six months and – in 1943 is a Jew boy’ was Roskill’s ‘… first, replacing anti-aircraft guns with – attempted to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve though not my last taste of the anti- rockets, and later by demanding that Special Branch (Intelligence). In this he was unsuccessful, Semitism which was so marked a each big gun turret in a battleship partly because of some health deficiencies, but in reality feature of the British upper class…’ should have its own fire-control radar.’ the door was closed as the RN stated that there were no Roskill and Marder both experienced As an indication of the Admiralty’s vacancies in this category. A similar approach to the Royal such discrimination: the latter found obtuse assessment of Roskill, his next Canadian Navy was also rebuffed. This must have been a some academic posts closed to him appointment, in September 1941, great disappointment to Marder as, by now, he was firmly in his early career because of his was to the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ‘wedded’ to the RN through his historical research. Jewish origins. If anything, these cruiser HMNZS Leander, which By April 1944 Marder was ensconced in an associate taunts buttressed Roskill’s strength Roskill regarded as a career-inhibiting professorship at the University of Hawaii. Details of of purpose as he progressed through move: ‘The Admiralty constantly the background for this appointment are not given and various gunnery-related appointments appointed officers who had blotted the author supposes that it may have been related to in the 1930s. their copybooks or had proved intelligence work for which the post may have been a cover. His sound academic record “difficult” to distant stations – to get Nonetheless, Marder remained at the University of Hawaii at Dartmouth – in the face of an them out of the way; and I certainly until 1964, teaching European history while continuing his ‘extraordinarily ill-conceived’ training did make some enemies on staff…’ RN research with annual visits to Britain. regimen – provided the foundation Finding Leander in a poor material and Marder’s first postwar visit to Britain in 1946 confirmed for his strong interest in history morale state (the captain was a similar the Admiralty’s closed door policy for access to its records and strategic analysis. Appointed to exile), Roskill worked the ship up to a for Marder’s dream of writing the RN’s history from the cruisers in the Far East, he was able high state of efficiency, so that when commissioning of the Dreadnought to the First World War. to study the increasing influence and Leander was torpedoed in the Battle Over the next 15 years he used his persuasive powers to strength of the Imperial Japanese of Kolombangara in the Guadalcanal gain access to the diaries of Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond, Navy. His gunnery training and ‘slot’, it was the high standard of a naval thinker, strategist and ‘bete noir’ to the RN appointments to important fleet damage control – instilled by Roskill establishment of the World War I era and its retired officer units – instructor at Whale Island – that saved the ship and resulted in community. Meeting Richmond shortly before his death, gunnery school and gunnery officer in the award to him of a Distinguished Marder negotiated access to Richmond’s 1909-1920 diaries four battleships – were indicative of a Service Cross. Appointed acting which criticised the RN’s organisation, training, strategy highly motivated officer with a brilliant captain, Roskill took Leander to Boston and war-fighting capabilities during the war. The publishing future. However, his strong and for repair and then joined the RN’s in 1952 of the diaries as Portrait of an Admiral: The Life upright views were tested when – as Washington mission in May 1944 as and Papers of Sir Herbert Richmond unleashed a storm of gunnery officer of the battleship HMS head of ‘administration and weapons’. criticism in the literary review columns to which Marder Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 74 Book Reviews robustly responded. The author difficulties in clearing their drafts – Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Hankey’s – diaries as to provides an incisive commentary on through Admiralty and Colonial Office who was responsible for the 1917 decision to commence these exchanges, showing the depth officials and the retired senior officer convoying of merchant ships in the face of the debilitating of establishment feeling so long after community. Winston Churchill was a losses to U-boats. Controversy had raged over whether it the events, the resentment of Marder particular major obstacle for Roskill was Prime Minister Lloyd George – in a peremptory visit to as an outsider, and Marder’s sensitivity to circumvent. The author provides a the Admiralty – or whether it was First Sea Lord Admiral to these reactions. He also comments fine grain narrative and assessment of Jellicoe. In Volume Four of From the Dreadnought to Scapa on the more ready acceptance of the challenges faced by the historians Flow, Marder had referenced the Prime Minster’s Admiralty Richmond’s views by a later generation and it is this material which gives the meeting as ‘Note by the Prime Minister of his Conference of