Today’s Fleet
, whilst relatively small, is versatile and mobile, and is backed by
a comprehensive logistic and support organisation.
Exercises keep
the ships at readiness in Australian waters and overseas. They are stored
and equipped to go anywhere at short notice, and are prepared to meet
any contingency arising out of the strategic situation. Even when undergoing
maintenance at the Naval Dockyards in Sydney or Melbourne, ships can
normally be ready for sea within forty-eight hours.
The logistics organisation
includes large stores, ammunition establishments, and oil fuel installations.
Naval radio stations in Canberra and Darwin, equipped with the most
modern facilities, provide rapid communications with ships and Allied
Naval Headquarters around the world.
Management is keeping
pace with H.M.S. TRUMP. The manpower and equipment expansion in an increasingly
complex Navy. Preparations are being made for the introduction of Electronic
Data Processing, and a combined civil-naval staff is determining requirement;
and systems. The management, organisational and procedures at Garden
Island Dockyard are being reviewed in the light of the forthcoming demands
of new ships and weapons.
Contributing to
a balanced Naval force, a small group of scientists, controlled by a
Director of Scientific Services, work at the Royal Australian Naval
Experimental Laboratory in Sydney. They provide advice to the Navy on
scientific problems, carry out experiments and operational research,
and assist with the recording of data and analysis of exercises.
During 1963-64,
the R.A.N. began co-operating with the United States Navy in a type
of underwater “weather forecasting” that contributes to the
efficiency of submarine detection. The Antisubmarine Warfare Environmental
Prediction System, covering the Pacific area, is operated by the United
States Navy from Guam. Australian warships provide oceanographic information
direct to Guam, and in return the R.A.N. receives regular forecasts
of underwater conditions.
Recent
Additions
The R.A.N.’s
antisubmarine capacity was greatly increased during the past financial
year with the formation of the first Front-Line Squadron of Westland
Wessex anti-submarine helicopters. H.M.A.S. Derwent, with her variable
depth sonar, was another important addition. This new sonar equipment
can be lowered to various depths beneath the sea and improves submarine
detection.
The Navy introduced
its first pilotless target aircraft to give a realistic test to Derwent’s
SEACAT missiles. The performance of targets and missiles augured well
for the future.
The commissioning
of H.M.A.S. Moresby in March, 1964, gave the R.A.N. one of the best
equipped survey ships iii the world. Moresby, the Navy’s first
ship specifically designed for hydrography, was built by the Newcastle
State Dockyard.
A Daring Class
destroyer, H.M A.S. Duchess, arrived in Australia in April, 1964, on
loan from Britain as an interim replacement for H.M.A.S. Voyager, lost
in collision with H.M.A.S. Melbourne two months before.
Recruiting and training
for the R.A.N. have been adjusted to meet the demands of an expanding
and increasingly complex Navy. The very successful special entry establishments,
such as those for Junior Recruits and Apprentices, are being enlarged.
A new supplementary list training scheme for seaman officers has been
introduced, and additional avenues are being developed through which
qualified ratings can gain commissions. Although it will be some time
before the effects of the Defence Review of June 1964 can be fully assessed,
the initial reaction has been encouraging. The Review has stimulated
greater interest in direct entry schemes, has made re-engagement more
attractive, and has prompted some former members of the Service to seek
re-entry into the R.A.N.
The personnel strength
of the permanent Naval forces at the 30th of June 1964, was 12,569.
This is expected to rise to 13,660 in the next twelve months.
Training
The emphasis has
been on preparing officers and men to man and operate the new ships
and weapons. By the end of the 1964-65 financial year, 37 officers and
371 ratings will be in the United States either manning H.M.A.S. Perth
or preparing for H.M.A.S. Hobart. In Britain, 14 officers and 172 ratings
will be gaining experience ready to man the R.A.N.’s OBERON submarines.
The R.A.N.’s first SEACAT missile crews were trained during the
past year, and the exhaustive selection tests produced aimers and controllers
who quickly proved their prowess against target aircraft. The new system
for sending every general service recruit to sea within three months
of joining the Navy was introduced in January, 1964. This scheme provides
early practical experience before specialised training. Indications
are that it will achieve the objective of streamlining the Service for
modern needs. In 1965, the annual intake into the Apprentice Training
Establishment near Sydney (H.M.A.S. Nirimba) will increase to 230, while
annual entries into the Junior Recruit Training Establishment in Fremantle
(H.M.A.S. Leeuwin) will rise to 600. From 1965, all Junior Recruit training
will be centralised at Leeuwin, bringing to an end the temporary arrangements
of training some Junior Recruits at H.M.A.S. Cerberus in Victoria.
Officers’
Courses
In March, 1964,
the first group of supplementary list officers began their course at
H.M.A.S. Cerberus. These young men, who after two years training will
spend a minimum of seven years in the Seaman specialisation, will augment
the flow of officers from the Royal Australian Naval College. A record
total of 31 midshipmen graduated from the College in July, 1964, including
the first six former ratings to obtain their Upper Yardman training
in Australia. The first scholarships for entry into the Naval College
were awarded during the past year.
The total strength
of the Naval Reserve Forces at the 30th June, 1964, was approximately
5,200.
Following the Defence
Review of June, 1964, an R.A.N. Emergency Reserve is being formed, comprising
ex-members of the permanent Naval forces and selected reserves.
Supplementary
list air crew training is continuing, and the first pilots trained since
the re-introduction of the scheme in 1963 have obtained their wings.
The R.A.N. has
ten officers on loan to the Royal Malaysian Navy, and is giving hydrographic
training to officers and men of the Philippines Navy.
The regular scheme
for the exchange of R.A.N. officers with officers of the Royal Navy
and the United States Navy has continued.
Naval
Reserve Forces
The growing complexity
of Naval ships and equipment has resulted in an extensive reorganisation
of the training programmes and advancement structure of the Naval Reserve
Forces, to take into account the limited training availability of Reservists.
Women’s
Services
Members of the Women’s
Royal Australian Naval Service are undertaking increasing responsibilities,
including service at the Naval Air Station at Nowra, where 68 Wrans
relieved sailors for sea duties. Wrans are also being trained for gunnery
and missile firing assessment.
The R.A.N. Nursing
Service is being reintroduced to replace the system of employing civilian
sisters in Naval hospitals. The new, uniformed service will be designed
to cope with the special staffing requirements in Naval hospitals, and
to meet the needs of an expanding Navy.
Civil
Personnel
The expanding Navy
is also placing a heavier work load on the civilian staff of the Department
of the Navy, demanding wider technical knowledge and increased skills.
Organisation reviews are in hand as a first step to coping with the
new commitments.
The overall strength
of the civil staff increased from 8,400 to 8,500 during 1963-64. Most
of the civilians are employed in Naval Dockyards, workshops and stores
Navy
Snapshot 64-65 - Next Page
