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INTERNATIONAL

CDF General David Hurley salutes the Navy

Souvenir

HMS Daring () and INS Sahyadri () approach Harbour.

WARSHIPS IN THE HARBOUR

The ’s International Fleet rom kids to adults all around the Sydney two Seahawks carrying the Australian were incorporated into an audio-visual Review in Sydney from 3 to 11 October this year, Harbour foreshore, from a group of about National Flag and the Navy’s White spectacular that paid homage to a century 100 cadets at Fort Denison, right up to soared over the harbour, followed of Royal Australian Navy service. was a spectacle of the highest order. The review Governor-General Quentin Bryce aboard by RAAF Roulettes, Hornets, Wedgetail RAN helicopters started the show, flying HMAS Leeuwin, the centerpiece event of and Orion. down the length of the harbour with lights HMAS Sydney was held to commemorate the centenary of the the nine-day IFR saw the Royal Australian Other aircraft included Seahawks on the tips of rotor blades and flares fired Royal Australian Navy’s First Fleet entry into Sydney Navy’s Ceremonial Fleet Review deliver a from 816 Squadron, MRH-90s from 808 from counter missile systems. in 1913. Led by the then recently commissioned lot of colour, noise and excitement. Squadron, Squirrels from 723 Squadron, Then the iconic On 5 October, crowds gathered at every Bell 429, the heritage Iroquois, Army’s and even Harbour Bridge pilons became flagship, HMAS Australia, the new Australian fleet vantage point around Sydney as tall ships, 173 Aviation Squadron Kiowas and projection screens for a 30-minute recreational craft, cruise ships and charters international aircraft from France, the UK, tableau of Navy’s past, present and future, also comprised HMA Ships Melbourne, Sydney, big and small cleared a path to make way Canada, New Zealand and the US. while pyrotechnics were launched from Encounter, Warrego, Parramatta and Yarra. Their for Leeuwin as Ms Bryce accompanied Then HMA Ships Sydney, Darwin, Perth, ships up and down the length of the iconic by HRH Prince Harry, Chief of Navy Vice Parramatta, Bundaberg, Diamantina, and waterway. magnificent entry into Sydney Harbour for the first Ray Griggs, Chief of Defence Force Huon, followed by 30 foreign vessels Sailors and officers in ceremonial time, greeted by thousands of cheering citizens General David Hurley and Prime Minister cruised past Leeuwin for the official review. uniform lined the upper decks of ships, Tony Abbott prepared to review the fleet. Later that evening, with a crowd adding another splash of colour, as the sky lining the foreshore, was a moment of great national After receiving a royal salute and cheers estimated at well over a million watching lit up, coordinated by music. pride and importance, one recognised as a key from ships moored at Garden Island, from all the usual spots, and many more Other service men and women even Leeuwin took pride of place in front of the watching on TV, the sky was lit up by a became part of the spectacular show, indicator of Australia’s progress towards national Sydney Harbour Bridge as a 100-gun salute spectacular pyrotechnics and light show firing blank ammunition from .50 calibre maturity. And, in 2013, the centenary International ignited proceedings. almost the equal of any before in Sydney. machine guns during an impressively HMAS Sydney Navy’s helicopter display team took to Sydney Harbour was transformed as city choreographed acknowledgement to Fleet Review was almost as magnificant. the skies and a ceremonial flypast led by landmarks as well as ships in the harbour the senior service.