historians. Marder’s next work, reader of Historical Dreadnoughts at the Admiralty, April 30th 1917, written by Hankey the three volume Fear God and an appreciation how the great immediately after the conference’. At precisely the time that Dread Nought: The Correspondence events of RN wartime history were Roskill was reviewing Volume 5, he had been invited by of Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher of jealously guarded by the participants Hankey’s son to write his father’s biography, which included Kilverstone – published 1952–1959 – and government officials alike to exclusive access to Hankey’s diaries. Roskill rounded on the was overwhelmingly well-received and preserve reputations and minimise Marder references, claiming that the diaries were closed by now, Marder’s reputation had been controversies. This analysis provides a and that: ‘…how you got at unpublished parts of his diary fully established and he was ready to valuable background to serious readers I don’t know and I think it better not to ask…’. From this embark on his major work, if only he of RN history which is not apparent in the feud erupted with Marder responding robustly, with could access the Admiralty records. the published histories. The narrative the whole affair degenerating into a hair-splitting thrust Marder hit the ‘mother lode’ (as he also describes the great stresses the and counter-thrust. Readers will follow this narrative with termed it) of Admiralty records in May historians experienced in working possible dismay but perhaps with a realisation that ‘celebrity’ 1955 when he was introduced to a RN at a frenetic pace which particularly historians engaged in history wars can give a background admiral who was visiting Pearl Harbor. affected Roskill’s war injuries. behind their writings which is as valid in the understanding At the conclusion of an amicable Both From the Dreadnought to of the historical analysis process as the works themselves. meeting, the admiral – in parting – Scapa Flow and The War at Sea The respective involvements of Prime Minister Winston said to Marder: ‘Let me know if there were great successes, securing both Churchill, First Sea Lord Admiral Dudley Pound, Lord is anything I can do for you’. Marder historians as giants in their field. Louis Mounbatten and others in their respective roles in the takes up the story: However, the feud which ensued loss of the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious during the 1940 ‘(I) regarded this as the usual sort bemused some observers, distressed Norwegian campaign, the scattering of convoy PQ17 and of polite gesture, nothing more. But others and detrimentally affected the aftermath, the losses of HM ships Repulse and Prince I had an inspiration…”Yes, Admiral both antagonists. The second half of of Wales in December 1941 provide the reader with a lively there is something you can do for me!” Historical Dreadnoughts provides a background to the historical writing and the battles that “Why”, he said when I had told him detailed discussion of the feud and also Roskill fought while writing The War at Sea. of my difficulties with the Whitehall various controversies which hovered The intricacies of the naval ‘history wars’ interleave bureaucracy, “you’ve come to the right over the major tragedies and losses of with academic joustings, which in themselves provide man. I know the officer at Whitehall the RN during World War II. an intimate picture of 1960s history faculties in US and who usually has the last word in such With both of the historians’ major UK universities. The reader of Historical Dreadnoughts matters. I’ll see what I can do”’. Marder works achieving a wide acclamation, will feel the presence of towering egos – not just between surmised that ‘the officer’ was the Roskill began to suspect that Marder the historians Marder and Roskill, but will also share the First Sea Lord and 12 months later might extend his interests beyond presence of the great sea officers and politicians who fought he received approval for access to the 1918, the ‘demarcation’ between the campaigns then fought the aftermath to preserve Admiralty records covering World Marder’s and Roskill’s historical reputations. War I. ‘patches’. Marder did this in his Historical Dreadnoughts is a unique record of the From here on Historical last – the 5th – volume of From the recording of the two great maritime wars of the 20th century. Dreadnoughts examines Marder’s and Dreadnought to Scapa Flow; 1918– The book is recommended to the reader who seeks a Roskill’s challenges and triumphs as 1919: Victory and Aftermath. In 1969, different light on the great actors and events of the wars at they worked on From the Dreadnought Marder – as he routinely did – asked sea. t to Scapa Flow and The War at Sea. Roskill to review the draft. Marder Despite both historians having access had used references from the Secretary to the respective records, they found of the Committee for Imperial Defence Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 75
