Publications

Current Publications

Title of Publication Summary
An Australian vision of the Indo-Pacific - Through a Strategic and Maritime Lens The idea of the Indo-Pacific as a single region of interest is specifically useful for Australia, because it encompasses all of Australia’s maritime surrounds. To the east, Australia has a long-held interest in the Southwest Pacific, including significant aid and development work. To the north, in Southeast Asia, through which the bulk of Australia’s exports are transported, the rules-based order and stability of this region are vital.
Australian Maritime Doctrine (2010) Australian Maritime Doctrine is the Royal Australian Navy's capstone work of doctrine. It is a guide to understanding the unique nature of the RAN's contribution to Australia's national security and how the Navy goes about its business. Australian Maritime Doctrine has been written to appeal to the widest possible audience, not only those within the RAN and the Australian Defence Force, but to all who have responsibilities for or are interested in Australia's national security and its instruments.
Australian Maritime Logistics Doctrine This is the first edition of Australian Maritime Logistics Doctrine. Its purpose is to guide the ongoing development and assurance of maritime support capability. Australian Maritime Logistics Doctrine amplifies Australian Maritime Doctrine 1 - RAN Doctrine and Australian Maritime Doctrine 2 - The Navy Contribution to Australian Maritime Operations, by articulating the principles that underpin the design of logistics support systems for new and in-service maritime capability, and the planning and delivery of support to maritime operations.
Australian Maritime Operations (2017) The purpose of Australian Maritime Operations (2017) is to support the capstone Australian Maritime Doctrine (2010). This edition replaces The Navy Contribution to Maritime Operations (2005). The two documents are complementary with Australian Maritime Doctrine (AMD) describing the Navy’s strategic rationale and its philosophical underpinnings and Australian Maritime Operations (AMO) expanding on how the Navy, and its joint and multinational partners, organise, prepare for and approach maritime operations.
Chief of Navy Speeches Chief of Navy is regularly called upon to visit various organisations and attend a variety of different functions and is asked to formally address officials and other interested parties. Speeches from these events are now available in PDF format.
Chief of Navy’s Professional Resource List 2019 The Chief of Navy’s Professional Resource List (2019) is a list of books and online sources which Vice Admiral Michael Noonan has read and found useful and regularly recommends. The list also includes resources that have been recommended by people whose expertise and judgement he relies upon. It is this final category that he is looking forward to reading as part of his professional development this year.
Foundations of International Thinking on Sea Power The Foundations of International Thinking on Sea Power series was produced by the Sea Power Centre - Australia and comprised peer-reviewed original research on how various states perceived the necessity for, and use of, sea power. The series ran over the period 2008-09, produced 2 volumes, and has been replaced by the Sea Power series.
Future Maritime Operating Concept - 2025 The Future Maritime Operating Concept 2025 (FMOC) is the ADF's long term, maritime, joint warfighting capability aspiration. The FMOC seeks to inform and guide Navy, Army and Air Force staffs and Capability Development Group in developing capability requirements for the future ADF in the maritime environment. While Navy leads the development of the FMOC, it is a joint, collaborative effort.
Grey Shutterbugs - Volume One Grey Shutterbugs showcases a choice of images by Navy Imagery Specialists along with insights into their lives and some fascinating personal anecdotes from the great characters of this unique Navy profession.
Hindsight The Hindsight series highlights the Australia’s naval tradition, covering the Commonwealth Naval Forces and the Royal Australian Navy, and are generally 2000 words in length.
King-Hall Naval History Conference Proceedings The biennial King-Hall Navy History Conference is named after Admiral Sir George King-Hall, the last British Commander-in-Chief on the Australia Station, who hauled down his flag on 4 October 1913 with the entry of the Fleet Unit into Sydney Harbour.
Naval Engineering Strategic Plan 2017-2022 The Naval Engineering Strategic Plan 2017-2022 describes the Naval Engineering goals and objectives for the period 2017-2022 and provides the framework within which Naval Engineering will deliver on its mission to deliver Seaworthy Materiel.
Navy Career Handbooks Career handbooks are available to inform, enable and motivate personnel in the various Navy employment communities.
Navy Industry Engagement Strategy It is the Chief of Navy's intent that the implementation of a Navy Industry Engagement Strategy, one that directly supports Plan Pelorus, will provide an ideal opportunity to regenerate, refocus and ultimately strengthen Navy's relationship with industry and academia. This strategy makes it clear that the Chief of Navy is focused on providing a clear direction of where we are going, what our needs are, and why. The Chief of Navy wants industry and academia to understand that what they are producing, no matter how big or how small, contributes to the bigger picture of Navy’s capability, and our national interest.
Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs The Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs series was produced by the Sea Power Centre - Australia and comprised lengthy peer-reviewed original research on regional maritime affairs. The series ran over the period 1996-2011, produced 35 volumes, and has been replaced by the Sea Power series.
RAS-AI Strategy 2040 Robotics, Autonomous Systems and Artificial Intelligence (RAS-AI) are transforming every aspect of our lives. As a Fighting and Thinking Navy, we must leverage these advances to also transform, and improve, our ability to Fight and Win at Sea.
Report on abuse at HMAS Leeuwin On 18 June 2014, the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce released its Report on abuse at HMAS Leeuwin, which is based on the personal accounts of more than 200 complainants who trained at HMAS Leeuwin. The report, along with other key documents, can be downloaded from the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce website.
Royal Australian Navy Leadership Ethic The Royal Australian Navy Leadership Ethic is written to challenge the reader to contemplate the ethical obligations of professional service, and presents a way of thinking about leadership, rather than any prescriptive way of leading. Reflecting upon principles which fill leadership with a sense of moral seriousness and public purpose, the publication explores ideas which anchor professional naval service to the fundamental beliefs of human value and dignity. By doing this, The Royal Australian Navy Leadership Ethic initiates an essential professional conversation.
Sea Power Conference Proceedings The Sea Power Conference began in 2000, and is conducted biennially in conjunction with the International Maritime Conference and the Pacific Exposition, at Darling Harbour in Sydney. The proceedings of the Sea Power conferences have generally been published in-house and limited copies are available.
Sea Power Series The Sea Power Series is a new Sea Power Centre - Australia publication introduced in 2012. This series is designed to capture peer-reviewed, original research on regional maritime affairs, ranging from Working Paper level up to book manuscript. The Sea Power Series replaces the former Working Papers and Papers in Australian Maritime Affairs.
Semaphore The Semaphore series is produced by the Sea Power Centre - Australia to raise awareness of naval and maritime issues, both contemporary and historical. They are generally 2000 words (2 pages) but may occasionally be 4000 words (4 pages) in length. The series is only available in electronic format.
Soundings Papers Soundings papers are a new Sea Power Centre - Australia publication introduced in 2012. The Soundings series is designed to raise awareness of naval and maritime issues, both contemporary and historical, but in more ‘depth’ than Semaphores. They cover works from 4000 to 10,000 words in length. The series is only available in electronic format.
SPC-A Commercial Publications The Sea Power Centre - Australia has published a large number of conference, workshop and seminar proceedings in conjunction with other institutions, as well as a variety of commercial publications.
Submarine Workforce Sustainability Review The Chief of Navy has released a plan to dramatically improve Australia’s submarine fleet, after concerns a lack of numbers is placing an unacceptable strain on personnel.
Tac Talks Tac Talks are papers about global maritime strategic concepts and strategies authored by professionals of the Royal Australian Navy.
The ABC of Royal Australian Navy Corvettes Soon after the outbreak of World War II an order was placed for sixty minesweepers of simple design to be constructed in Australian shipyards as part of the Commonwealth Government’s wartime shipbuilding programme. Rapidly produced, these vessels were capable of patrol work, shore bombardment, minesweeping, escort and survey duties and troop-transport. They became popularly known as Corvettes.
The Navy and the Nation The Chief of Navy’s analytical piece on the relationship between his service and the nation, The Navy and the Nation: Australia's Maritime Power in the 21st Century, comes as Navy embarks on a period of significant change. This is an essay written for a number of different audiences, from the Navy itself to industry and the professional community and one that manages to deliver its message to each of them.
Winning at Sea - The Story of Women in the RAN To mark the progress Navy has made in relation to the employment of women on the occasion of the International Fleet Review, Chief of Navy commissioned, and the Governor-General launched, a book titled "Winning at Sea - The Story of Women in the RAN".
Working Papers The Working Paper series was produced by the Sea Power Centre - Australia and comprised shorter original research on maritime security issues. The series ran over the period 1999-2012, produced 21 volumes, and has been replaced by the Sea Power series. There are limited hard copies of various volumes; otherwise it is only available in electronic format.