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American cruiser USS Chosin, supported by Leading Seaman Alicia Heron A sailor onboard HMAS Australian’s HMAS Parramatta. Labuan prepares to Fifty-thousand ship-boarding tickets sold ‘Cheer Ship’ out very early and an estimated 5000 people poured through the ships at Barangaroo on the first glorious Sydney afternoon. Guests were given an insight into ship- borne fire-fighting and damage repair, what happens on the bridge of a warship – and a lucky few even got to view life from the Captain’s chair. Alexandra from Sydney lined up to take a look at the ships, describing the access as “amazing”. “Coming on board a working warship and letting the Australian public see how it all happens, makes this a real experience for Australians,” she said. The O’Connor family, who travelled from Canberra for the International Fleet Review, suggested that the wait to get onboard had been well worth it. “It’s been a tremendous credit to the Navy and the organisers for putting this on. It’s a Commemoration was also a significant “And, talk about timing – next week I post really fantastic event,” they said. part of the evening, with names and faces to HMAS Ballarat, so I could have missed out “Well done.” of Royal Australian Navy personnel who if this was just a week later.” Garden Island also opened its gates to a lost their lives in the service of their nation Seaman Bootham said he had been in the IT’S JUST BEEN flood of onlookers, seeking to get a first-hand projected on to the sails of the Opera House Navy for about 18 months and had spent the SENSATIONAL. experience of the ships helping celebrate in honour of their sacrifice. past three months on Tobruk and couldn’t 100 years since the first Royal Australian Navy Peter Hunter was on think of a better way to say farewell to her. I CAN’T THINK fleet entered Sydney Harbour in 1913. HMAS Parramatta and described the day “I am posting to HMAS Melbourne,” he said. OF ANY OTHER Singaporean ship RSS Endeavour, as the highlight of his naval career so far. “I really can’t beat being here though, the New Zealand’s ANZAC-class “It was fantastic – an absolute honour atmosphere is great.” WORDS TO HMNZS Te Mana, Spanish replenishment to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime event,” Both sailors said they were looking forward DESCRIBE IT vessel ESPS Cantabria, Japanese warship he said. to the open days and hoped the public JDS Makanami and Nigerian patrol boat NNS On HMAS Tobruk, two sailors who enjoyed the IFR as much as they had. – AWESOME, Thunder were all open to the public. Australian ships Tobruk, Success, Darwin, were scheduled to finish their postings at “Everyone’s smiling so I guess they are all FANTASTIC, Stuart and Sydney were also hosts to five the conclusion of the International Fleet enjoying it. hours worth of enthusiastic sightseers, many Review, Able Seaman Cameron Eccleston “Talking to people about your job is always GOOD, MAYBE of them potentially a future sailor or officer. Chief Petty Officer Denis McKenna and Seaman Scott Boothman, also enjoyed good,” Able Seaman Eccleston said. the festivities. Another Tobruk crewmember, Able “It’s just been sensational. I can’t think of Seaman Melissa Willes, was one of many any other words to describe it – awesome, sailors greeting the public on the open days. fantastic, good maybe,” Able Seaman She said while the IFR had been the most HMA Ship’s Parramatta, Eccleston said with a huge smile. exciting thing she had ever been involved in, Perth and Darwin Able Seaman Eccleston joined the Navy it had also been a full-on work experience. two years ago and said the IFR had been one “There’s a lot of work that goes on behind of the highlights of his career, and felt lucky the scenes and leading up to something like to have been a part of it. this,” she said. “Look around you, this is where it’s all “Everyone has been working really hard happening and we got to stand right here and working long hours and it’s great that it and see the fireworks and light show, which has all come together in the end.” were just fantastic. Not many people are that Able Seaman Willes said manning the lucky,” he said. shade deck during the fireworks and light display was one of the best jobs she had during IFR. “I got to see the whole show and I don’t know where you would have got a better view than we had,” she said. Despite the royal and vice-regal attendances, the Naval pomp and pagentry and the spectacular pyrotechnics displays, the highlight for many visitors was getting up close and personal with the technology of modern navies as up to 20 ships lowered their gangplanks to welcome hoards of public visitors aboard for a rare insight into life at sea. Barangaroo wharf was host to a heavy- Warrant Officer Ian Waller hitting international delegation represented by the British destroyer HMS Daring and the

