GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence

 
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GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
SERVING AUSTRALIA WITH PRIDE

                                       NAVY NEWS          Volume 60, No. 10, June 15, 2017

                            Prince Harry
                              launches
                            2018 Sydney
                           Invictus Games
                              – Page 3

                                       GAME ON
                                        DOWN
  His Royal Highness Prince Harry
  shares a laugh with Invictus Games
  swimming coach LEUT Amy Beal
  at the official launch of the 2018
  Invictus Games at Admiralty House,
  Sydney, on June 7.
  Photo: Jayson Tufrey
                                        UNDER
Tributes for Kuttabul – P2, Centre Medicos exchange methods – P4-5
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
2               NEWS                                                                                                                               www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS              June 15, 2017

                                                      Commemorating the
                                                      loss of Kuttabul

NAVY NEWS
Director
David Edlington (02) 6265 4650
Editor
Richard Mihaich: (02) 6265 7219
Deputy Editor
Shane Hendrickson: (02) 6265 7117

Reporters
WO2 Andrew Hetherington: (02) 6266 7614
SGT Dave Morley: (02) 6266 7613
CPL Mark Doran: (02) 6265 1304
CPL Max Bree: (02) 6266 7608
CPL Sebastian Beurich: (02) 6265 4140
CPL Bill Solomou: (02) 6265 1355                      Commander Surface Force CDRE Chris Smith lays a wreath at the HMAS Kuttabul 75th memorial service at Garden Island.
                                                                                                                                                                  Photos: ABIS Chantell Brown

CONTACT US
                                                      Natalie Staples                     dinary impact on national and          the ultimate sacrifice in service to
Email: navynews@defencenews.gov.au                                                        strategic thinking of the day, pre-    their respective nations,” he said.
Fax: (02) 6265 66250                                  The “Battle for Sydney” was         cisely as it was intended to do,”          As representatives from
Mail: The Editor, R8-LG-038,                         commemorated with a memo-           CAPT Skinner said.                     Australia, Japan, the UK and the
       PO Box 725025, Department of Defence,          rial service at Garden Island,          “More than 30 warships were        US laid wreaths, SWO Kuttabul
       ACT 2600                                       Sydney, on June 6 – 75 years        in the harbour that night, includ-     WO Matthew Hurley reflected on
Website: www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews                                                ing Dutch and American ships;          what it meant to him to wear the
                                                      after Japanese forces again
                                                      brought WWII to the Australian      with a number recently returned        ship’s name on his uniform.
                                                                                          from the Battle of the Coral Sea.”         “I reflect not only on those lost
                                                      mainland.                                                                  in the sinking of Kuttabul, but all
ADVERTISING and SUBSCRIPTIONS                                                                  CAPT Skinner said nobody
                                                          During the evening of May       expected a Japanese attack on          Defence personnel who have been
Marketing Manager                                     31, 1942, 19 Australian, two                                               lost in the 75 years since,” he said.
                                                                                          Australia’s largest city.
Tim Asher: (07) 3332 7651 or 0459 842 551             British and six Japanese person-                                               “I am proud to be part of this
                                                                                              When the Japanese submarine
Assistant Marketing Manager                           nel perished when three Imperial                                           Kuttabul ship’s company, as she,
                                                                                          M24 took aim at the heavy cruiser
Pam Clarke: (02) 6265 2427                            Japanese Navy midget subma-         USS Chicago, the torpedo missed,       too, has a distinguished service
Email: advertising@defencenews.gov.au                 rines, each with a crew of two      detonating against a breakwater        record.
subscriptions1@defencenews.gov.au                     sailors, launched an attack against and destroying accommodation               “Kuttabul still provides
                                                      Allied warships moored in Sydney ferry HMAS Kuttabul.                      accommodation for sailors as the
                                                      Harbour.                                In remembering the lives           ship was doing on that dreadful
DISCLAIMER                                                Committee member of the         lost, CO Kuttabul – Sydney’s           night in 1942, and continues to
                                                      Submarine Institute of Australia,   namesake base – CMDR Andrew            be an important part of Sydney
Navy News is published fortnightly by the             CAPT Christopher Skinner            Fraser, said the significance of the   Harbour.”
Directorate of Defence News. It is printed            (retd), said the attack led to an
under contract by Horton Media Australia
                                                                                          sacrifice made by personnel had
                                                      immediate change in thinking by     not faded.
Ltd. The material published is selected for its
interest. The views expressed in published            Australia’s leaders.                    “While many years have                   A watery grave                    Japanese Consul General Keizo
articles are not necessarily those of Defence             “This daring and spectacular    passed, we continue to honour and                                              Takewaka pays his respects at the
                                                      submarine action had an extraor-    pay respect to those who made                   – Centrespread                 memorial service.
or Navy News. Every advertisement is sub-
ject to Directorate of Defence News approval
and the Directorate of Defence News may, at

                                                      Gearing up for Talisman Sabre
its discretion, refuse to accept an advertise-
ment. The Directorate accepts no responsibil-
ity or liability in relation to any loss due to the
failure of an advertisement to appear or if it
appears in a form not in accordance with the
instructions received by the Directorate of                                                                                      CPL Max Bree and                         would be conducted at locations in
Defence News. Defence does not endorse                                                                                                                                    the US, Australia and on three seas.
the products or services published in
                                                                                                                                 WO2 Andrew Hetherington
                                                                                                                                                                             “Personnel will operate in
advertisements.                                                                                                                                                           Hawaii, Korea, Japan, the Northern
                                                                                                                                 AUSTRALIAN and US forces are
                                                                                                                                 gearing up for mid- to high-intensity    Territory, Queensland and on the
                                                                                                                                 warfare against “near-peer” adver-       Timor, Coral and Arafura Seas,”
                                                                                                                                 saries on the month-long Exercise        CDRE Norris said.
            news.navy.gov.au                                                                                                                                                 “For the first time, the exercise
                                                                                                                                 Talisman Sabre (TS17), which
                                                                                                                                 begins at the end of June.               will also use a non-Defence train-
                                                                                                                                Forces will clash in conven-              ing area around Stanage Bay, to the
            www.twitter.com/deptdefence                                                                                     tional, irregular and cyber battles in        north of the SWBTA, for amphibi-
                                                                                                                            the Northern Territory and around             ous operations.”
                                                                                                                            the Shoalwater Bay Training Area                 TS17 is a US-led, Australian-
                                                                                                                            (SWBTA).                                      supported, combined and joint
             facebook.com/                                                                                                                                                warfighting exercise, which CDRE
                                                                                                                                More than 30,000 Australian and
             RoyalAustralianNavy                                                                                            US personnel will undertake opera-            Norris said would expose the 30,000
                                                                                                                            tions at sea, in the air and on land,         personnel to a wide range of military
                                                                                                                            with small contributions of person-           capabilities and training experiences.
             youtube.com/RANMedia
                                                      HMAS Ballarat gunner ABBM Nicholas Fairfoul stands ready as           nel participating from New Zealand,              HMA Ships Canberra, Choules,
                                                      Royal Thai Navy warship HTMS Sukhothai prepares to conduct a          Japan and Canada.                             Anzac, Toowoomba, Ballarat,
             twitter.com/Australian_                  “light line transfer” during Exercise AusThai late last month as part     Director-General ADF                      Darwin, Melbourne, Success,
             Navy                                     of Ballarat’s preparation for Exercise Talisman Sabre.                Simulation and Training CDRE                  Diamantina, Huon, Gascoyne and
                                                       Photo: LSIS Bradley Darvill Allison Norris said the exercise                                                      Melville will all take part.
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
June 15, 2017        www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS                                                                                                                                NEWS           3

