Photos Australian Defence Force

[BravoZulu]

Australian Army soldiers take notes as they are given a safety brief prior to a live fire event at Shoalwater Bay during Exercise Diamond Strike 2018.

Australian Army soldier Gunner Ryan Keam (right) fires an M777 lightweight towed howitzer at Shoalwater Bay during Exercise Diamond Strike 2018.

HMAS Toowoomba is led to Lapetasi Wharf, Port Vila, Vanuatu, by a local pilot boat during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

An MRH-90 helicopter picks up cargo from the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide as part of a replenishment at sea, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Adelaide's MRH-90 helicopter delivers cargo to the flight deck of HMAS Success with HMAS Melbourne in the background during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Adelaide’s MRH-90 helicopter delivers cargo to the flight deck of HMAS Success as HMA Ships Adelaide, Melbourne and Toowoomba take part in a replenishment at sea, during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Success (centre) conducts a replenishment at sea with HMA Ships Adelaide and Melbourne followed by HMAS Toowoomba, during Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

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[BravoZulu]

Able Seaman Boatswains Mate Olivia Joseph on the bridge of HMAS Adelaide during Exercise Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Adelaide utilises one her MRH-90 helicopters at sunset to transfer supplies and stores to nearby HMAS Toowoomba, as a means to support and replenish ships at sea.

HMAS Adelaide utilises one of her MRH-90 helicopters at sunset to transfer supplies and stores to nearby HMAS Toowoomba.

Private Stephan Kurp from 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, speaks with a member from the Sri Lanka Navy Marines at a joint training exercise on board HMAS Adelaide during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

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[BravoZulu]

HMAS Warramunga Boarding Party members, Able Seaman Communication and Information Systems Jacob Dun (right) and Able Seaman Combat Systems Operator Corey Bartlett relocate parcels of seized narcotics during the ship’s deployment on Operation Manitou.

Able Seaman Electronics Technician Luke Pozzi (left) disconnects the boat rope from HMAS Warramunga’s sea boat prior to a boarding during the ship’s deployment on Operation Manitou

HMAS Warrmunga’s Boarding Party prepare to conduct a boarding during the ship’s deployment on Operation Manitou.

Parcels of narcotics lay on the upper deck after being seized by HMAS Warramunga during the ship’s deployment on Operation Manitou.

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[BravoZulu]

HMA Ships Toowoomba and Success conduct a replenishment at sea during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 18.

HMA Ships Adelaide (left) and Melbourne (right) conduct concurrent replenishment from HMAS Success during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Seaman Boatswains Mate Melissa Gray on the forecastle of HMAS Anzac as they arrive in Singapore during their South East Asia Deployment.

HMAS Anzac arrives in Singapore during her South East Asia Deployment.

Seaman Boatswains Mate Ainsley Depiazza conducts maintenance on the 12.7 millimetre gun onboard HMAS Anzac during their South East Asia Deployment.
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[BravoZulu]

Australian Army corporal, Luke Ryder (right), gives direction on urban clearance drills to Iraqi Army Instructors from Baghdad Fighting School as part of training delivered at Taji Military Complex, Iraq.

Iraqi Army Instructors from the Baghdad Fighting School conduct urban clearance drills as part of instructor training delivered at Taji Military Complex, Iraq by members of the Australian Army.

Australian Army soldiers from the Training Task Unit demonstrate urban clearance drills to Iraqi Army Instructors from Baghdad Fighting School as part of instructor training delivered at Taji Military Complex, Iraq.

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[BravoZulu]

Australian Abrams tank supports a squad of United States Army soldiers as they prepare for an urban assault after dismounting from an Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle on Exercise Southern Jackaroo.

United States Marine Corps squad leader Sergeant Luke Frasier (right) counts his marines as the remount an Australian Armored Personnel Carrier following an assault on Exercise Southern Jackaroo.

United States Army Specialist Michael Barcus during an urban assault supported by an Australian Army Abrams tank on Exercise Southern Jackaroo.

