By Ray Atkinson In the latter part of those long-gone times when Britain and its colonies ruled the waves, prospective ships’ officers were trained at a number of pre-sea training ...
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Kongsberg Missile Systems
The following has been largely compiled from available media sources. Norway is a mountainous country in distant northern Europe, dominated by picturesque fjords with ready access to the sea. For ...
Coast Watchers Light
A beacon to mariner and pilot alike, the lighthouse at Madang Harbour is a unique memorial to 36 gallant men. By Walter Brooksbank We have previously met LCDR Walter Hugh ...
City of Adelaide – HMS Carrick The World’s oldest Clipper Ship
By Peter Christopher Fast clipper ships with fine lines and handsome appearance, such as the Cutty Sark, have pride of place in famous museums. Well on her way to restoration, ...
The Rise and Fall of ‘Nukey Poo’: Lessons for Today’s Nuclear World
By Zuhal Sharifee In the pre-Chernobyl and Three Mile Island world of 1962, nuclear power was widely regarded as a cost-effective, efficient, and relatively safe way to supply energy. This ...
Golden Lace and Silken Ribbons
A recent article found on the UK Forces Net asks the question: Is the braid used on Royal Navy officers’ uniforms really made of precious metal? This article tells us ...
The World’s First Autonomous Vessel
In terms of Autonomous Vehicles, thoughts turn to new initiatives stemming from recent technology which significantly reduces manpower requirements and in the case of the armed forces also reduces potential ...
The Fastnet 1979 Yacht Race Disaster: Would It Have Occurred Today?
Cdr Mike Channon RN This article first appeared in the Royal Navy Instructor Officers’ Association magazine RNIOA No 24 dated 22 November 2023 and is reproduced by kind permission of ...
The Loss of HMS Manchester and the Dilemma of Command
By Walter Burroughs Visitors to London flock to see an ancient Tower safekeeping the Crown Jewels; close by is the famous Tower Bridge and just beyond, moored safely in the ...
Offshore Support Vessels and the Loss of HMNZS Manawanui
Over recent times, second-hand general-purpose offshore support vessels emanating from the North Sea oil industry have become workhorses used by the Australian and New Zealand navies and associated services. In ...
Australian Submarines in the Cold War — A force Multiplier in the West
This Historical Booklet (Monograph 199) by Dr Tom Lewis was published by the Naval Historical Society of Australia in September 2024. This paper discusses the role of the Royal Australian ...
Graeme Keith Andrews OAM: 1938–2024 A life dedicated to maritime heritage
Graeme Andrews developed a passion for the sea early in life and became one of the country’s foremost authorities on maritime heritage. Through his writing, research, and involvement in preserving ...
Occasional Paper 188: Highlights of RAN History: Two Busy Decades 1950 to 1970
The following is adapted from the Royal Australian Navy News, 17 April 1970 edition, page 4. 1950 to 1960 From1950 onwards the post-war tempo Naval growth quickened. The outbreak of ...
Bathurst Class Corvettes
When war looked imminent after the Munich crisis in 1938, the Royal Australian Navy realised it needed a fleet of escort ships to guard convoys and keep the sea lanes ...
Obituary – Graeme Andrews OAM 1938–2024
GRAEME ANDREWS: 1938–2024 Graeme Andrews developed a passion for the sea early in life and became one of the country’s foremost authorities on maritime heritage. Through his writing, research, and ...
Book Review: Admiral VAT Smith: The extraordinary life of the father of Australia’s Fleet Air Arm
Hardback by Graeme Lunn, fully illustrated with colour plates, published by Avonmore Books, 2024. RRP $49.95. While few of Australia’s naval leaders have attracted full biographies, Admiral Sir Victor Alfred ...
Sandakan: From Hell to Eternity
The December 2023 edition of this magazine contained an article titled Newcastle Reminiscences, compiled from the recollections of 97-year-old Mrs Thelma Tame. Her uncle was the late Major William Sticpewich ...
A Non-Combatant at War: Palestine, Greece and Crete 1941 – Pt III
Dr. Richmond Jeremy OBE MB ChM FRCP FRACP 1899 – 1995 Parts I and II of this series are contained in the March and June 2024 editions of this magazine. ...
Lord Brassey, The Naval Annual, the Naval Artillery Volunteers and his Steam Yacht Sunbeam
By Dr J.K. Haken Thomas Brassey, later Lord Brassey, was a lawyer and Member of Parliament, and on a number of occasions between 1865 and 1895, a Civil Lord of ...
On the Australia Station
A tribute to the memories of Signalman Frederick Randall RN and Able Seaman John Reardon RN and RAN, who as young men contributed to the establishment of the Australia Station. ...
Two Naval Dogs of the 1930s
By Robert Curran Everyone loves a dog, particularly sailors. In the Australian War Memorial’s collection there are many photos of ships’ mascots of the canine variety to testify to this. ...
Queens at War
Birth of the Queens The great ocean liners and sister ships Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary feature as two of the most important troop carriers in the annals of Australian ...
Troubled Guardians
By Zuhal Sharifee Overview The Guardian-class Patrol Boats are a class of small patrol vessels developed by the Australian shipbuilding company Austal. The patrol boats are delivered under the Pacific ...
Captain William Cromarty: Mariner and Pioneer
By Leslie Kilmartin ‘What’s an Orkney lad, whatever, if he’s not to have a taste o’ the dangers of the sea? Robert Leighton (2004) William Cromarty arrived to settle in ...
The Properties, Office and Duetie of a Gunner
Introduction While searching for another reference this small story from the September 2003 edition of this magazine came to attention. It was written by Cyprian Lucar (1544-1611) and is from ...