VCDF VADM Ray Griggs and National President of the RSL Robert Dick with the Australian Invictus Games training squad at the launch of the 2018 Games in Sydney.  Photos: Jayson Tufrey

Let the games begin
Prince recalls inspiration

                                        ‘‘
CPL Mark Doran
THE start of the 500-day count-
down to the 2018 Invictus Games to
be held in Sydney was announced at
Admiralty House on June 7.                    The sacrifices we ask our
    The function was attended by
Patron of the Invictus Games                  servicemen and women to make
Foundation HRH Prince Harry,
Governor-General GEN Sir Peter                came home to me so powerfully
Cosgrove (retd), Prime Minister
Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for
Defence Marise Payne, NSW
                                              in those moments.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and                                   – HRH Prince Harry recalls the sight of
Chairman of Invictus Games
Sydney LTGEN Peter Leahy (retd).
                                                              three injured British soldiers being loaded
    They spoke about 50 mem-                                   on to a plane when he was waiting to fly
bers of the 2017 Invictus Games                                              out of Afghanistan in 2008
Australian training squad who were
joined at the launch by family and      those moments.” Four years later,          ately offered themselves to provide
friends, as well as squad coaches       after another tour in Afghanistan,         advice and support to the victims
and medical and support staff.          Prince Harry began to look for             during their recovery process,” he
    Later in the day the Invictus       ways to support veterans who had           said.
Games squad showcased some of           returned with injuries that in previ-          “The commitment to serve is
the adaptive sports on the 2018 pro-    ous years would have been unsur-           ingrained in every member of the
gram at the nearby overseas pas-        vivable.                                   armed forces and is an embodiment
senger terminal, and an ADF team            A visit to the US Warrior Games        of the Invictus spirit.
conducted a sailing demonstration       in 2013 was a demonstration of                 “The men and women of the
on Sydney Harbour.                      what needed to be done and how             armed forces and veteran commu-
    Prince Harry said he was            sport could make a difference.             nity do not need our sympathy – in
delighted to join the athletes and          Prince Harry said in 2018 the          fact it is the last thing they want
their families as they prepared for     games would be held in one of the          – but they do deserve the utmost
the final team selection to represent   most “sports mad” and iconic cities                                                 Prince Harry meets retired military working dog Victory at the launch.
                                                                                   respect and an opportunity to play a
Australia, and was thankful for the     in the world, Sydney, which would
opportunity to explain the impor-                                                  valued role in our communities.
                                        be the custodian of the Invictus               “The Invictus Games are com-
tance of the games.                     spirit.                                    ing to Australia – game on down
    “In February 2008, I was forced
to leave Afghanistan where I had
                                            “It will be the focus of hundreds
                                        of men and women using the games
                                                                                   under.”
                                                                                       The Invictus Games play a key
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been serving as an officer with the     to motivate their recovery from
British Army until my presence on                                                  role in the rehabilitation and re-
                                        physical and mental injuries,” he          integration of wounded, injured and
the frontline leaked to the press,”     said.
he said.                                                                           ill members of the ADF, both cur-
                                            “I know people from across the
    “I could no longer stay with my                                                rently serving and veterans.                                                  EFENCE FORCE TAX SPECIALISTS
                                        country, from Perth to Sydney, from
soldiers as it would have put them at                                                  The ADF and RSL are support-
                                        Darwin to Adelaide, will embrace                                                                                        We have extensive experience across all
greater risk.                           the games and show their support           ing a combined team of 43 serv-
                                                                                                                                                                anks and specialities, including:
    “It was a decision over which I     for the competitors.                       ing and former ADF members to
had no control, but the guilt of hav-                                              compete in the Invictus Games in                                               Investment properties
                                            “They will witness the very best
ing to leave my guys behind was         of human spirit, courage, inspira-         Toronto, Canada, this year.                                                    Members who have served overseas
hard to swallow – as anyone who         tion and defiance on the track, on             From September 23-30, the                                                  Late lodgement of tax returns
has served would understand.”           the court and in the pool as they          Australian contingent will join
    Prince Harry said it was the        give it all to cross the line first then   more than 550 athletes from 17
flight home from Afghanistan which      use what breath they have left to          nations (Afghanistan, Australia,              Maximum returns - We know all the specific deductions, so you get
put him on the path to create the       encourage others to achieve their          Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France,             a great tax return every year
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    “While we sat waiting to board,         “The Invictus Games shows us           Jordan, Netherlands, New Zealand,             so you don’t have to leave your base, ship or assignment
a coffin with a Danish soldier          it is possible to overcome adversity       Romania, Ukraine, the US and UK)
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was loaded onto the plane, along        and that the impossible is possible        competing in Toronto.
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with three young wounded British        if you have the will.”                         Athletes chosen to represent
soldiers,” he said.                         Prince Harry said the spirit           Australia at the Canada games have
    “All three were wrapped in plas-    championed by the games extended           sustained a variety of physical and
tic, some with missing limbs, and
tubes coming out of them every-
                                        far beyond the competition and was
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came home to me so powerfully in        Invictus team members, immedi-             October 18-29 next year.
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
4               Pacific Partnership                                                                                                                                      www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS             June 15, 2017

Lessons flowed both ways for our health personnel contributing to the humanitarian and disaster relief training series

Exchange
of medical
expertise
T
        HE success of the multinational                     tries we have visited, and have in turn
        Pacific Partnership humanitar-                      learned a lot about how others go about
        ian aid and disaster relief training                treating patients and coordinating health
        series continues to grow, with this                 and emergency response services.”
year’s mission, from May 8 - 29, reaching                       The ADF also sent two Underwater
as far west as Sri Lanka.                                   Medical Specialists to Vietnam to work
    The ADF contributed a broad spectrum                    with the Vietnam People’s Armed Forces,
of medical expertise to the US-led exer-                    which has recently acquired a modern
cise, which is the largest annual disaster                  fleet of six Kilo-class submarines.
relief preparedness mission conducted in                        Navy dive medicine specialist LEUT
the region.                                                 Tenille Chapman said the Vietnamese
    Led from the USNS Fall River, Pacific                   medical officers were interested in learn-
                                                            ing how Australia approaches submarine
Partnership visited Sri Lanka, Myanmar,
                                                            underwater medicine.
Malaysia and Vietnam, and included
                                                                “We conducted an information
defence personnel from Australia, the US,                   exchange seminar at the Nha Trang
the UK and Japan.                                           Military Hospital and the Vietnamese
    Commander of the Australian                             officers asked a lot of questions specifi-
Contingent for the Vietnam phase, LCDR                      cally related to operating in underwater
Alison Zilko, said the ADF’s medical                        environments,” LEUT Chapman said.
and nursing officers worked closely with                        “Australia and the US have gained a
multinational partners and with the local                   lot of expertise in submarine-related medi-
medical professionals in the nations they                   cine over the years, and it was great to
visited.                                                    share some of that with our friends in the
    “The Australian team forged some                        Vietnam People’s Armed Forces.
really important and lasting relationships                      “This was an important relationship-
during the exercise, which will assist                      building exercise, and the Vietnamese
them to work alongside our allies and                       officers were quick to convey how mean-                          A close-up of the
regional neighbours should we be tasked                     ingful the exchange was for them and how                             surgery being
to respond together to a natural disaster,                  keen they are to have us back next year.”                  performed by surgeons
or in a humanitarian aid situation,” LCDR                       Australia has been involved in every                   from Vietnam, the ADF
Zilko said.                                                 year of Exercise Pacific Partnership since                   and the United States
    “Our medical practitioners have also                    it began 12 years ago after the multina-                   Navy to restore mobility
been able to contribute their knowledge                     tional humanitarian assistance and disaster                   to a patient’s arm at
and expertise by working side-by-side                       relief response to the 2004 tsunami event                       Khan Hoa General
with local doctors and nurses in the coun-                  in Banda Aceh.                                              Hospital in Nha Trang.