44 www.militarycontact.com www.facebook.com/CONTACTmagazine 45 INTERNATIONAL FLEET REVIEW THE WARM Midshipman Aaron McCarthy was in the “The warm welcome and hospitality thick of the crowd, helping visitors transit shown by the people of Australia made us WELCOME AND Garden Island, handing out Australian White feel very special.” HOSPITALITY and clip-on koalas to the masses. Another foreign visitor – the one which “We’ve had plenty of international guests, travelled the furthest to get here – was SHOWN BY THE locals and people who have friends or family among the smartest in the flotilla. PEOPLE OF in the services,” he said HMS Daring left in May for “It’s been a great day!” her long voyage to Australia. AUSTRALIA MADE But it wasn’t the visiting public who had Lieutenant Alex Tuckwood, a Royal Navy US FEEL VERY all the fun. Lynx helicopter observer, said preparations Crew aboard India’s newest ship were also for the International Fleet Review had been SPECIAL excited to be here. ship-wide. INS Sahyadri is a 6361-tonne multipurpose “Every sailor on board has been a valuable Leading Seaman Marsh said HMS command and control platform whose part of the team working together to ready Daring was in ‘ship shape condition’ after name comes from the mountain range that Daring for her entry into Sydney Harbour,” undergoing a maintenance period in 21-gun salute protects the west coast of India from sea Lieutenant Tuckwood said. Melbourne before her appearance at IFR, “to MAGNIFICENT SIGHT IN JERVIS BAY invasions and was commissioned little more “The ship’s company is extremely excited ensure the reputation of the Royal Navy was than a year ago. to be part of IFR, a truly once-in-a-lifetime kept high”. Twenty Royal Australian Navy and international warships made for a “Visiting Sydney is one of my dreams come experience. The biennial marine conference, Pacific magnificent sight in Jervis Bay at the start of October as they gathered true,” Petty Officer Uttam Kushwaha, a gun “It’s rare for the Royal Navy to travel to 2013, was brought forward from its usual in preparation for their trip to Sydney for the Royal Australian Navy’s maintainer on Sahyadri said. this part of the world so we’ve taken every January timeslot to coincide with IFR International Fleet Review. “It is one of the most beautiful cities I have opportunity available to strengthen our ties and more than 500 sailors flocked to the Her Majesty’s Australian Ships were joined at anchor by vessels from Brunei, ever visited. with Australia and the ADF.” exhibition centre in Darling Harbour to check China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nigeria, “I really enjoyed the way we were Lieutenant Tuckwood said working with out some of the new technologies that the Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the UK and the USA in the gorgeous Shoalhaven region awaiting departure. welcomed here.” the RAN, and the Fleet Air Arm in particular, Navy and our coalition partners may absorb Director of the IFR Captain Nick Bramwell said the ships anchored on Petty Officer Kushwaha said he and his had been great. into their fleets in coming years. 1 October after a busy period of consolidation between their first arrivals to men were responsible for illuminating his “We disembarked the Lynx to HMAS Like kids in a candy store, sailors surveyed Australia throughout September and passage to Jervis Bay. ship just before it arrived in Sydney. Albatross, where 816 Squadron were great models of new equipment and listened to “You could really feel the excitement and anticipation of the crews in “Before coming to IFR we made sure that hosts, and took the time to show us some product briefings by company executives. Jervis Bay,” Captain Bramwell said. we did not miss anything required to make flying in the Tianjara Flying Area – definitely The coincidental Sea Power Conference Some of the warships had earlier participated in the ASEAN Defence the review a memorable one,” he said. not your average day in the Royal Navy.” was also well attended, with more than Ministers Meeting – Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise (ADMM-Plus Lieutenant Pramendra Yadav, a surface-to- Weapons engineer Petty Officer Roy 40 foreign military delegations present. MS FTX) while others operated at sea in the East Australian Exercise Area as air missile control officer, said it was a good Fenwick said the crew had loved all the stops Appropriately, Chief of Navy Vice Admiral part of Exercise Triton Centenary – Part 1. experience working with the RAN. along the way to Australia. Ray Griggs said the theme of the conference The latter focused on collecting and concentrating participants for the IFR, “The interoperability between both the “It was very different from last year when was Naval Diplomacy and Maritime Power while the former was a flagship activity under Malaysia and Australia’s co- Navies was good,” he said. we were in the Gulf,” he said. Projection: The Utility of Navies in the chairmanship of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security. “In fact, the work culture seemed to be “It’s like Trafalgar 200 all over again.” Maritime Century. “After their time together in Jervis Bay and surrounds the fleet were HMAS Sydney and RAAF flyover quite similar. Leading Seaman Katharine Marsh said IFR “The 21st Century has been described as integrated, well rehearsed and looking forward to the main event,” Captain “Various exercises conducted at Jervis was worth the already long period away from a maritime century as much as it is an Asian Bramwell said. Bay and enroute from Jervis Bay to Sydney home and loved ones. Century, due to the pervasive nature of global After the IFR, a number of warships regrouped to conduct maritime training proved it.” “We’ve been working towards it for a long sea trade and the predominantly maritime activities under the auspices of Exercise Triton Centenary 2013 – Part 2. Lieutenant Yadav said it was a great time and Sydney is a place the majority of environment of the Indo-Pacific region,” Vice The exercise included weapons practices, seamanship evolutions, flying experience to see and be involved in such people would love to say they’ve been to,” Admiral Griggs said. operations, replenishments at sea, combined anti-, damage-control, a big event. she said. “This conference will examine the and communications exercises as well as personnel-exchange programs. “All officers, as well as the men, are very HMS Daring is the first of the Royal Navy’s contemporary utility of navies as tools excited and enthusiastic about being a six Type 45 destroyers, displacing 8000 of statecraft, from hard and soft power part of this. tonnes and with a complement of 190. perspectives. “Australia’s acquisition of new Canberra- Back on the water, Sydney Harbour ferry class LHDs and Hobart-class AWDs will passengers were surprised and entertained also allow the ADF to develop its maritime by the smooth sounds of saxophone and strategy to meet future security challenges. other instruments as they stepped aboard “Although Australia faces no immediate select ferries during IFR. All six detachments of the RAN Band together conventional threat, it is imperative that All six of the Navy’s band detachments for the first time. the ADF develops its maritime capacity descended on Sydney to support IFR to respond effectively to a broad range of functions around the city. possible tasks from the government.” They played at various locations and He said the conference theme capitalised events including supporting the fireworks on the presence of many foreign navies in display at Bradfield Park and entertaining Sydney for the International Fleet Review. the Governor General at Garden Island.