United States Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jacob Johnson takes position during a assault with an Australian Armored Personnel Carrier on Exercise Southern Jackaroo.
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[BravoZulu]

The spectacular Milky Way dominates the night sky as a No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon sits on the hardstand at RAAF Base Learmonth.

A No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidon departs RAAF Base Learmonth on a mission as part of Operation RESOLUTE.

Avionics Technician, Leading Aircraftman Adam Durkin, runs after-flight inspections in the cockpit of a No. 11 Squadron P-8A Poseidonas part of Operation RESOLUTE.

A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion crew member conducts a pre-flight check prior to a mission in the Philippines as part of Exercise Balikatan 2018.

A Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion flies over the Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2018.

Royal Australian Air Force Flying Officer Larissa Stevens (left) and Warrant Officer Steve Shuck in the cockpit of an AP-3C Orion during a night mission in the Philippines as part of Exercise Balikatan 2018.

Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Officer Ross Tindale monitors sensors onboard an AP-3C Orion during a night mission in the Philippines as part of Exercise Balikatan 2018.

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[BravoZulu]

An Australian Army Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter fires at targets during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria,

Australian Army officer Lieutenant Joe Huston from the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment (left) discusses stability operations with Captain Roch Sardin from the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia (right) during Exercise Croix du Sud 2018, Koumac.

An Australian KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) from 33SQN, operated by the Aircraft Research and Development Unit, conducts aerial refuelling compatibility flight testing over the Atlantic Ocean with a United States Navy P-8A Poseidon from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Zero.

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft from No. 35 Squadron at La Tontouta International Airport, New Caledonia during Exercise Croix du Sud 2018.

A soldier from the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia jumps out of a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft from No. 35 Squadron over New Caledonia during Exercise Croix du Sud 2018.

A soldier from the French Armed Forces of New Caledonia and a military working dog jump out of a Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft from No. 35 Squadron over New Caledonia during Exercise Croix du Sud 2018.

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[BravoZulu]

Australian Army soldiers fire a Javelin missile at a target during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria

An Australian Army soldier fires a 66mm light direct fire support weapon during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria

Australian Army soldiers from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, push forward across the 'battlefield' as part of a combined arms assault alongside an M113AS4 armoured personnel carrier and an M1A1 Abrams tank during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria

Australian Army soldiers fire mortars during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area

Australian Army soldiers from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, fire the 84mm M3 Carl Gustav anti-tank weapon during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area, Victoria

Australian Army soldiers from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, push forward across the 'battlefield' as part of a combined arms assault alongside an M113AS4 armoured personnel carrier and an M1A1 Abrams tank during Exercise Chong Ju at Puckapunyal training area

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[BravoZulu]

Australian Army solider Warrant Officer Class 2 Jason Lewis, a member of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, enroute to Camp Qargha, in Kabul Province, Afghanistan.

Australian Army trainers from Task Group Taji-7 have been training Iraqi Army soldiers on offensive and defensive urban operations at Taji Military Complex in Iraq.

Australian Army Sergeant Mark Burnell, observes Iraqi Army soldiers as they conduct urban clearance training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq.

Australian soldiers from the 1st Royal Australian Regiment and current Rifle Company Butterworth rotation 122, visit Kanchanaburi Province and Hellfire Pass.

Hellfire Pass is the name of a railway cutting on the former Thai-Burma Railway in Thailand which was built using Prisoners of War and locally indentured civilians as forced labour during the Second World War.

Members from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, during their visit to the Hellfire Pass Memorial in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, after the completion of Exercise Chapel Gold 2018.
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[BravoZulu]

(L-R) Australian Army soldiers, Private Clayton Baird and Private Neil Sykes, from 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, during a reconnaissance and surveillance training exercise in the Townsville Field Training Area.