                                                                              IN
                                                                                   V E DE
                                                                                      S T FE                       Unforgettable experience
      QUESTIONS
                                                                                         M NC
                                                                                          EN E
                                                                                            T     F
                                                                                              S P OR
                                                                                                 EC C E            WORKING at the Da Nang General

      ABOUT
                                                                                                    IA
                                                                                                       LI          Hospital in Vietnam was an unfor-
                                                                                                          ST
                                                                                                               S   gettable experience for two nursing
                                                                                                                   officers.

      PROPERTY
                                                                                                                       LCDR Alison Zilko, a Navy
                                                                                                                   Reserve nurse with more than 31
                                                                                                                   years’ experience in civilian and

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                                                                                                                   military hospitals, spent time in the
                                                                                                                   busy emergency department.
                                                                                                                       Communicating via interpreters
                                                                                                                   and hand signals, she collaborated
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      your complimentary Investment                                                                                to care for about 300 patients who
                                                                                                                   poured through the doors with seri-
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      investment advice specific                                                                                       She also spent at least an hour
      to defence force entitlements.                                                                               conducting resuscitation.
                                                                                                                       “This one man was brought
                                                                                                                   into the reception after drowning,”
                                                                                                                   LCDR Zilko said.
                                                                                                                       “His wife, and about 30 other
                                                                                                                   people, watched through the glass
                                                                                                                   windows of the critical care room
                                                                                                                   while we worked tirelessly to try
                                                                                                                   and save his life.
                                                                                                                       “Sadly, we couldn’t save him.”      LCDR Alison Zilko gets a kiss from one of her young patients at the
                                                                                                                       That wasn’t the only patient
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                                                                                                                                                           paediatrics ward of Cam Ranh General.
                                                                                                                   LCDR Zilko tried to resuscitate on
      www.astuteinvestments.com.au                                                                                 her first day at Da Nang General,           “There is no question this       the student doctors and nurses who
      Philip Game Director                                                                                         but fortunately, she was able to help   experience has made me a better      will one day run this hospital.”
      BE (Aero),Dip (Financial Services) REIQ                                                                      save the next one.                      nurse, more aware of my patients’       LEUT Angela French, of
      Licensed Agent 13 Years Experience in the                                                                        She spent the next 10 days in       cultural and economic differences    HMAS Albatross, was assigned to
      Defence Force across RAEME and AAAVN,                                                                        the emergency department, shar-
      Specialising in assisting Defence Personnel.
                                                                                                                                                           and how those aspects might affect   the intensive care units of Da Nang
      Real Estate Lic No. 3291861                                                                                  ing knowledge and experience,           a person’s experiences within our    General and Cam Ranh General
                                                                                                                   exchanging ideas, teaching student      own health care systems,” LCDR       Hospital.
                                                                                                                   doctors and nurses, learning the        Zilko said.                              “While much of what we do
                                                                                                                   Vietnamese way of practising emer-          “I hope that I have also made    and what we are trying to achieve is
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      Representative (No. 337 160) of Synchron, AFS Lic No. 243313.                                              gency medicine, and rolling up her      a difference here, particularly      the same, it has been really interest-
                                                                                                                   sleeves to help save patients.          through the time I have spent with   ing to see the subtle differences in
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
June 15, 2017        www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS                                                                                                             Pacific Partnership                         5
held in the Asia-Pacific region last month, LEUT Sarah West reports.

                                                                                      Life-changing surgery for
                                                                                      victim scarred by burns
                                                                                      AN ADF surgeon from Darwin has
                                                                                      helped a Vietnamese man with severe
                                                                                                                                    Navy Reserve medical officer and plastic and
                                                                                      electrical burn scars regain full use of
                                                                                                                                    reconstructive surgeon CMDR Ravi Mahajani
                                                                                      his right arm.
                                                                                          The life-changing surgery was             conducts a pre-surgery consultation on a
                                                                                      conducted during a three-hour opera-          patient with excessive scarring.
                                                                                      tion on May 22 at Khan Hoa General
                                                                                      Hospital in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
                                                                                          CMDR Ravi Mahajani, a Navy
                                                                                      Reserve medical officer who was in
                                                                                      Vietnam for Pacific Partnership, is an
                                                                                      experienced plastic and reconstruc-
                                                                                      tive surgeon with a private practice in
                                                                                      Darwin.
                                                                                          He worked alongside a multina-
                                                                                      tional medical team in the operating
                                                                                      theatre, including a plastic surgeon
                                                                                      from the United States Navy and two
                                                                                      Vietnamese orthopaedic surgeons.
                                                                                          “This patient had a fused armpit as
                                                                                      a result of severe electrical burns, so
                                                                                      he couldn’t lift his arm above shoulder
                                                                                      height,” CMDR Mahajani said.
                                                                                          “People who have established
                                                                                      burns have significant scar contrac-
                                                                                      tures, which mean the scars can pre-
                                                     CMDR Ravi Mahajani               vent them from being able to move
                                                     marks the patient for            their joints.
                                                     surgical incisions before            “This happens because the tissue
                                                     the operation.                   sticks together and forms a significant
                                                     Photos: SGT Ray Vance            scar which won’t stretch like normal
                                                                                      skin and tissue.”
                                                                                          CMDR Mahajani said the scar
                                                                                      affects the person’s ability to have a
                                                                                      good quality of life.
                                                                                          “So we released the scar and put        patient, so we had the opportunity to         It was CMDR Mahajani’s first
                                                                                      new tissue in its place to give him joint   show them a different procedure that      opportunity to work in a hospital in
                                                                                      mobility back,” he said.                    will restore full function of the arm.    Vietnam.
                                                                                          The reservist said he was pleased           “In this instance, we took some           He said he was very impressed by
                                                                                      to be able to teach the Vietnamese doc-     of the patient’s back muscle with the     the Vietnamese surgical team.
                                                                                      tors the procedure.                         skin attached to it, and we rotated it        “I thought the surgery went really
CMDR Ravi Mahajani,
                                                                                          “This operation is an established       around into the big hole that we had      very well, the surgeons – Doctors
second from left, with,                                                               operation in the Western world for          made into his armpit to release the       Khanh and Hoan – really knew their
from left, Doctors Hoan                                                               addressing this sort of contracture         contracture.                              stuff.”
and Khanh from Hoa                                                                    problem, but our Vietnamese surgeons            “It was a really good collaboration       CMDR Mahajani completed a
General Hospital, and                                                                 hadn’t seen it done this way before,”       between people from different nations,    number of complex reconstructive sur-
US Navy surgeon                                                                       CMDR Mahajani said.                         and we were learning things from each     geries before the Pacific Partnership
LCDR Jason Souza.                                                                         “They had already tried to help this    other, which was fantastic.”              mission concluded.

for our nursing officers                                                                                                                                                                       A division of

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                                                       LEUT Angela French, discusses the results of a CT
                                                       scan with Dr Tran Minh Phuc Tam at the intensive
                                                       care unit at Cam Ranh General Hospital (left) and
                                                       (above) LCDR Alison Zilko comforts a Vietnamese
                                                       baby undergoing treatment at the paediatrics ward of
                                                       Cam Ranh General Hospital.