navigator. Like Cook he served with distinction as one of the RN’s trusted operational cartographers on the American station. Cook charted the St Lawrence seaway during the Seven Years War and was rewarded with command of Endeavour. Hunter charted the Delaware River in 1777 for Admiral Howe during the War of Independence, but despite this signal service it took five more years for him to be commissioned as a Third Lieutenant in 1782. His obvious competence as a seaman and navigator, and the support of Lord Howe, made his rise to post captain swift thereafter. In 1788 he was an obvious choice to command Sirius and to hold a dormant commission which authorised him to be the Governor of NSW in the event of Phillip’s death or incapacity – a not unlikely event given the hazards they were all faced with. The safe navigation of the 11 ships of the First Fleet across the globe into Botany Bay was Hunter’s colour illustrations. These reveal responsibility. All ships arrived within hours of each other; A Steady Hand Hunter as a careful draftsman and a tribute to Hunter’s skill at herding cats! The decision Governor Hunter & His fine artist and a keen observer of the to explore northward from the dangerous and waterless First Fleet Sketchbook birds, fish, animals and plants that Botany Bay in open boats, in the hope of finding a better surrounded him in Sydney Cove and anchorage and fresh water, was Phillip’s to make, but it was on Norfolk Island. Five of the birds Hunter who charted the magnificent new harbour, Port By Linda Groom he drew and painted are now extinct Jackson. Phillip stated without exaggeration that it could National Library of Australia 2012 and his watercolours may be the best hold all the ships in England. ISBN 9780642277077 scientific evidence remaining as to When the Admiralty’s relief store ship, HMS Guardian, HARDBACK 229 Pages their plumage. struck an iceberg on her way to Sydney and failed to arrive, http://bookshop.nla.gov.au His sketchbook survived its owner food rationing was tightened yet again. Phillip realised that being castaway when HMS Sirius he was only months away from losing control of the convict was wrecked on Norfolk Island’s settlement to a food riot, followed by probable mayhem Reviewed by LCDR Desmond Woods iron-bound coast. Hunter added to and murder. His authority had been unable to prevent mass it during his period of five months fornication when the fleet first landed. What hope would A Steady Hand is a truly beautiful of involuntary exile on the island. he have of quelling hungry men breaking down the doors book, a real collector’s item. It is Ironically the birds that Hunter was of his flour store or tearing lids off the last salt beef barrels? also a scholarly biography which has sketching were being eaten into Already the Royal Marines, charged with protecting the been very carefully researched. Most extinction by the ravenous convicts Government food store, were pilfering from it. He hanged scholarly books are not beautiful and and his ship’s company. Hunter, two of them for this offence. A dramatic rescue from most beautiful books are not scholarly. who never married, bequeathed the this prospect of a descent fuelled by hunger into a hellish This one is both. sketchbook to his sister’s family. It is Hobbesian anarchical ‘state of nature’ was urgent. Linda Groom was the Curator of quite extraordinary that this rich visual Comes the moment comes the man. It was Hunter that Pictures at the National Library from journal should have survived intact Phillip naturally turned to as the officer whose navigation, 1998 till 2010. One of the treasures in and is now, being published nearly 200 courage and steady hand could yet save the whole British her care was the personal sketchbook years after Hunter died. experiment in Sydney from ignominious failure and the of Captain John Hunter, Captain of A Steady Hand would be worth horror of mass starvation. In Spring of 1788 Hunter HMS Sirius, the Flagship of the First owning for the portfolio of images offloadedSirius ’s heavy guns and all other surplus gear to Fleet, and the second Governor of from the sketchbook alone, but in clear space for stores and headed out of Port Jackson to New South Wales. The sketchbook addition it provides an excellent circumnavigate the world via the Southern Ocean. Not was bought at auction in 1953 by the account of the long and adventurous since Cook had first gone south looking for evidence of bibliophile Sir Rex Nan Kivell and life of this talented and self-trained Terra Australis Incognita had any vessel ventured into these presented to the Library in 1959. It is naval officer. Like Cook he was high and icy latitudes. Against Phillip’s instructions Hunter reproduced here in glowing full-page an autodidact mathematician and wisely chose to go east to Cape Town, across the Pacific, Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 76 Book Reviews under Cape Horn and across the sails Hunter was heard to bellow, ‘She ship just weathering Tasman’s head. This was not a later South Atlantic. This southerly course must carry it or we are all lost !’ In fanciful reconstruction of events but a seaman’s eyewitness shortened the distance sailed, but the the midst of this clamour and peril he illustration and Raper shows just how finely his captain risks were fearful. Hunter and his men calmly calculated the angle of course judged his sea room - and by inference how close Sydney endured the terrible cold of Antarctic necessary to tack Sirius across the bay came to starvation. When Sirius limped into Sydney Cove, waters in inadequate clothing. and just clear the entrance point. His leaking and storm damaged, Hunter brought the food to Drinking water kept on deck in butts trained seaman’s eye was as perfect as allow Phillip to hold on to his authority for another six froze solid, as did the running rigging his draftsman’s hand and Sirius, sailing months, which turned out to be long enough. The voyage’s and, most dangerously, the blocks on a reach, clawed her way back out of nutritional and therefore political significance was obvious and tackle by which the ship was the trap she was in, into the gale and to all, but no one, not even Phillip, fully understood the scale manoeuvred. Sirius was leaking badly clear water, beyond the headland. of Hunter’s maritime accomplishment. throughout the voyage and exhausted Hunter’s ship handling was Hunter’s later loss of Sirius on the shore of the half frozen men needed to pump her without doubt the single most critical harbourless Norfolk Island and his return to Britain are out continually. Icebergs threatened to demonstration of sailing skill in the particularly well told in this book. Effectively Hunter took destroy the ship by holing or crushing history of Australia. It was a feat of responsibility for the navigation of the Waaksamheyd, the her. Hunter had no choice but to seamanship to match Cook’s saving of ship in which he and the Sirius’s crew took passage home. sail through the hours of darkness. Endeavour after she struck the Barrier He took the opportunity to chart and name many of the Time was critical. Most of the ship’s Reef and just as significant for the Solomon Islands and made a very significant contribution company was stricken with scurvy as future of British colonisation of this to the knowledge of the islands of the western Pacific, they sailed into Cape Town to pick up continent. including that modern tourist magnet the Isles of Pines, in the salt meat, potatoes and flour Phillip Hunter’s pivotal role in the survival New Caledonia. Typically, despite the danger in which the needed so urgently. of the Sydney colony is scarcely ship was placed due to lack of accurate charts, Hunter not As soon as he was loaded and known by the Australian public, or only mapped the Isle but did a delicate watercolour of it as his men fit for duty again Hunter much recognised by historians. But well, to help future navigators recognise it, showing its forest continued this epic voyage. Adding to it is self-evident that if Sirius had of mast high pines. The ship’s captain, Detmer Smith, was his burdens one of his watch officers been dashed ashore in Van Dieman’s an incompetent who nearly caused all their deaths though had become insane and dangerous land the consequences of that remote his bungling of relationships with a well armed Malay and needed to be restrained below shipwreck in 1789 might still be native ruler and though lack of basic seamanship. It was decks. Bass Strait was as yet unknown known to all Australians. Had there Hunter who had the personal skills, both diplomatic and and uncharted so Sirius was bound been a failed first attempt to maintain professional, to repeatedly save the situation. to sail south around Van Diemen’s a law abiding colony in Sydney Cove On his return to London, and after being cleared by land to return to Sydney. In April and at Parramatta would a second an Admiralty court martial of blame for the loss of Sirius, 1789, without sun sights to check attempt have been made by Britain? Hunter sought and was granted the Governorship of New his longitude for three days, due to If the authorities at Sydney Cove had South Wales. By now the Royal Marines had handed over a raging gale, Hunter found himself been overwhelmed and murdered, their duties as prison warders to the New South Wales embayed on a lee shore and fighting and the last of the government food Corps which was officered by men on the make, who sought to keep from being blown ashore. He eaten by the strongest convicts, would only their own advancement and profit. Hunter tried to knew Sirius was carrying the hopes London have reinforced failure and work with the officers he was given and narrowly avoided of survival, not only of his men, but tried again to settle NSW with more the mutiny that befell Bligh, his successor, when he tried to of all those who depended on him criminals? Politically it might have curtail the corruption and profiteering that was ingrained in getting his ship back to the closely been impossible in the face of the no the corp’s culture. Both Bligh and Hunter failed to check the rationed and hungry colony. At this doubt vitriolic criticism that would avaricious profiteering of Captain John Macarthur and his perilous moment, in the teeth of a have flowed from the naysayers, who fellow military gangsters. It was not until Governor Lachlan full gale, Hunter ordered more sail set had always claimed that the idea of Macquarie brought his own Highland Regiment with him to increase his power to drive Sirius settling New Holland was a foolish in 1810 that civil government would be firmly established. westward out of the bay. It was his only extravagance and impractical due to Hunter’s time in Government House may not have been hope, but it depended on the strength the distance from Britain. a success politically but he built five granaries, a hospital, of old masts and worn frail canvas. A Steady Hand reproduces a barracks, a church, a stone gaol, workshops, bridges and At the height of the gale, looking up Midshipman’s George Raper’s detailed a clock tower. Most crucially he built two windmills to at the straining yards and drum hard ink and watercolour drawing of his grind grain. During his governorship, in 1794, the colony Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 77
