HMAS Diamantina (M 86), named after the Diamantina River, is a Huon-class minehunter currently serving in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Possibly in background, KD Jebat is a Lekiu-class guided missile frigate currently serving in the Royal Malaysian Navy and one of the major naval assets for Malaysia. Jebat serves in the 23rd Frigate Squadron of the Royal Malaysian Navy.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Diamantina_(M_86)
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813. There is something acutely sad and rather intriguing about this photo. There must be a story behind it When we first saw it, posted by on the World Naval Ships Forums website the only information available was that it was the WWI battlecruiser HMS NEW ZEALAND; taken somewhere in Australia ; and the poster – WNSF moderator AlanBenn – noted that the warship’s flags were at half mast. Based on the vaguely familiar navigation beacon on the left, and the flat coastline on the right, we offered the opinion that the photo was taken in Port Phillip Bay , Victoria, off Geelong, in mid-1919 – one of the only two occasions when HMS NEW ZEALAND visited Australia. A ship funded by public subscription in New Zealand as a contribution to Empire defence, she had first steamed into southern waters in April-June 1913 to show the admiring Kiwis the ship they had paid for; and after war service that included a baptism of fire at Jutland, came back again in July-August 1919, bringing Lord Jellicoe on his world tour of the Dominions to report on the future development of their Navies. With the ship’s flags at half-mast, our attention was most drawn here to the sombre tableau of men in the middle of the photograph, both at the head of the warship’s steps, and those standing or seated expectantly in the boats down below. In particular the man in overalls at the head of the steps seems to be holding some kind of small casket, like the coffin of a child. And the body language of everyone in the picture suggests we are dealing here with something of that kind. It’s hard to tell how a Royal Navy flagship carrying the first Sea Lord would be concerned in such a civilian matter, if that’s what it was, but a couple of possibilities do suggest themselves. 1919, of course, was the year of the catastrophic Spanish Influenza pandemic, which claimed somewhere between 40 and 80 million lives worldwide. Lord and Lady Jellicoe had in fact left HMS NEW ZEALAND behind for two months in Australia, while they toured northern Australian ports inside the Great Barrier Reef and the Solomon Islands [ the suggested site for a naval base] on a smaller ship, the specially re-commissioned former RN armed merchant cruiser, HMAS, ex-HMS SUVA. So, its quite possible the battlecruiser was involved in some act of mercy and assistance down South during this period – and one which has clearly had a sad ending. Its all purely conjecture, but we think what we have here is the death of a child, possibly connected with the influenza pandemic. One wonders whether the deceased has come from the ship moored alongside, or maybe the pylon light on the left, from where a third rowboat is just pulling over. A couple of things have since supported at least the location. The photograph turns out to have been taken by Allan C. Green [1878-1954], the great ships photographer and marine artist who worked almost exclusively around Melbourne and Victorian waters for more than half a century; and the beacon on the left is almost certainly Port Phillip Bay’s historic South Channel Pile Light, built in 1875, and in operation off Geelong until 1985. The timber pile structure was dismantled, taken to Melbourne and restored in 1998, and subsequently relocated on the other side of the Port Phillip Bay entrance, off Rye. Traditionally it was occupied by a lightkeeper and his family of up to four people, folks who – in 1919 – would have led very spartan lives. And that’s it. The record for the photograph in the Green Collection at the State Library of Victoria has neither date nor any details of the circumstances seen here. We can only think of one way of possibly finding out, and confirming the details – but it’s an almost hopelessly long shot. In 1972, the diary of one Frank Kelso, a former leading signalman on HMS NEW ZEALAND, was published by NZ Books of Palmerston North , NZ, under the title ‘The Last Voyage of HMS New Zealand.’ It covers the period of Feb 1919 to February 1920, a may quite possibly clarify what has happened here. But the book is rare. There was however a copy being offered for auction on an NZ trading website recently – so, who knows? Maybe NZ’s Navy Museum or some library in the Shakey Isles could clear the story up. Our guess is that the photograph is taken in July-August, 1919, when HMS NEW ZEALAND was here. Meantime, we have a most moody photograph, with the definite air of some long-forgotten tragedy about it. And, come to think of it, maybe that is enough. Phoito: Allan C. Green [1878-1954], State Library of Victoria [La Trobe Library].