                                                                                                                            20                                   %
how we treat patients,” she said.       other’s practices, and the practices    control measures, and found them
    LEUT French said the work           of the host nation, so that we can      so eager to learn how we do things.
placement was as valuable to the        effectively respond together as part-      “There were language barriers,                                                                                pro Use
local hospital staff as it was to the   ners when there’s a natural disaster    and it’s not always easy to commu-                                                                             NA mo co
                                                                                                                                                                                                   V      d
international team.                     in the Asia-Pacific region.             nicate medical terminology through                                                                             at c YNEW e
                                                                                                                                                                                             for hecko S

                                                                                                                                                                 OFF*
    “We worked with medical and             “I hope that we have imparted       an interpreter, but I found that                                                                                 this   ut
nursing officers from the United        some of our knowledge and experi-       where there’s a mutual goal, there’s                                                                             dea great
States, the United Kingdom and          ence to the local hospital and emer-    a way.                                                                                                               l!
Japan,” LEUT French said.               gency service practitioners.               “Caring for people has its own
    “Our primary mission was to             “I gave a talk to some local        sort of global, non-verbal lan-
gain a mutual understanding of each     hospital staff on infectious disease    guage.”                                     *Excludes Numismatic Coins, Timber Ship Models and GPS units. Offer ends 30 June 2017.
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
6               NEWS                                                                                                      www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS            June 15, 2017

Promoting
                                                                                                 LCDR Scott Wilson, right, and LEUT Dakota Tuohy, navigate from the
                                                                                                 port bridge wing during the entry of HMAS Wollongong into Honiara,
                                                                                                 Solomon Islands. Below left: MIDN Beau Foley practises his moves
                                                                                                 against the crew of RFNS Kula in a game of touch football in Fiji.
                                                                                                 Bottom right: ABMTs Scotland and Jones practise their shoring skills

security in
                                                                                                 with members of the Fijian Navy. Photos: ABCIS Neil James and WO Scott Campbell

the Pacific
PATROL boat HMAS Wollongong                          During the exercise the two navies con-
has returned from a South West Pacific           ducted activities focused on seamanship,
deployment where she visited Fiji,               boarding operations, ship handling, and
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New                 search-and-rescue exercises. The exercise
Caledonia as part of the ADF’s endur-            coincided with Kula’s participation in a
ing commitment to assist with building           Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency
regional security capacity.                      regional maritime surveillance operation.
     CO Wollongong LCDR Scott Wilson                 Three Republic of Fiji Military
said the deployment had been a major mile-       Forces (RFMF) sailors were embarked
stone for the patrol boat community.             in Wollongong during the exercise. Two
     “This is the first time a patrol boat has   RFMF sailors remain on board Wollongong
been deployed to the region for a number of      until the vessel returns to Australia to con-
years,” LCDR Wilson said. “We are proud          tinue the bilateral engagement.
to represent Australia and the Navy and we           The crew of Wollongong quickly got to
are doing important work.”                       work when they were in Honiara, Solomon
     As part of her visit to Fiji, Wollongong    Islands, where they lent a hand at Seif Ples
participated in a four-day exercise in           (Safe Place) – a volunteer organisation that
Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone with the          provides shelter and care to survivors of
Republic of Fiji Navy Ship Kula.                 domestic abuse.
     CJOPS VADM David Johnston said                  Wollongong built a footpath and a gar-
the joint training reinforced the defence        den feature to make the centre more homely
relationship.                                    to the women who use it.
     “Our defence cooperation with Fiji is           The crew also cleared land the organisa-
multifaceted,” VADM Johnston said.               tion will use to build a new medical clinic
     “We work together on humanitarian           and make its service more accessible to the
assistance and disaster relief interoper-        community.
ability. We are serving together on several          During her deployment Wollongong
security missions overseas and we conduct        also completed a range of passage exercises
joint training.”                                 with New Zealand ship HMNZS Hawea.
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
June 15, 2017          www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS                                                                                                                                                NEWS               7

         Protecting
         our waters

                                                                                                CO ADV Cape Inscription LCDR Iain
                                                                                                McCall, “cheers ship” with his crew during
                                                                                                the naming ceremony at HMAS Stirling,
                                                                                                Western Australia while (inset), LCDR
                                                                                                McCall cuts the cake with ABBM Chloe
                                                                                                Huiskes on the bridge. 
                                                                                                Photos: Austal and CPOIS Damian Pawlenko

LEUT Will Singer                                     the Torres Strait and Darwin. Navy and the       vessel operated well during recent basin tri-
                                                     ABF have worked cooperatively to transi-         als.
THERE was a changing of the guard in the             tion this capability between departments,             “Cape Inscription is running lean and
west as Navy farewelled one Cape-class               maximising operational availability to pro-      economical – we’re good to go,” he said.
patrol boat and welcomed another.                    tect Australia’s border and offshore maritime         XO LEUT Joseph Woods said the crew
    Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Cape             interests.”                                      of 21 had already formed a strong bond lead-
Byron was handed back to the Australian                  Although Cape Byron will continue to         ing up to today.
Border Force (ABF) at the Austal shipyard in         maintain Australia's national security through        “We are a closely knit team that mess
Henderson, WA, shortly before ADV Cape               the ABF, her absence in the Navy will be         together, exercise together and work hard
Inscription was introduced into service.             countered by Austal-built vessel Cape            together,” LEUT Woods said.
    Defence has been operating up to two             Inscription into the Fleet.                           The youngest sailor, ABBM Chloe
                                                         Cape Inscription was introduced into ser-    Huiskes, was nominated to cut the cake to
Cape-class boats on loan from ABF to allow
                                                     vice at a naming ceremony held alongside         mark the naming of Cape Inscription.
Navy to meet its operational commitments.
                                                     Fleet Base West on June 6.                            “I joined after school and have been in the
    Speaking from the bridge of Cape Byron,              CHAP Franco Siani provided the nautical      Navy for three years serving on an Armidale
XO LCDR Emma McDonald-Kerr said the                  blessing, which was followed by an address       patrol boat before joining the Cape-class,”
dual-crewed vessel had chalked-up many               by Cape Inscription CO LCDR Iain McCall.         she said.
achievements defending Australia’s maritime              LCDR McCall said it was with pride he             “Luckily I am from the home port of
security interests.                                  was bringing a new ship into service and         Cairns and get to see my family every off-
    “Since Navy took custody in July 2015,           being part of her future operations.             watch.
Cape Byron steamed 68,208nm while oper-                  He said he was looking forward to bind-           “So far I have sailed to Darwin, Broome
ated by a Navy crew and spent 6494 hours             ing together as a crew on the new vessel.        and Christmas Island and look forward to
underway,” she said.                                     “ I know that during the past year we have   visiting other ports.”
    “Cape Byron has undertaken a number              been working together as one team, one ship           The landmark Cape Inscription was              In front of his crew, CO Starboard Cape Byron LCDR
of boardings that have resulted in four appre-       to support each other and Navy,” he said.        named by the sailor and explorer Dirk               Steven Noakes hands the keys over to CO Australian
hensions in the vicinity of Ashmore Island,              Navigator LEUT Paul Gibson said the          Hartog.                                             Border Force Mark Radon.          Photo: CPOIS Damian Pawlenko

