Book Review: Australia’s Navy, 1994 -1995

Author

Duchesne, Tim

Subjects

History - general, Book reviews

Tags

Royal Australian Navy

RAN Ships

None noted.

Publication

March 1995 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)

This is the fifth, and undoubtedly the best, in an annual series of glossy, high quality, magazine style publica­tions which seek to inform the Australian public about its Navy. It is published for CNS by the Australian Gov­ernment Publishing Service.

The Naval Board looks to ex-Navy personnel in particu­lar to foster the wider communities pride and interest in the service. This publication should significantly assist in that function.

It contains about forty brief but well written articles de­scribing a wide variety of naval activities, from joint and combined maritime exercises, to the entry into service of new ships and submarines, to aspects of recruit and other training. Additionally, three articles have a histori­cal flavour and would be of particular interest to mem­bers of this Society. Reflecting the essentially family nature of the Navy in the 1994 International Year of the Family, the wonderful work of the Sir David Martin Foun­dation for homeless children is also covered in a well illustrated and informative article. A share of the receipts from the sale of this publication provides a naval cor­porate contribution to the work done by the Founda­tion.

The quality of the photographs with which this maga­zine is liberally illustrated is excellent.

The problems flowing from the integration of women in the ships’ companies of warships are not shirked, and the Navy’s vigorous and honest response to these prob­lems is covered in an article on the Senate Commit­tee’s investigation into sexual harassment. For this re­viewer however, an update on the extent of female “man­ning” of our ships and a report on the operational ben­efits and penalties, if any, would also have been wel­come. Perhaps the absence of comment indicates that the effect is neutral.

In summary, the publication provides an excellent snap­shot overview of today’s Navy and its extraordinarily var­ied activities, and a useful historical source in years to come.