Officer Commanding Alpha Company Major Emlyn Mordike, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, briefs a platoon commander during Exercise Chapel Gold 2018 in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Australian Army soldier, Private Darnell Fisher, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on patrol during Exercise Chapel Gold 2018 in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Australian Army soldier, Private Brandon Bowen, from the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, on a patrol during Exercise Chapel Gold 2018 in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
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[BravoZulu]

Australian Army soldiers from the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment prepare the Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle for a flight at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Hamel 2018.

Australian Army soldier, Gunner Luke Jackson, prepares the Schiebel S100 Camcopter unmanned aerial system for a flight at Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Hamel 2018.

An Iraqi Army soldier fires a rocket propelled grenade under the supervision of an Australian Army trainer during heavy weapons training at Besmayah, Iraq.

A tank used for target practice is struck by a rocket propelled grenade fired by a member of the Iraqi Army during heavy weapons training at Besmayah, Iraq.

An Australian Army soldier provides direction to an Iraqi Army soldier on the use of a .50-calibre machine gun during heavy weapons training at Besmayah, Iraq.

Royal Australian Air Force crewmen from No. 3 Security Forces Squadron conduct a patrol on a Protected Mobility Vehicle at Cultana Training Area in South Australia during Exercise Taipan Strike 2018.

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[BravoZulu]

Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Darren Chester, MP, visits the memorial to those Australians who have lost their lives since 2001 in the Middle East region, with Command Warrant Officer, Warrant Officer Class 1 Leanne Iseppi, OAM.

Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Darren Chester, MP, watches Australian and New Zealand Task Group Taji-7 members conduct a training scenario at Taji Military Complex in Iraq.

Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Darren Chester, MP (centre), tours the Baghdad Fighting School with Lieutenant Colonel Justin Bywater (second left), of Task Group Taji-7 at the Taji Military Complex in Iraq.

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[BravoZulu]

Australian Army soldiers from 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, patrol to their next checkpoint during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition at Singleton Military Area.

Australian Army soldier, Private Jack Rogers, from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, provides first aid to a simulated casualty during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition

Australian Army soldiers, from 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, clear a building during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition

Australian Army soldier, Sapper Marshal Johnson-Roberts, from 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, Robertson Barracks, Darwin

An Australian Army soldier from 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, provides cover in a section attack during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition

Australian Army soldier, Private Sean Jackson, from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, withdraws to cover during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition

Australian Army soldier, Private Sean Jackson, from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, provides cover to his section during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition

Australian Army soldiers compete on the obstacle course during the Duke of Gloucester Cup section competition at Singleton Military Area.

Australian Army soldiers from 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, the champion section for the 2018 Duke of Gloucester Cup section competion, at the School of Infantry, Singleton, New South Wales.
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[BravoZulu]

HMAS Toowoomba departs Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for further engagements as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Success departs Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for further engagements as part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailor, Able Seaman Communication and Information Systems Chloe Osborne, lowers the Australian National Flag during HMAS Adelaide’s departure from Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, after participating in Exercise RIMPAC.

Flying Officer Ben Tuynman, of No. 2 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Williamtown, is deployed with the Air Task Group on Operation Okra (Iraq) as an E-7A Wedgetail pilot.
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[BravoZulu]

My last posting in the R.A.N. and one of the most special to me, H.M.A.S. Darwin will be gifted to Tasmania for Sinkex as a dive reef next year, 2019. While I hate to see her go it is a fitting end for such a great ship and she will become a useful and continuing legacy for years to come. A damn sight better end than the ignominy of a breakers yard ( seeing warships at a breakers gives me heartache!)

Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) Systems Program Office Director, Captain Jason Sears, RAN, welcomes dignitaries and guests to Fleet Base East, before Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, announces that Tasmania will be the recipient of the former Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin, for the purpose of creating an artificial reef and dive wreck.