Honouring United States alliance                                                                                                                                   Simple, faster service
SGT Dave Morley
                                                         US senator John
                                                                                                                                                                   is now on hand
THE importance of the military alliance was              McCain and CDF                                                                                            ADF members who enlisted after June 30, 2004, and have
reinforced by US senator John McCain during              ACM Mark Binskin                                                                                          an injury or disease related to their service, are invited
a Memorial Day address on May 29.                        lay wreaths at Blamey                                                                                     to trial the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) new
    The Arizona senator, a former Vietnam War            Square, Canberra.                                                                                         online tool: MyService.
POW, laid a wreath alongside CDF ACM Mark                                                                                                                              MyService is aimed at making it fast and simple for
Binskin at the Australian-American Memorial in                                                                                                                     ADF members and veterans to request cover from DVA.
Blamey Square.
                                                                                                                                                                       Through MyService, clients will:
    Senator McCain said he was honoured to
                                                                                                                                                                    be identified using electronic verification, removing the
join the many ADF and APS members at the
Australian-American Memorial on a day                                                                                                                                 onerous paper-based proof-of-identity process;
Americans observed as Memorial Day.                                                                                                                                 view the requirements to be covered by DVA for their
    “Our lands’ shared history of military service                                                                                                                    injury or disease; and,
has always been deeply personal to me,” he said.                                                                                                                    save incomplete requests so they can be accessed and
    “These are the stories I grew up on and, while                                                                                                                    completed at a future point.
Memorial Day may be an American occasion, I
cannot think of a more fitting place to mark this                                                                                                                     People can register online using their PMKeyS number,
special day than here with you in Australia.           stand bravely together on fields of battle across        “Understanding their sacrifice helps me to         date of enlistment and driver’s licence or Medicare card.
    “Ever since the Battle of Hamel, during WWI,       the world, so all of us may enjoy a precious meas-   better myself,” he said.                               People will also need to have the details of their diagnosed
Americans and Australians have left the lands          ure of peace.”                                           Senator McCain was the Republican nominee          condition on hand, which should be available in Defence
they love and gone off into the world and served           MIDN Campbell Higgins was among a group          for the 2008 US presidential election. In 2015, he     medical records.
together, fought together, loved together and lost     of ADFA cadets and midshipmen who attended           became chairman of the Senate Armed Services
together.                                              the ceremony.                                        Committee. He was on a two-day official visit          To speak to someone before registering, email myservicesup-
    “We’ve done so for each other as allies and to         He said the ceremony impressed on him the        to Australia, before heading to Japan and other        port@dva.gov.au – leave a number and you will be called back. To
this day, we do so still as our sons and daughters     sacrifice made by military members before him.       countries in the Asia-Pacific region.                  register, or for further information, visit dva.gov.au/myservice
GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
8               NEWS                                                                                                                                                                              www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS         June 15, 2017

 On a mission to train
LCDR Jason O’Gorman
HMAS Darwin is making the most
of her final months in service,
progressing trainees through their
qualifications.
    Designated as Navy’s sea and
harbour training ship, Darwin is
delivering the final Mk92 combat
system course to ensure operators and
maintainers can sustain the remaining
Adelaide-class frigates through to the
end of their service life.
    In the past few weeks, the ship has
run frequent engineering casualty con-
trol drills in order to advance Darwin’s
already impressive record for generat-
ing new marine systems technicians,
marine systems controllers, marine
systems managers and electrical plant
control console operators.
    Marine Engineering Officer LCDR
Trevor Henderson said he was thank-
ful to have a dedicated team of plan-
ners and trainers working in Darwin’s
marine engineering department.
    “They put a lot of effort into
developing and assessing candidates,”
LCDR Henderson said.
    “Thanks to them we have been
able to train a large number of marine
technicians so they can advance their                 Phase two and phase four trainee Maritime Warfare Officers on the bridge wing of HMAS Darwin.                                                                              Photo: LSEW Brooke Gregory
careers.”
    Darwin also received a number of
phase two trainee Maritime Warfare                    three sub lieutenants have been regu-                      CO Darwin CMDR Phillip Henry                        to offer a front-line platform for the        needed, highly trained workforce back
Officers who are advancing their task                 larly keeping watches on the bridge.                    said the ship was working hard to                      purpose of up-skilling our workforce,”        into the Navy.
books and learning the intricacies of                     Eight of them are conducting phase                  deliver a skilled workforce back to the                he said.                                          “The crew are working hard to
ship navigation.                                      two of their training, while the remain-                Fleet.                                                     “By the time we decommission              ensure we not only meet, but exceed
    A total of seven midshipmen and                   ing two are on phase four.                                 “We have seized the opportunity                     in December, we will release a much           training targets.”

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GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
June 15, 2017           www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS                                                                                                                                                              NEWS             9

                                                                                                    Bravery marked
                                                                                                    decades later
                                                                                                    LEUT Will Singer                                                                                         The act of bravery may have gone
                                                                                                                                                                                                         unnoticed had it not been for Mr
                                                                                                    A FORMER Navy clearance diver                                                                        Bingham’s neighbour, Tom Keatley,
                                                                                                    has been posthumously commended                                                                      who had been assisting his friend to
                                                                                                    for his bravery, for making safe a                                                                   write the memoirs of his life.
                                                                                                    box of volatile leaking explosives in                                                                    Mr Keatley felt compelled to write
                                                                                                    the remote Pilbara region of Western                                                                 to the Governor-General to recom-
                                                                                                    Australia in 1975.                                                                                   mend Mr Bingham for a bravery
                                                                                     A potentially disastrous situation                                                                                  award, but unfortunately Mr Bingham
                                                                                 was averted by the quick thinking of                                                                                    passed away before the honour could
                                                                                 Harold Leslie Bingham, who drew on                                                                                      be bestowed.
                                                                                 his Navy training in explosive ord-                                                                                         His son, Shane Bingham, said his
                                                                                 nance disposal, putting himself at risk                                                                                 father was a man that took action, a
                                                                                 to save others.                                                                                                         “genuine straight-up bloke” that would
                                                                                     Mr Bingham’s family members                                                                                         speak his mind.
                                                                                 were on hand at an Australian bravery                                                                                       “Growing up with my Dad
                                                                                 award ceremony held at Government                                                                                       involved heaps of camping, fishing and
                                                                                 House in Perth recently, accepting                                                                                      talking about the good times he had
                                                                                 the honour from Governor of Western                                                                                     with his mates – he would shy away
                                                                                 Australia Kerry Sanderson.                                                                                              from discussing his achievements,” Mr
                                                                                     CO HMAS Stirling CAPT Brian                                                                                         Bingham said.
                                                                                 Delamont attended on behalf of Navy.                                  A framed photo of Harold Bingham                      “He never wanted recognition or
                                                                                     Late one March night, the explo-                                  in his diving gear sits on a shelf at             reward though, and was a very modest
                                                                                 sives expert got a knock on the door                                  his son’s home.                                   person and my best friend.
                                                                                 by an old Navy mate and local police-                                                                                       “He did so much in his life, from
                                                                                 man, to investigate a box of about 50                                                                                   the night-time recovery searches car-
                                                                                 sticks of gelignite that had earlier been                             detonators. After the area was cleared,           ried out on ships’ hulls during the
                                                                                 discovered in a shed by the Nanutarra                                 Mr Bingham removed the dangerous                  Vietnam conflict, through to the recov-
                                                                                 Roadhouse manager.                                                    contents from the cupboard. Then he               ery of bodies in aircraft crashes in
                                                                                     Knowing the bomb squad in Perth                                   dismantled the cupboard and placed it             Australia.”
                                                                                 was 1300km away, Mr Bingham,                                          with the explosives about 300 metres                  Clearance diver Bingham also
Shane Bingham holds the commendation and certificate for brave                   aware of the risk to people in the vicin-                             from the roadhouse, before detonating             received a British Empire Medal in
conduct awarded to his father, the late Harold Leslie Bingham, at his            ity of the roadhouse, removed the box                                 the gelignite and rendering the area              1961 and an Order of Australia Medal
home in Barragup, Western Australia.               Photos: LSIS Lee-Anne Cooper of leaking gelignite, safety fuses and                                safe.                                             in 1990.