Historic Publications

Title of Publication Summary
ACB 0233/44(3) South-West Pacific Anti-Submarine Warfare Reports (WWII) These declassified anti-submarine warfare reports were compiled by the Anti-Submarine Warfare Division in Navy Office, Melbourne during the latter part of World War II. They contain an intelligence appreciation of the perceived enemy submarine threat as well as other useful information concerning anti-submarine operations.
ACB 0254/45(4) Royal Australian Navy Monthly Naval Warfare Review (WWII) These declassified monthly naval warfare reviews contain an appreciation of the progress of the naval war in the Pacific and South East Asia during 1944-45. Included in each review are sections concerning intelligence, tactics, incidents and lessons learned.
Admiralty Fleet Orders Since the inception of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in July 1911, through to 1976, the promulgation, amendment and cancellation of administrative policies were routinely issued in the form of Navy Orders (later Commonwealth Naval Orders). Often instructions promulgated in Australian Navy Orders made reference to Admiralty Fleet Orders published by the Royal Navy, such was the close relationship between the RAN and RN at that time.
Australia Station Intelligence Summaries 1952-1957 These post World War II Regional Intelligence Summaries, covering the period 1952-1957, have been declassified, digitised and placed in the public domain as part of the Sea Power Centre - Australia's ongoing digitisation program.
Commemorative Publications Collection of publications commemorating the Royal Australian Navy.
Commonwealth Naval Orders Since the inception of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in July 1911, through to 1976, the promulgation, amendment and cancellation of administrative policies were routinely issued in the form of Navy Orders (later Commonwealth Naval Orders).
Commonwealth War Book The purpose of the Commonwealth War Book (1956) was to facilitate the transition from peace to war, by setting down the administrative actions that will be taken in the early stages of a war emergency; indicating which Department or other Authority is responsible for action laid down in each field; and so enabling preparations to be made in advance of war, including the drafting of initial control regulations and orders.
HM Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action in World War II B.R 1886 (2) (C.B. 4273 (52)) H.M. Ships Damaged or Sunk by Enemy Action 3rd. Sept 1939 to 2nd. Sept 1945. This Book of Reference (BR) contains a complete summary, as far as is known, of war damage to HM Ships in the Second World War and is based on reports held in the Admiralty at the time of its publication in 1952. Researchers may wish to review these in conjunction with the Damage Control Posters also listed on the Naval History Web Site.
Navy List The Navy List traditionally contains details of the officers of the Australian Navy. These past editions have been digitised and placed in the public domain as part of the Sea Power Centre - Australia's digitisation project. The aim of this project is to make historic records and information more readily available to members of the public. Additional editions of Navy Lists will be added throughout the life of the project as the 30 year disclosure period expires.
Navy News Navy News is published fortnightly with its basic charter to inform and entertain our sailors wherever they are serving, in ships or on shore, at home or overseas. It also contains advice valuable to serving members and those considering reserve employment.
Navy Today The first editions of Navy Today were published in the early 1960s to provide a snap-shot of the contemporary RAN Fleet and a brief commentary on operations in which the RAN was involved.
Recommendations of Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson In 1910 Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson was invited to visit Australia and provide advice on naval infrastructure. Henderson’s subsequent report advocated a progressive expansion of the RAN extending over a generation.
Reports of Admiral Jellicoe Volume I-IV At the end of World War I, Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe was invited to write a report on the naval defence of Australia. The four volume report was published in 1919.
The Naval Auxiliary Patrol The Naval Auxiliary Patrol (NAP) was a war-raised unit approved on 25 June 1941. It was charged with patrolling and safeguarding Australia's inner harbours, ports, rivers and estuaries against enemy sabotage or attack. At the bottom of this page you will find a collection of surviving registration papers and records for many of the small vessels, including channel patrol boats, that were requisitioned by the RAN.
World War I Naval Staff Monographs The production of these Admiralty Naval Staff Monographs was intended to give an account of the actual course of events concerning the global war at sea during World War I.
World War II Daily Movement Summaries During World War II the RAN maintained a daily summary of the movements of HMA Ships and auxiliaries around the Australia Station. These narratives have been, declassified, digitised and placed in the public domain as part of the Sea Power Centre - Australia's ongoing digitisation program. The aim of this program is to make historic records and information more readily available to members of the public to assist with historical research.
World War II Combined Operational Intelligence Centre Naval Summaries When war broke out in the Far East and Pacific, the Combined Operational Intelligence Centre (COIC) complemented the activities of the Central War Room (CWR) through the distribution of 'Hot' intelligence to the three Services, the CWR, New Zealand and Singapore. These declassified digitised COIC summaries record the daily intelligence picture as it was interpreted at that time.
World War II Daily Escort Situation During World War II the RAN maintained a record of the daily escort situation in Australian and South-West Pacific waters. These records have been, declassified, digitised and placed in the public domain as part of the Sea Power Centre - Australia’s ongoing digitisation program. The aim of this program is to make historic records and information more readily available to members of the public to assist with historical research.
World War II Damage Control During World War II effective damage control measures became a necessity for ships damaged in action. These posters, produced by the Royal Navy and distributed throughout the Commonwealth, highlight some of the successes and failures of damage control in HM Ships. Many of the lessons learnt remain relevant today.
World War II Merchant Ship Movement Records - Australia World War II merchant ship movement records for Australia.
World War II Naval Staff Histories A collection of publications written by the Historical Section of the Admiralty during and after World War II.

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