became self-sufficient in locally grown granted. naturalists through their skins. He also caused to be wheat and ground flour. Never again Hunter’s last command HMS delivered to Joseph Banks the first live emus ever to travel to would a ship’s captain be placed in the Venerable was lost through no fault of Britain. They caused consternation at the Customs House impossible situation that he and his his during a gale in Torbay. He saved we are told! men had so narrowly survived in order his ship’s company by sending them A Steady Hand is a very special publication which will to resupply the colony with the staff off in boats. With waves covering the become a treasured possession. Linda Groom and the of life. deck Hunter remained on board till National Library are to be congratulated on revealing to Hunter loved exploration and midnight, imperturbable as seas swept the reading public what an extraordinary man New South went beyond the edge of his 1789 the deck. One of his junior officers Wales’ second governor was. Hunter made no attempt charts of Broken Bay up the beautiful later wrote of him: never in my life did to publish his sketchbook. His First Fleet journal, first Hawkesbury River. He discovered the I witness such disregard for death and published in London in 1793, is one of the earliest and colony’s lost herd of cattle that was danger. Not the least alteration took most authoritative records of the beginnings of European happily grazing, untended, on lush place in his look, words or manner, settlement in Australia, but he did not write a memoire of grasslands to the south of Botany Bay from the moment the ship struck, until his life. He was generous, gregarious, diplomatic, shrewd, beside the Nepean River. The author’s at our joint and earnest importunity, observant, morally courageous and physically brave. He prose is delightful: ‘A bull attacked the after all the Crew were safe, he left the was a professional naval officer, not a self publicist and party, and they were obliged to shoot ship. Hunter’s steady hand and nerve consequently his reputation has been overshadowed in the him in his tracks. Fortunately, there were still in evidence in this grave national memory by those other two great naval officers existed a younger bull with a dormant extremity, his last trial by storm and Cook and Phillip. It is true to say that he continued the work commission who took command of the shipwreck. of Pacific exploration of the former and made possible the herd and ensured its continuing safety.’ The Navy cleared Hunter of blame success of the latter. It is high time his shade stepped out of Hunter was unjustly and without for the loss of Venerable and employed their shadows, and this is just the book to allow him to do reasonable grounds dismissed from him ashore. He was promoted to Rear it. His record of public service and his fine art both deserve his office and recalled by the Duke Admiral of the Blue in 1807 and finally recognition as being second to none in the story of the of Portland, a man of singularly promoted him to Vice Admiral of the settlement of Australia. This excellent new book provides narrow understanding of the scale Red in 1814. He had progressed from both. Its purchase is highly recommended. t of difficulties that Hunter and all being the son of a ship’s master in NSW governors faced so far from Leith through youthful shipwreck to administrative and logistical support. being a captain’s servant. He moved Perhaps Hunter was fortunate to very slowly from the lower deck to the leave Sydney before the uncontrolled wardroom and from there, via war in importation of spirits by the NSW the New World to Port Jackson. His Corps and the accusations of the half greatest service to Australia took him mad John Macarthur, brought about north of the Antarctic and below Van his complete ruin, as it was shortly to Diemen’s Land. He was both castaway destroy Bligh’s governorship. and governor on Norfolk Island. His Hunter was badly treated on his career took him through New South return from NSW. Portland would Wales Government House, where not see him and his entitlement to he was beset by venal officers and an a pension was initially denied. He uncomprehending colonial secretary, was reduced to living on a Captain’s and finally to elevation to flag rank. half pay, so he published a leaflet This was a remarkable career in an age putting forward his explanation of brilliant naval officers serving at sea of the situation in which he found in the Nelsonic age of fighting sail. himself in NSW. Portland relented Hunter remained a life long and claimed he had not agreed to the advocate for Australia and its future pension because he was planning to prosperity, and worked to release the make Hunter Governor of Bermuda. new colony from being, ‘a foreign That position did not eventuate but public gaol.’ He introduced the a pension of 300 pounds a year was platypus and the wombat to British Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 78
