I don't think the RAN have enough sailors.
Old news from AFR in 2024 -
I don't think the RAN have enough sailors.
Old news from AFR in 2024 -
Lethe
Captain
It's a joint surveillance effort. HMAS Arunta was shadowing the group in an earlier phase.
Looks like they are going to circumnavigate the continent. Will be interesting to see how close they pass by HMAS Stirling (a facility, not a ship) on the south-west coast. HMAS Stirling is currently undergoing upgrades to host US, UK and (eventually, notionally) Australian nuclear submarines, so PLAN may well pop around and say hello.
EDIT: USS Minnesota SSN-783 is at HMAS Stirling as we speak.
Lethe
Captain
A former Chief of the Australian Defence Force (1998-2002), retired Admiral Chris Barrie, has on the idea that China's transit or live fire exercises in the Tasman Sea were unprecedented in their conduct or notification practices. I quote:
Notably, PLAN broadcasting on guard frequency is how the first airliner-in-transit was alerted to these exercises, passing on to ATC who established the air corridor diverting other aircraft, thence to Airservices Australia, and thence to the ADF (with an independent, slower route of notification via RNZN).
I previously intimated that the lack of a detailed analysis (as opposed to superficial bloviations from tabloid media and politicians) demonstrating how unprecedent and outrageous PLAN's conduct in the Tasman Sea was was rather suggestive, given that there are any number of actors who would appear motivated to make that analysis if it were indeed fruitful, and Admiral Barry's comments here only reinforce that suspicion. Also very noticeable is the silence from USN on the subject...
Notably, PLAN broadcasting on guard frequency is how the first airliner-in-transit was alerted to these exercises, passing on to ATC who established the air corridor diverting other aircraft, thence to Airservices Australia, and thence to the ADF (with an independent, slower route of notification via RNZN).
I previously intimated that the lack of a detailed analysis (as opposed to superficial bloviations from tabloid media and politicians) demonstrating how unprecedent and outrageous PLAN's conduct in the Tasman Sea was was rather suggestive, given that there are any number of actors who would appear motivated to make that analysis if it were indeed fruitful, and Admiral Barry's comments here only reinforce that suspicion. Also very noticeable is the silence from USN on the subject...
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Actually she never made it to MP, she broke herself prior to starting the training. Most Australians consider her a bit of a craz
y cat lady.
I wish that 107 Zunyi flotilla had passed through the Baas straight to show China's determination in protecting the China-Australia sea trade routes.
There's no reason they couldn't have done, it's considered a maritime route, same as the Taiwan Straight, Torres Straight etc.
New Zealand only has one active frigate it's other frigate is under going maintenance.
They also have two offshore patrol boats but they are laid up due to man power shortages
So basically New Zealand has sent the totally of it's active naval power out to follow the PLAN
Lethe
Captain
I can't speak to the details of her background, but a found that she is the most popular politician (by net favourability rating) in the federal parliament.
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Actually the Kiwi frigate was enroute to its scheduled tasking to be a component of Task Force 150. It was just diverted on its track to monitor the PLAN task group. Cheers.