She was transferred to the fledgling Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1912. During World War I, the cruiser captured two German merchant ships, and was involved in the East African Campaign, including the blockade of the cruiser SMS Königsberg and a bombardment of Dar-es-Salaam. She returned to Australia in late 1916 and was decommissioned. Pioneer was used as an accommodation ship for the following six years, then was stripped down and sold off by 1926. The cruiser was scuttled outside Sydney Heads in 1931
814. Oh my oh my, it’s Melbourne Cup horse race time again, and yet again the hard-worked ships of the Royal Australian Navy find themselves faced with urgent chores to be done in Melbourne. In Australia, the two-mile thoroughbred classic, The Melbourne Cup, is run on the first Tuesday in November and is known as ‘the horse race that stops a nation.’ Stops a Navy, that’s for sure. About 2.40pm on Melbourne Cup Day would be the time to attack Australia. The entire nation could be done over by the time the winning horse is back in the saddling enclosure. Everyone listens in, and traditionally the main units of the RAN have always berthed at Port Melbourne during Cup Week. 1937 was no exception. Seen here at Station Pier are [from rear] the heavy cruisers HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] and CANBERRA [I], destroyers HMAS WATERHEN and VENDETTA [I], Grimsby Class sloop HMAS SWAN [II] in the foreground, with the funnel of the flotilla leader HMAS STUART visible opposite her.
Coincidentally, I was on HMNZS Otago 1962 and happened to visit Melbourne for the Melbourne cup. A few of us did go to Flemington but did not have a win. Still remember the name of the winner that year – Lord Fury
As the world waits to see whether the Israel-Hamas war will balloon into a larger regional conflict, two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups conducted exercises together in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea this week.
Sailors from the Gerald R. Ford and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as two Italian frigates — Virginio Fasan and Carlo Margottini — and the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship Mount Whitney, engaged in “high-value unit defense, ballistic missile defense, replenishments-at-sea, cross-deck flight operations and maritime security operations,” the Navy said Friday.
More than 11,000 U.S. personnel participated in the three-day exercise.
Watch: HMS Queen Elizabeth departs Portsmouth for North Sea.
HMS Queen Elizabeth has left Portsmouth Naval Base the same way she arrived – with her F-35 fighter jets lined up on the flight deck.
The Royal Navy’s flagship had returned to her home port last Sunday, having spent time deployed in northern European waters with her Nato and Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) allies.
Unusually, the £3bn vessel returned with her embarked F-35Bs on her flight deck – and the state-of-the-art jets remained there as she set sail from Portsmouth on Friday afternoon.
Friends, families and members of the public gathered on the city’s walls to wave off the ship and her crew.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, HMS Queen Elizabeth’s official account said the ship was returning to the North Sea.
“Farewell, Portsmouth! After a brief logistics stop we’re back to sea to resume our NATO tasking with our allies and partners in the North Sea. We’ve achieved a lot so far, but there’s much more to come!” the post said.
A Royal Navy spokesperson earlier said the ship had returned to Portsmouth for a logistics stop and a short period of maintenance.
The carrier and its aircraft recently took part in a range of exercises and training off the Norwegian coast.
The Royal Navy said the activity came as the UK Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth, ramped up its work alongside its JEF allies.
HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed in Norway’s fjords and also visited the Swedish city of Gothenburg where events were hosted on board to “forge deeper bonds between the nations’ armed forces”.
JEF is a high-readiness task group committed to regional security that can respond to crises either alongside or independent of Nato.
HMS Dauntless launched her Wildcat helicopter and a Royal Marines sniper team to close in on the suspect craft (Picture: Royal Navy)
A Royal Marines sniper team has brought a Caribbean drug-runners’ power boat to a “juddering halt” after shooting out its engines.
US Coast Guard personnel, working alongside the sailors and marines on board Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless, were then able to seize £60m worth of cocaine, which the smugglers had been attempting to throw overboard.
The Portsmouth-based destroyer has now taken her tally to more than £200m worth of illegal narcotics intercepted after hunting down the 35ft vessel.
The Royal Navy said: “During a routine counter-narcotics patrol of the Caribbean Sea, Dauntless launched her Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team to close in on the suspect craft.
“When smugglers began to jettison their illegal cargo, their engines were taken out with precision by the commando snipers, bringing the boat to a juddering halt.
“That allowed a US Coast Guard team to be dispatched from Dauntless and 11 large bales of cocaine weighing 330kg to be seized.”
HMS Dauntless took her tally to more than £200m worth of illegal narcotics intercepted after hunting down the 35ft power boat (Picture: Royal Navy).
‘Proved their resilience’
HMS Dauntless’ Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Dorrington, said: “With another bust under the ship’s belt I cannot ask for more from my team.
“Their work ethos and attention to detail remains second to none, which shines through on such interdiction operations such as the last few months.
“The ship’s company have once again proved their resilience whilst in theatre, being able to adapt extremely efficiently to the ever-changing environment we work in.”
Earlier in the same patrol, but in a separate operation, suspected smugglers scuttled their speedboat as Dauntless closed in.
After being guided into position by US maritime patrol aircraft, Dauntless deployed her US Coast Guard detachment to board and search the craft – only for it to turn into a rescue operation when the small speedboat was sabotaged by its crew.
With their alleged smuggling mission foiled, cargo lost and boat sunk, two people were saved and brought aboard HMS Dauntless where they received medical treatment, food and water before being transferred to a US Navy ship the following day.
Dauntless deployed to the Caribbean in May, and have joined the international fight against drugs smuggling (Picture: Royal Navy).