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GAME ON DOWN UNDER - NEWS - Defence
10           NEWS                                                                                                                           www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS              June 15, 2017

              A Medal of Gallantry recipient has been forever memorialised on canvas, writes Dallas McMaugh.

    Bold strokes for bravery
                                                                                                                  O
                                                                                                                             NE of Navy’s most highly              Significantly this was the first time
                                                                                                                             decorated serving sailors has     an aircraft was used as an integral part
                                                                                                                             been honoured with a portrait     of an Australian ship’s weapon system
                                                                                                                             by one of Australia’s leading     and was the start of the Navy’s path
                                                                                                                   military artists.                           toward a Fleet Air Arm.
                                                                                                                      The larger-than-life-sized depic-            WO Sime, who had not seen the por-
                                                                                                                  tion of WOA Ben Sime was unveiled            trait until it was unveiled before the 300
                                                                                                                  on May 20 at a function celebrating the      guests, said it was an honour.
                                                                                                                  centenary of naval aviation, at HMAS             “I felt privileged, not only to have
                                                                                                                  Albatross.                                   the portrait presented at such a historic
                                                                                                                      Past and serving members of the          event but to have people in attendance,
                                                                                                                  Fleet Air Arm were on hand for the           such as my wife Stacie, and of course
                                                                                                                  unveiling of the painting.                   the artist, George Petrou,” he said.
                                                                                                                      Artist George Petrou has painted             “My wife was proud to have been
                                                                                                                  historical and modern military figures,      there. She’s a police officer and so is
                                                                                                                  sporting greats and abstracts, but said      presented with situations everyday that
                                                                                                                  he considered the commission for WO          have the potential to escalate and I am
                                                                                                                  Sime’s portrait an honour, although an       just as proud of her and what she does.”
                                                                                                                  intimidating one.                                WO Sime received his Medal for
                                                                                                                      “I was a little bit nervous. I have      Gallantry for his actions in 2004 as an
                                                                                                                  enormous respect for anyone who goes         LSA in the Seahawk crew embarked in
                                                                                                                  to war and puts their life on the line,”     HMAS Stuart in the Middle East. He
                                                                                                                  Mr Petrou said.                              courageously entered the water from the
                                                                                                                      “They are dedicated people and I’m       air to support a sailor injured in a explo-
                                                                                                                  thankful for their sense of duty in pro-     sive dhow attack on the USS Firebolt.
                                                                                                                  tecting and looking after us.                    WO Sime said he didn’t see the por-
                                                                                                                      “Ben’s is an amazing story of hero-      trait as a reflection of his own deeds.
                                                                                                                  ism and selflessness so I really wanted          “I don’t see me, I see an image of a
                                                                                                                  to convey that.                              sailor who is proud to wear the uniform
                                                                                                                      “I didn’t meet Ben, I worked from        and someone who is grateful for the
                                                                                                                  photographs, but I sensed he was a quiet     opportunities that have been afforded as
                                                                                                                  achiever, who doesn’t seek the lime-         a result of being in the Navy,” he said.
WOA Ben Sime with his wife, Stacie, speaks at the unveiling of the painting at HMAS Albatross while special light so I focused a lot of attention on               “Someone who is proud to say that
guest Keith Payne, VC, watches on.                                                    Photos: POIS Kelvin Hockey his actual medal, concentrating on the       they are a Navy aircrewman and that
                                                                                                                  brightness and symbolism and I hope          they serve their country with pride.”
                                                                                                                  that conveys Ben’s strength.”                    Also on show was a display hon-
                                                                                                                      The event was held at the Fleet Air      ouring CMDR Fred Sherborne (retd),
                                                                                                                  Arm Museum and marked 100 years              a former Commander Air at HMAS
                                                                                                                  since a Sopwith Baby N1014 embarked          Albatross who was shot down in his
                                                                                                                  on HMAS Brisbane in May 1917 at the          Grumman Wildcat over the south of
                                                                                                                  height of WWI.                               France in 1944.
                                                                                                                      The Sopwith’s pilot, Flight SBLT
                                                                                                                  Alfred Clemson made daily flights For more information about WO Sime visit
                                                                                                                  attempting to locate the German raider navy.gov.au/biography/warrant-officer-ben-
                                                                                                                  Wolf.                                    jamin-sime

                                                                                                                   WO Ben Sime, left, was congratulated by COMFAA CDRE Chris Smallhorn.

                                                                                                                                    BRAVERY RECOGNISED
                                                                                                                     WO Ben Sime was awarded the               Three American sailors were killed
                                                                                                                     Medal for Gallantry in 2004, follow-      and four seriously wounded.
                                                                                                                     ing HMAS Stuart’s deployment to           Several unsuccessful attempts were
                                                                                                                     the Middle East in support of Opera-      made to get one injured sailor, who
                                                                                                                     tion Catalyst.                            was suffering serious head lacera-
                                                                                                                     The then LSA was serving as the           tions, into a rescue strop lowered
                                                                                                                     sensor operator in Stuart’s em-           from the helicopter.
                                                                                                                     barked Seahawk.                           When he went under the water,
                                                                                                                     On the night of April 24, terrorists in   unconscious, a decision was made
                                                                                                                     fishing dhows launched a series of        for WO Sime to enter the water to
                                                                                                                     attacks against Iraqi oil terminals.      provide assistance.
                                                                                                                     One dhow, packed with explosives,         Moments after he did so, two further
                                                                                                                     was detonated when a rigid hull           attacks were launched against the
                                                                                                                     inflatable boat (RHIB), from USS          nearby oil terminals.
                                                                                                                     Firebolt, drew alongside to challenge     Showing outstanding courage, he
                                                                                                                     it.                                       remained, supporting the sailor
                                                                                                                     Stuart immediately rendered assis-        in his care without regard for his
                                                                                                                     tance through its Seahawk.                own safety, as the action unfolded
                                                                                                                     On approaching the scene it was ob-       around him, until he was recovered
                                                                                                                     served that the RHIB had capsized         by Stuart’s RHIB.
                                                                                                                     and all of its occupants were in the      In recognition of his deeds he was
                                                                                                                     water.                                    awarded the Medal for Gallantry.
June 15, 2017        www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS                                                                           NEWS      11

Homecoming for officer
LEUT Dave Dawes
IT WAS a journey back to her roots that                                                                                           LCDR Ainsley
                                                                                                                                  Slattery gifts
took XO NHQ – South Australia LCDR
                                                                                                                                  Navy Books for
Ainsley Slattery to the South Australian
                                                                                                                                  the Waikerie High
Riverland as part of the Navy’s regional
                                                                                                                                  School library to
engagement strategy.
                                                                                                                                  student Makayla
    Having grown up in the Waikerie area
it was fitting that the team paid a visit to                                                                                      Lill and teacher
her old high school and meet some of the                                                                                          Sarah Koch.
current crop of students.
    “It was wonderful stepping back
in time to my old high school,” LCDR
Slattery said.
    “It was great to be able to speak with
the young students about where I had
come from and how I had arrived at where
I am today.”
    Sixty young men and women from the
senior high school had the opportunity
to learn about the role the Navy played
in society and the chance to interact with
Navy personnel.
    The Navy staff each explained their
different primary qualifications, providing
a glance into what a career in the Navy
could provide.
    For some of the Waikerie High School
teachers it was an opportunity to renew
connections with their former student.
    While in the area, the Navy team took
the opportunity to renew contact with the
local veteran community, attending a bar-
becue dinner hosted by the Renmark RSL.
    The RSL is made up of former WWII,
Vietnam War and Gulf War veterans.
    This was a great opportunity for the
veterans to re-engage with the younger
and current Navy and Defence members,
asking many questions about what it’s like
today and also reminiscing on the past.