 

[Josiah]

My last posting in the R.A.N. and one of the most special to me, H.M.A.S. Darwin will be gifted to Tasmania for Sinkex as a dive reef next year, 2019. While I hate to see her go it is a fitting end for such a great ship and she will become a useful and continuing legacy for years to come. A damn sight better end than the ignominy of a breakers yard ( seeing warships at a breakers gives me heartache!)

Guided Missile Frigate (FFG) Systems Program Office Director, Captain Jason Sears, RAN, welcomes dignitaries and guests to Fleet Base East, before Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, announces that Tasmania will be the recipient of the former Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin, for the purpose of creating an artificial reef and dive wreck.

It is always sad to see a warship being decommissioned, but like you said, being sunk as a reef is better than ending its days at a breaker's yard. OHP-class ships are arguably one of the most beautiful warships ever designed.

 

[BravoZulu]

It is always sad to see a warship being decommissioned, but like you said, being sunk as a reef is better than ending its days at a breaker's yard. OHP-class ships are arguably one of the most beautiful warships ever designed.

I don't know about "beautiful" mate, but the OHP were definitely functional and built tough. I was a member of her 1st Ship's company in 1984 and had the opportunity to spend a few days at sea in her on her final deployment last year. I was at her decommissioning and there is a plan for some of us "original" to be at her sinking.

We had one of the best ship's companies I've ever known when she commissioned, very tight and professional but also very close personally and by all accounts that continued right through her career. She was a "happy" ship from the day she commissioned to the day she decommissioned.

 

[BravoZulu]

Australian Army soldier, Private Thomas Reid, a member from Task Group Taji-7 Force provides force protection during heavy weapons training at Besmayah, Iraq.

Australian Army soldier, Lance Bombardier Jarrod Logan, launches the Wasp unmanned aerial system for a tactical surveillance task at the Wide Bay Training Area.

Members of 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, construct a concrete stairway at the Hill 27 Memorial site during HMA Ships Adelaide and Toowoomba's port visit to Honiara in the Solomon Islands as a part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

An Iraqi Army helicopter flies past during Iraqi Forward Air Controller training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq.

An Iraqi Army helicopter performs a simulated attack run under the direction of an Iraqi Forward Air Controller during training at Taji Military Complex, Iraq.

An Australian Army Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter during the Army Demonstration Day at Russell Offices, Canberra.

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[BravoZulu]

HMAS Adelaide sails through the Pacific Ocean towards the Solomon Islands during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

HMAS Toowoomba in transit to the Solomon Islands for Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailor, Petty Officer Physical Training Instructor Shane Murphy, guides the MRH-90 Helicopter on the flight deck of HMAS Success during Exercise Indo Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailor, Able Seaman Maritime Logistics Supply Chain Jack McMillan connects the load to the MRH-90 Helicopter with the support of Seaman Maritime Logistics Supply Chain Cheryl Sutherland (right) on the flight deck of HMAS Success during Exercise Indo Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailor, Leading Seaman Boatswain Mate Jasmin Buttler briefs Royal Canadian Navy Lieutenant Kevin Chung during a live fire exercise on HMAS Adelaide during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailors participate in a live fire exercise on HMAS Adelaide during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailors on the starboard manoeuvring deck of HMAS Success prepare to conduct a replenishment with HMAS Toowoomba (rear) during Indo Pacific Endeavour 2018.

Royal Australian Navy sailors, Able Seaman Electronic Warfare Kylie Prowse (left) and Able Seaman Combat Systems Operator James Rahder, commence the evacuation of a casualty during a toxic hazard training exercise at the Royal Australian Navy School of Survivability and Ship Safety - West, HMAS Stirling, Western Australia.

Royal Australian Navy sailors, Able Seaman Electronic Warfare Kylie Prowse (rear) and Able Seaman Maritime Logistics - Chef Tenielle Walter, place an Emergency Life Saving Respiratory Device onto a casualty during a toxic hazard training exercise at the Royal Australian Navy School of Survivability and Ship Safety - West, HMAS Stirling, Western Australia.

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