HM Bark Endeavour leads the tall-ships fleet into Sydney Harbour.

46 INTERNATIONAL FLEET REVIEW

On the ferries, different small groups featured each day, including various woodwind and brass combinations from the Sydney, Queensland and South Australian Both electronic detachments of the band as well as the visiting Band. South Australian detachment Band Master Chief Petty Officer Kara Williams said she had a great time. “Playing on the ferry was my favourite gig,” Chief Petty Officer Williams said. both free “The looks on passengers faces when – – they realised there was live music on the ferry was priceless. “They didn’t quite know what was going on and then after we introduced ourselves and started playing they really got into it. “We couldn’t have hoped for a better day. HMAS Ships Sydney and Darwin “The weather was beautiful and it was so smooth that the trip went so quickly our set was over before we knew it. Able Seaman Kevin Grimes formed the “We would have gone backwards and number one gun crew for the fleet entry. forwards to Manly all day if we could have.” Leading Seaman Smith said he was Making even more noise than the honoured to be given the opportunity to musicians were a group of volunteers participate in the 21-gun salute for the sporting guns that are more than visiting warships. 100 years old. “This isn’t something I’ll ever get to do When the fleet of modern warships, again,” he said. boasting the very latest in missiles, guns “We had to do a course on the guns and it and equipment, entered Sydney Harbour was a pretty cool course to get on. on 3 October, they were saluted by a “One of the guns had the date 1904 on it.” battery of three three-pounder Hotchkiss Able Seaman Haydon said he felt proud to guns that are regularly used by the Navy be chosen to fire the saluting guns. for ceremonial duties. “It’s a really special time for the Navy and Leading Seaman Edward Smith, to be involved in this is something I’ll always Able Seaman Troy Haydon and remember,” he said.

Leading Seaman Marcus Salone

THE SKY WAS LIT UP BY A Register at SPECTACULAR PYROTECHNICS AND LIGHT SHOW ALMOST www.aussiecontact.com THE EQUAL OF ANY BEFORE IN SYDNEY. HMAS Sydney lights up the harbour

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