Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2003/WO-N comments

By WO-N David Turner

By now you would be aware of the outcomes of the Defence Capability Review. This review of the Defence Capability Plan was completed so that the outcomes of the 2000 Defence White paper were still relevant and achievable in light of recent world events.

Almost immediately after the review was announced, work commenced on its implementation, particularly how these changes to our capability affect Navy people and our families.

CN and other senior Navy people have been working quite hard throughout the year to ensure our Navy's interests were represented at the highest levels during this review. I am sure you will agree with me in saying that the outcomes are a good result, not only for Navy but for the wider Defence organisation.

You will have read that HMA Ships Adelaide and Canberra will be decommissioned around 2006 and this will be aligned as closely as possible with the last of the Anzac class, Toowoomba and Perth coming into service.

The remaining FFGs will have an enhanced, longer range missile system fitted and this will fill a significant capability gap in the period before the three new Air Warfare Destroyers could be brought into inventory.

Two Minehunters will be layed up and it should not be forgotten that this is not a new concept for our Navy. Our LCHs spent a good deal of time layed up and were brought back into service when our needs changed. This initiative should go some way to easing the people shortages within the Mine Warfare community.

The year 2006 will be a busy one as new ships are brought into service. In addition to Toowoomba and Perth, the Armidale class patrol boats will still be coming into service whilst the Fremantle class will be in the process of decommissioning.

HMAS Westralia will be replaced by a tanker that better meets world environmental standards and will be modified in Australia to meet our needs. This tanker will be cheaper to operate than Westralia and will help Tobruk's replacement to be sourced earlier and with more capability than anticipated in the original Defence Capability Plan.

It is fair to say that the LPAs have proven their worth many times over in recent operations. They will be replaced with one platform of the same class as Tobruk's replacement and another, larger and still more capable heavy lift amphibious platform.

Importantly, the Defence Capability Review helps our Navy to sustain current capability in a way that should go some way to easing the people problems we have all experienced in Navy.

Our near term future capability is enhanced particularly in the areas of air warfare and afloat support and importantly, our future capability is now secure and we can be confident our Navy will continue to meet the challenges placed upon us, long after we are gone.

We should all strive to leave our Navy a better one for the next generation of sailors and this review allows us to achieve that aim.

These important improvements to our capability mean there will be some changes for our people. In the near term, some of our people will be employed on other ship classes.

This is a real opportunity for our people and I ask that you engage your career managers early in the process so that you are in a position to make informed career choices. This is particularly important if you are in a technical category as you will more than likely be given an opportunity to undertake training on your new platform.

No matter what your rank or category, it is important that we take an active and positive role in these changes. Stay abreast of future announcements and importantly, do not listen to those who like to dwell on the uncertainty that change may cause.

Keep your divisional staff and career managers busy, challenge them to find the answers to those questions that you need answered but be patient if those answers are not yet available. You will be advised as soon as those decisions are taken.

The outcomes of the Defence Capability Review make our Navy an exciting place to be both now and in the future. I certainly hope that you look forward to these enhancements as I do.

Once again, take care and if you see me on my travels, say G'day. David Turner Warrant Officer of the Navy WO.N@cbr.defence.gov.au telephone 02 6265 4905