            An online resource for ADF members and
            their families to find information on their
            posting location.

            www.defencecommunityhub.org.au
            A joint initiative of Defence Community Organisation, Defence Families of Australia and Defence Housing Australia.
12               HMAS Kuttabul Commemoration                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS             June 15, 2017          CENTRE                13

   CPL Mark Doran reports from a special cruise organised by the Kuttabul Commemoration Project to honour the 19 Australians who lost their lives when HMAS Kuttabul was torpedoed in Sydney Harbour by a Japanese submarine 75 years ago.

A WATERY GRAVE
T
         HE Japanese valued surprise. It
         devastated Pearl Harbor and they
         expected similar unpreparedness
         when they launched their subma-
rines into a crowded Sydney Harbour on
May 31, 1942.
    Just three weeks after the Battle of the
Coral Sea, five Japanese I-class submarines
gathered about 35 nautical miles north-east
of the entrance to Sydney Harbour.
    Before daylight on May 31, an Imperial
Japanese Navy E14Y Yokosuka (Glen)
reconnaissance seaplane launched from
I-21, and flew a mission over the harbour,
twice circling the cruiser USS Chicago
before flying to the east.
    The aerial intrusion was observed and                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Stoker Kenneth Killeen, who was killed when
reported, but many believed it was just a                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               a torpedo fired by one of the Japanese
US floatplane on a routine training flight.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             midget submarines struck the sea wall and
    For the Japanese raiders, it was their                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              exploded beneath HMAS Kuttabul.
latest reconnaissance flight over Sydney,
which provided valuable intelligence for
an impending attack on the more than 40
Allied warships anchored in the harbour.
    Prime targets included the heavy cruis-
ers HMAS Canberra and USS Chicago.
    On the night of May 31, three midget
submarines were launched from I-22,
I-24 and I-27, seven nautical miles east of
Sydney Heads.
    Author and historian Steven Carruthers      A torpedo fired by the Japanese midget submarine M-24 exploded beneath HMAS Kuttabul, sinking her immediately.
said the first midget submarine, M-27,          Author and historian Steven Carruthers (right) places a poppy on the wreath during the Kuttabul Commemoration
manned by LEUT Kenshi Chuman and PO             Project cruise in Sydney Harbour.
Takeshi Omori, entered Sydney Harbour at
about 8pm.                                      sailors swapping watches, visitors being on                                                                                                          oxygen or committed suicide.
    “It didn’t get far, as the boat’s propel-   board, some sleeping elsewhere ashore or                                                                                                                 “One day, we might find out.”
lers became entangled in anti-submarine         nearby, and at least one sailor was AWOL.”                                                                                                               The attack by the Japanese midget sub-
nets near the western boom gate,” he said.          Twenty-one Allied naval ratings – 19                                                                                                             marine crews proved to be a sharp wake-up
    “The disturbance in the water was           Australian and two British – were killed.                                                                                                            call to Sydneysiders for whom the war had
soon observed and the patrol boats HMA              Although the harbour was alive with activ-                                                                                                       seemed somewhat distant.
Ships Yarroma and Lolita were ordered to        ity following the attack, confusion reigned,                                                                                                             Large parts of the two submarines
investigate.                                    with some believing the gunfire part of a                                                                                                            recovered from the seabed were used
    “When the submarine’s crew realised         naval exercise as ships began to weigh anchor                                                                                                        to construct one composite vessel,
they could not free the propellers they fired   and proceed to sea.                                                                                                                                  which forms a major exhibit, along with                                                                                                                                                            ABOVE: ABATA Daniel Beazley, centre, and
demolition charges to destroy their craft           Later, in the early hours of June 1, a third                                                                                                     the wheelhouse from Kuttabul, at the                                                                                                                                                               ABATA Adrian Ebenwaldner, of 816SQN at
and killed themselves at 10.37pm.”              enemy midget submarine, M-22 crewed                                                                                                                  Australian War Memorial.                                                                                                                                                                           HMAS Albatross, talk to former Stoker Reg
    M-24, crewed by SBLT Katsuhisa Ban          by the leader of the mission, LEUT Kieu                                                                                                                  The conning tower of M-22 is on                                                                                                                                                                Turner during the Kuttabul Commemoration
and PO Mamoru Ashibe, successfully              Matsuo, and PO1 Class Masao Tsuzuku,                                                                                                                 display in the Naval Heritage Centre at                                                                                                                                                            Project cruise on Sydney Harbour.
entered the harbour at 9.48pm.                  entered the harbour.                                                                                                                                 Garden Island.
    The crew of USS Chicago sighted                 Mr Carruthers said it was detected in                                                                                                                On June 3, 1942, RADM G.C.                                                                                                                                                                     LEFT: Reg Turner and his daughter Kerry
M-24’s periscope at about 500 yards and         Taylors Bay at 10.50pm and most likely had                                                                                                           Muirhead-Gould, Flag Officer-in-Charge                                                                                                                                                             Waters place a poppy on the wreath during
shots were fired, however, the guns could       Canberra in its sights.                                                                                                                              Sydney, and more than 200 Navy person-                                                                                                                                                             the commemoration cruise.
not be depressed sufficiently and the               “M-22 was depth charged repeatedly by                                                                                                            nel, attended a burial service conducted                                                                                                                                                           Photos: CPL Mark Doran
rounds had no effect.                           patrol boats HMA Ships Sea Mist, Steady                                                                                                              with naval honours for those killed in