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 79
Operation Trochus 75
ollowing a big jump the previous From 4 March one of three Darwin- 12-mile declared fishing zone they were Fyear in the number of sightings based patrol boats and a Broome- allowed to fish, and how they were not of Indonesian fishing boats, and the based detachment of three Grumman allowed to approach within 12 miles signing of an Australian-Indonesian Tracker aircraft kept up a constant of the mainland. As its boarding party agreement on ‘traditional fishermen’, in sea-air watch on the north-western moved from fishing boat to fishing 1975 the RAN began a new concept in coastline and Australia’s offshore boat, the patrol poat would cruise up fisheries patrolling. reefs and islets. Although Indonesian and down about 20 metres away to Commanded by Captain Eric fishermen were banned from taking leave the fishermen with a friendly Johnston, then Naval Officer taking turtles and certain undersized but firm impression. Vessels found Commanding North Australia, shellfish, Australia’s main concern was illegally fishing were apprehended and Operation TROCHUS 75 was not so much the amount of fish caught, prosecuted. described by him as ‘Intensification’: but rather any animals or animal The photograph shows a boarding ‘Instead of visiting the area on a fairly products carried by the fishermen that party from HMAS Advance leaving a haphazard basis, the aim this year is to might introduce livestock diseases. fleet of 30 Madurese boats to have a have Naval aircraft and a patrol boat For this reason, much of a boarding look at Sandy Islet in Scott Reef. t there on a permanent basis during the party’s work consisted of explaining to fishing season’. the fishermen which areas within the Photograph Courtesy SeaPower Centre. Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 80 ANI On-line: A guide to the new website.
O ur new website is now on-line! In addition to the features available on the Changing your details previous site, the new site also features a library of past journals, a discussion When your account is created, only your member ID and password are stored in the system for privacy reasons. However, you may provide forum, a news section and member list. This short guide is designed to help other details that are visible to other ANI members. In order to change you take full advantage of the new features. your details, login and click the “Change Your Details” menu item (figure 5). Then select the “change” link (figure 6) next to either your personal details or password. Change the text appropriately and click the “save” button (figure 7). F igure 1 The personal information that you provide will be visible to other Obtaining an account members of the ANI but will be hidden from members of the general In order to access the new features of the site you must have a user public. You may provide as much or as little detail as you wish but account for the website. If you have a current subscription to the ANI, none of the fields are compulsory. However, you may not change your navigate to the website www.navalinstitute.com.au using your web member ID as it is the link between the on-line database and our off- browser (figure 1), click the “Members Login” menu item (figure 2), line records. then click the link to download an application form. Fill in the form, then fax or post it to the ANI Business Manager. Once your account has been created, you will receive an email that outlines your member
ID and password. Figure 8
Figure 7
Participating in the forum Figure 2 Figure 3 In order to post topics and replies in the discussion forum, first login Logging in to your account and click the “Forum” menu item (figure 8). Then select a forum that Once you have your account details, you are ready to login and access you would like to view by clicking its “View Topics” button (figure the new features of the site. In order to login, navigate to the website 9). Select a topic that you would like to read by clicking its “View this (figure 1) and click the “Members Login” item (figure 2). Enter your topic” link (figure 10). If you are not interested in any particular topic, member ID and password as they were provided to you, then click you may add your own by clicking the “Add New Topic” button (figure the “Login” button. The case of the member ID and password are 10). Similarly, once you are viewing a topic, you may post a reply by important: i.e. “CaSe” and “case” are considered entirely different words clicking “Add New Post”. Fill in the heading and body of your reply and by the authentication system. Each letter of the password will appear as click the “Submit” button to add your reply to the topic. If you change a single “*” to prevent others from seeing your password as you type. your mind while writing your reply, you may click the “Cancel” button If you have entered your details correctly, you will be presented with and your reply will not be added to the topic. the news page. The grey status bar at the top notifies you of the account you are using (figure 4). You are now able to access all of the new features of the site.