One of Dauntless’ officers said: “It is imperative that the safety of all personnel involved is paramount, including that of the people suspected of transporting illicit contraband.
“To that end, it was vital that with their fast-sinking vessel, we suspended the boarding operation in order to rescue the two souls on the small craft to ensure their safety and lives were not put at risk.”
Dauntless deployed to the Caribbean in May to work with British Overseas Territories during the region’s hurricane season, but also to join the international fight against drug smuggling.
In this role, Dauntless works closely with US authorities – embarking a US Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team which has the authority to board and search suspect vessels.
HMS Dauntless has a Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team from 42 Commando who provide reconnaissance, surveillance, and aerial support (Picture: Royal Navy).
Along with the ship’s powerful array of sensors and radars, Dauntless has a Wildcat helicopter and Royal Marines sniper team from 42 Commando who provide reconnaissance, surveillance and aerial support during complex and often dangerous boarding operations.
Adding to their tally and proving their ability to operate seamlessly with US authorities, the ship later tracked a suspicious aircraft flying from Venezuela, alerting ground forces who seized a further 550kg of cocaine.
The annual exercise drew together maritime, air and land forces from Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) countries; Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Following a weeklong harbour phase, the 10-day sea phase in the seas off Malaysia and Singapore had Brisbane and partner nations engaging in combined training across several maritime warfare disciplines.
Crews practised maritime interdiction skills, which are vital for intercepting military or civilian shipping to enforce embargoes, protect seagoing trade, counter piracy or – during conflict – disrupt supply lines and blockade ports.
Boarding parties deployed via the ship’s rigid hull inflatable boats, supported by Brisbane’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, provided overwatch while they boarded simulated merchant ships, played by Royal New Zealand Navy logistics ship HMNZS Aotearoa and Royal Malaysian Navy Keris-class littoral mission ship KD Keris.
Bridge teams practised ship handling and communications skills by conducting close, coordinated manoeuvring with partner nations’ ships – called officer-of-the-watch manoeuvres – and during replenishments at sea as Brisbane refuelled from Aotearoa.
Interoperability – the ability of partner militaries to operate together – was enhanced by many activities, including operating the Super Seasprite helicopter from New Zealand’s Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana from Brisbane’s flight deck.
Brisbane also strengthened international relations by hosting visits from Singaporean, Malaysian and New Zealand Navy personnel.
CAPTION: HMAS Brisbane and HMNZS Te Mana prepares to conduct a replenishment at sea with HMNZS Aotearoa. Photo by Leading Seaman Belinda Cole.
Commanding Officer Brisbane Commander Grant Coleman praised his ship’s company for their efforts during Bersama Lima.
“Opportunities to engage and exercise with our FPDA partners on this scale are valuable, and it was fantastic to see the smooth integration of personnel from all five nations working seamlessly together,” Commander Coleman said.
“Brisbane’s crew performed exceptionally, rising to the challenge of training in a complex and congested air and maritime environment while supporting our partners, demonstrating again the resilience of the FPDA partner nations.”
Bersama Lima focused on combined joint operations in a multi-threat environment across land, air and maritime domains, with training designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen professional relationships.
About 800 ADF personnel deployed to Malaysia for the exercise, with assets including F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft, the destroyer Brisbane and its embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
The FPDA, established in 1971, is the only multilateral security arrangement of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Brisbane participated in the exercise as part of a regional presence deployment throughout south-east and north-east Asia. Along with HMA Ships Stalwart and Toowoomba, Brisbane has been conducting training, exercises, port visits and other engagements with regional partners.
This photo shows the HMNZS Aotearoa in the port of Manila.
New Zealand Embassy to the Philippines / Released
MANILA, Philippines — New Zealand navy ship made a “goodwill visit” to the Philippines after visiting Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.
According to the New Zealand Embassy, the three-day goodwill visit presents New Zealand’s “dedication to maritime security, regional stability, and fostering diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific.”
“The visit demonstrates our increasing engagement in Southeast Asia and of course, the Philippines is an important part or country in the region. New Zealand would like to engage with like-minded countries, countries which share our values and we support each other in maintaining rules-based order,” Commander Robert Welford, Commanding Officer of HMNZS Aotearoa, said.
HMNZS Aotearoa participated in Operation Crucible, the New Zealand Defence Force’s largest naval deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
“The HMNZS Aotearoa’s visit to the Philippines underscores New Zealand’s dedication to maritime security, regional stability, and fostering diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific. Ito ay nagsisilbing patunay sa matibay na samahan ng New Zealand at Pilipinas,” New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell said. (It serves as a testament to the strong and enduring partnership between New Zealand and the Philippines.)
The HMNZS Aotearoa is an auxiliary ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) which was manufactured by Hyundai Heavy Industries, the same manufacturer of the Philippine Navy’s flagship BRP Jose Rizal and some off-shore patrol vessels.
The said vessel is the biggest and newest ship of the RNZN. It has been in Manila’s dock from October 30 to November 1.