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Surviving veteran pays tribute to shipmates
    About 30 minutes later, M-24 fired          Hour and Yarroma,” he said.                        Onlookers gather to watch as the wreckage of one of the Japanese midget submarines                Kuttabul.
two torpedoes at the US warship, which              “The following day, when RAN divers            is recovered from Sydney Harbour.                                                                     On January 1, 1943, the naval depot
missed.                                         investigated the crippled vessel, they found the                                                                                                     at Garden Island was commissioned as
    One torpedo ran ashore at Garden            engines still running and the propellers slowly        After escaping from the harbour, the        ly after sunset and fired its torpedoes at        Kuttabul to further perpetuate the memory
Island failing to explode, while the second     turning. It was eventually raised and the crew     fate of M-24 remained a complete mystery        12.30am, which meant they’d already been          of the 21 men killed during the attack.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   A
passed under the Dutch submarine K9 to          were found dead from self-inflicted gunshot        for 64 years, until a group of divers found     running for about eight-and-a-half hours,”            The RAN also recognised the bravery of            MONG the special guests at services                                                                                                                  Janet Townsend, of Canberra, said
strike the sea wall and explode beneath         wounds.”                                           the wreck off Sydney’s northern beaches         he said.                                          the Japanese submariners recovered from               held to commemorate the sinking of                                                                                                               she attended the commemoration with
HMAS Kuttabul, which sank immediately.              The mother submarines departed the area        in 2006. Instead of resolving the wartime           “The submarine’s power was mostly             the submarines destroyed in the harbour.              HMAS Kuttabul was one of the last                                                                                                                other Killeen family members, including
    Mr Carruthers said it was more than 12      when it became obvious their midget sub-           mystery, the discovery generated even more      drained by the time it left the harbour and           They were accorded a funeral with         remaining WWII veterans who was billeted                                                                                                                 Kenneth’s younger brother.
hours before it was known how many men          marines would not be returning.                    questions about the last hours of M-24.         it was impossible to travel south to the ren-     naval honours, a gesture appreciated in                                                                                                                                                                    “Joining people of all ages to recognise
were aboard the vessel when it sank.                I-24 is believed to have been responsible          Mr Carruthers said his theory was midg-     dezvous because a southerly had blown up.         later years by the Japanese.                  on her.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Former Stoker Reg Turner, who was                                                                                                                    those lost was a memorable experience,” she
    “It was more than 40 hours before the       for a number of attacks on merchant ships,         et submarines were only designed to operate         “I think they were washed up to Newport           The cremated remains of the submarin-                                                                                                                                                              said.
death toll was known,” he said.                 as well as the shelling of Sydney Harbour a        for 12 hours running at two to four knots.      Beach and pulled the stops, but they may          ers were returned to Japan two months later   ashore at the time of the attack, said it meant
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   a lot to him to attend the commemoration                                                                                                                     “My clan doesn’t come together
    “The confusion was compounded by            week later.                                            “M-24 came into the harbour short-          have been overcome by fumes, ran out of           as part of a diplomatic exchange.                                                                                                                                    A Navy cap is filled              very often and the last time was the 70th
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   with people who were related to those lost.                                                                            with poppies for the lost
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       On May 31, Mr Turner, along with other                                                                                                               anniversary.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          sailors during the Kuttabul           “It’s a good opportunity to take time to

                                                War found great uncle faster than expected
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   invited guests, joined a cruise organised by                                                                           Commemoration Project             reflect upon Australia’s history and what our
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   the Kuttabul Commemoration Project to                                                                                  cruise held on Sydney             loved ones sacrificed, not only those who
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   remember the night Japanese midget subma-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Harbour on May 31.                served, but the invisible costs to the families
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   rines attacked Sydney Harbour in 1942.                                                                                                                   as well.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Author and historian Steven Carruthers                                                                                                                   “My family has always held Uncle Ken
                                                CPL Mark Doran                                                              The stoker from      for the 75th anniversary was an incredible        four serving sailors and other Navy veter-      narrated the history of the attack as it unfold-   believe it, as I was a stoker and would have         organisation run by volunteers whose mis-
                                                                                                                        Brisbane was ready       opportunity to learn more of the history of       ans who took the time to pay their respects.                                                       been there if I hadn’t had to swap bunks.            sion is to commemorate the 21 Allied sailors     close to our hearts and Gary and Marie, of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ed to the 150 guests, including more than 50                                                                                                             the Kuttabul Commemoration Project, did
                                                THE loss of my great uncle on HMAS                                      to face the war.         the night the war came to Sydney, with an            My big surprise was meeting members          descendants of those lost.                             “It’s been on my mind for the past 75            and one Allied airman who lost their lives in
                                                Kuttabul, Stoker 2nd Class Frederick                                        Frederick was        accurate narration by author and historian                                                                                                                                                                                                                 great work to gather us as a community.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                   of my own family I’d not met before.                A service was held by CHAP Colin Fett,         years, but we can’t become stagnant, I just          Sydney from May 31 to June 8, 1942.
                                                Arthur Glanford, added another family                                   killed in action by      Steven Carruthers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             ABATV Adrian Ebenwaldner, of 816SQN
                                                                                                                                                                                                      They were also paying their respects to      of HMAS Watson, and a wreath-laying cer-           had to carry on.”                                        “The most important part of the project      at HMAS Albatross, travelled to Sydney
                                                member’s name to the Roll of Honour at                                  a torpedo from the           It was an opportunity for me to meet the      Frederick and the other sailors who died.       emony took place on the water near where               G a r y Tr a y n o r, o f t h e Ku t t a b u l   is making people aware of the story and the
                                                                                                                        Japanese midget          relatives of the other sailors lost, as well as                                                                                                                                                                                                            from Nowra with three of his workmates for
                                                the Australian War Memorial.                                                                                                                          When I was a child, Frederick’s war          Kuttabul went down.                                Commemoration Project, said it was mar-              sailors."
                                                                                                                        submarine, M-24,         one of the last remaining WWII veterans                                                                                                                                                                                                                    the commemoration.
                                                    Stoker Glanford joined the Navy in                                                                                                                                                                 Mr Turner said he was one of the lucky         vellous to have so many descendants and a                Stoker Kenneth Killeen, 20, was killed in
                                                                                                                        on June 1, 1942.         who was meant to be billeted on Kuttabul          story was spoken in hushed tones and there                                                                                                                                                                   “We thought it would be a great opportu-
                                                November 1941. He completed his training                                                                                                                                                           ones.                                              WWII veteran at the event run by the group.          the blast. His mother, Vera, was heavily preg-
                                                                                                                        He was 21. The war       that night, Stoker Reg Turner.                    are not many left alive in my close family                                                                                                                                                               nity to learn more about the attack on Sydney
                                                at HMAS Cerberus and was sent to Sydney                                                                                                                                                                “On the night I was re-billeted at the last        “We found about three quarters of the            nant when she received news of her son’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                   who can fill in the blank parts.                                                                                                                                                                         Harbour and pay our respects to the sailors
                                                and billeted on Kuttabul to await his mobi-                             found him faster             A highlight of the day was to meet sev-                                                       minute to Naval House near the Rocks,” he          direct descendants of every sailor who died          death.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Now I have met more of my kin, we will                                                                                                                                                                who lost their lives,” he said.
                                                lisation.                                                               than expected.           eral Sydney high school students and three                                                        said.                                              and we are still looking for others, in particu-         It sent her into a deep state of shock and
                                                                                                                                                                                                   be able to share the stories and keep this                                                                                                                                                                   “What stood out the most was to see how
   CPL Mark Doran places a poppy on                 Four days before the attack on Sydney                                   An invite from       Legatees who honoured the day with their                                                                                                             lar those of the Royal Navy sailor who was           early labour. The complications of a prema-
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       “I didn’t know what was really going                                                                                                                 significant the event was for the families of
   the wreath in memory of his great            Harbour he was issued his lifeboat and anti-       the Kuttabul Commemoration Project to         presence and their genuine interest in the        stoker’s tale alive.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   on until the next day. When I saw Kuttabul         killed, Frank Kirby,” he said.                       ture birth brought about the death of both       those sailors and how they gathered to com-
   uncle (inset) during the service.            flash equipment.                                   join them on Sydney Harbour on May 31         history of Australia at war, as well as the           Lest we forget.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   had been sunk the next morning, I couldn’t             “The Commemoration Project is an                 mother and unborn infant.                        memorate their sacrifice.”
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