Figure 4
Logging out of your account Figure 9 In order to protect your identity and to prevent malicious use of your account by others, you must log out of the site when you are finished browsing. This is especially important on public computers. In order to log out, click the “Logout” link in the grey status bar (figure 4). Figure 10
Further questions If you have specific questions regarding website features or even a Figure 5 Figure 6 feature request, post a topic in the “Website Questions” forum and a site administrator will reply. Otherwise, happy browsing!
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 81 Thinking of Making a Contribution? Style Notes for Headmark
In general, please present your work So: the end of the article, please supply full honours - Lieutenant with the minimum of formatting. Adkin, Mark. Goose Green. London: Commander Bill Crabbe, CSC, RAN - unless you would Paragraphs: Leo Cooper, 1992. prefer not to use them. Then please supply a paragraph Don’t indent, and leave left justified. Adler, Bill (Ed.) Letters from Vietnam. on yourself, to a maximum of 50 words, including any Separate paragraphs by one line. Single New York: EP Dutton and Co., 1967. qualifications you would like listed, and any interesting spacing only. Use one space only after Articles use quotation marks around biographical aspects. If possible please supply a colour or stops and colons. their title, which is not in italics. greyscale head and shoulders e-photo of yourself for use Conventions: If citing web sites please use the alongside the article title. Use numbers for 10 and above, words convention: Illustrations: below. Ship names use italics in title Australian Associated Press. “Army Do not embed graphs or figures in your text without case; prefixes such as HMAS in capitals admits mistakes in SAS investigation”. sending a separate file as well. If supplying photographs use and italics. Book and Journal titles use 17 February, 2004.
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute 82 Australian Naval Institute
The Australian Naval Institute was formed as a self- considered. As much of the RAN’s attention Editorial Board. supporting and non-profit making organisation; operational and administrative history Articles of greater length can incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory in 1975. The is poorly recorded, the recollections of submitted to the Sea Power Centre- main objectives of the Institute are: members (and others) on these topics Australia for possible publication as • to encourage and promote the advancement of knowledge are keenly sought. a Working Paper (seapower.centre@ related to the Navy and the maritime profession; and Views and opinions expressed in defence.gov.au) • to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas concerning Headmark are those of the authors and subjects related to the Navy and the maritime profession. not necessarily those of the Institute, the Editorial Board Membership subscription rates are located on the next page. Royal Australian Navy, the Australian The Board is largely drawn from Further information can be obtained from the: Defence Organisation, or the institutions the ANI Council but key roles are Business Manager, Australian Naval Institute, the authors may represent. undertaken by the following members: PO Box 29, Red Hill ACT 2603, ph +61 2 6295 0056, The ANI does not warrant, guarantee Chairman: leut Tristan Skousgaard ran fax +61 2 6295 3367, email: [email protected] or via the or make any representations as to the Journal Editor: dr Tom Lewis, oam website at http://www.navalinstitute.com.au content of the information contained Strategy: vadm Ray Griggs am, csc, ran within Headmark, and will not be liable History: dr David Stevens Sponsors in any way for any claims resulting from Book Reviews: The Australian Naval Institute is grateful for the continued use or reliance on it. lcdr Desmond Woods ran support of: ANI Friends; Raytheon Australia, Booz & Articles and information in Company. Our Gold Sponsors; Austal, Thales Naval Group, Headmark are the copyright of the Bequests DMS Maritime, QinetiQ. Our Silver Sponsors; LOPAC, SAAB, Australian Naval Institute, unless As a self-funding organisation the ATI, Australian Defence Credit Union, Blohm +Voss Naval. otherwise stated. All material in Institute relies on membership Headmark is protected by Australian subscriptions and sponsorship to Patron copyright law and by applicable law in maintain its activities. Financial Chief of Navy: Vice Admiral Ray Griggs am,csc, ran other jurisdictions. donations and/or bequests are welcome Council Members A CDROM of the Journal of the and will assist the ANI in undertaking President: radm Allan Du Toit am, ran Australian Naval Institute covering the its activities. Vice President: cdre Greg Sammut ran period 1975-2003 is available for $99; see Secretary: lcdr Ben MacDonald ran the next page for ordering information. Sea Power Centre-Australia Treasurer: mr Nicholas Tate Pen Names. Contributors can publish Research Collection Journal Editor: dr Tom Lewis oam under a pen name. The Editor must be The Sea Power Centre-Australia Councillor: capt Timothy Brown ran advised either in person or in writing research collection incorporates the Councillor: capt Lee Goddard csc, ran of the identity of the individual that ANI library, to which members have Councillor: cmdr Ian Campbell ran wishes to use the pen name. The Editor access. The research collection is Councillor: cmdr Justin Jones ran will confirm in writing to the member normally available for use 0900-1630 Councillor: lcdr Desmond Woods ran seeking to use a pen name that the each weekday, but it is not possible Councillor: midn Aaron Goedecke ran name has been registered and can be to borrow the books. Members are Councillor: midn Liam Catterson ran used. More details are available on the requested to ring the SPC to confirm Councillor: midn Isabel Collins ran Institute’s website. access, particularly if visiting from Councillor: midn Grant Moran ran Article submission. Articles and outside Canberra. Councillor: midn Matthew Bell ran correspondence should be submitted The ANI/Sea Power Centre-Australia Website Manager: electronically in Microsoft Word, with will gladly accept book donations on mr David Graham (non membership position) limited formatting. (See the style guide naval and maritime matters (where they Public Officer: in this issue for further details.) will either be added to the collection lcdr David Swanson ran (non mem. position) Articles should ideally range in size or traded for difficult to obtain books). from 3000-7000 words, but smaller The point of contact for access to the Journal of the Australian Naval Institute articles will be considered, as will collection, or to make arrangements for Headmark is published quarterly. The Editorial Board seeks the occasional larger piece of work. book/journal donations is the SPC-A letters and articles on naval or maritime issues. Articles Submissions should be sent to the Editor Information Manager on (02) 6127 6512, concerning operations or administration/policy are of in the first instance. email: [email protected] particular interest but papers on any relevant topic will be Email: [email protected] and mark Journal of the Australian Naval Institute Issue 145 83 The Australian Naval Institute ABN: 45 988 480 239 PO Box 29 Red Hill ACT 2603, AUSTRALIA PHONE: +61 2 6295 0056 FAX: +61 2 6295 3367 EMAIL: [email protected]
Membership Subscription Rates (Australian Dollars) Australia/New Zealand* Asia Pacific Region† Rest of World† Please circle the amount you individual or individual or individual or wish to pay institutional individual institutional individual institutional individual member concession member concession member concession For 1 year $60.00 $40.00 $75.00 $55.00 $82.00 $62.00 For 2 years $115.00 $77.50 $145.00 $107.50 $159.00 $121.50 For 3 years $167.50 $112.50 $212.50 $157.50 $233.50 $178.50 Prices are shown in Australian Dollars. *No GST is payable in relation to ANI membership. †Includes air mail postage. Concession available to students, persons of the rank of Lieutenant or below, and those who are fully retired.
Membership Application
EITHER: Join & pay through the “Join the ANI” page of the ANI website at www.navalinstitute.com.au using your PayPal account or credit card OR: Complete the details below & return this form to the address shown above
Rank/Title: Initials:
Surname & Postnominals:
Address:
Post Code:
Email:
WeBsite Username Preferences: Please use only characters (a-z) or numbers (0-9)
1. 2. 3.
Payment Details Please select one.
A. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) using your surname as the reference: Account Name: Australian Naval Institute BSB: 062 919 a/c No.: 0091 4309
B. Credit card by completing these details: Mastercard Visa
Card No.
Name of cardholder (PLEASE PRINT):
Signature: Expiry date:
C. Cheque payable to AUSTRALIAN NAVAL INSTITUTE. Australian Dollars only please. Foreign currency cheques cannot be accepted.
I agree to abide by the Constitution and by-laws of the Australian Naval Institute.
Signature: Date:
Journal of the Australian Naval Institute T he Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate, HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) steams alongside the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) while in formation with the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73)