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The Hobart Class guided-missile destroyer, HMAS Sydney, along with its MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and a crew of about 200, was farewelled at Fleet Base East for a four-month regional presence deployment.

During this period, HMAS Sydney will participate in Exercise RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime exercise, Exercise Pacific Dragon, and Operation Argos, which supports UN sanctions against North Korea. The ship will also engage in activities with regional partners to enhance cooperation and interoperability.

Exercise RIMPAC 24 will involve 40 surface ships, 4 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 170 aircraft, and approximately 25,000 personnel from 30 nations, providing a significant training opportunity and strengthening regional security relationships.

Commodore Jonathan Ley emphasized that these deployments reflect Australia’s commitment to regional engagement and maintaining a near-continuous presence in the Indo-Pacific. He extended his best wishes to Commander Grant Coleman and his crew.

Commander Coleman expressed the crew’s eagerness to represent Australia in Exercise RIMPAC and throughout the deployment.

Exercise Pitch Black 2024, the Royal Australian Air Force’s premier biennial flying activity, will run from July 12 to August 2. This year’s event will be the largest in its history, featuring 20 nations and a multinational element.

For the first time, aircraft from Italy, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Spain will participate, along with personnel from Brunei and Fiji. The exercise will take place at RAAF Bases Darwin, Tindal, and Amberley, focusing on large-force employment missions over the Northern Territory.

Air Commodore Peter Robinson, leading the exercise, highlighted its unprecedented scale with about 140 aircraft and over 4,400 personnel involved. He emphasized the opportunity for enhanced international cooperation and the sharing of experiences to promote regional peace and stability.

New infrastructure, including the Defence Accommodation Precinct Darwin at Howard Springs, will support the exercise. RAAF Base Amberley will play a larger role than in previous years, hosting more tankers and transport aircraft.

The exercise will involve complex planning and coordination, with aircraft flying over extensive areas of the Australian outback in controlled airspace, tackling dynamic threats both day and night.

The benefits of Exercise Pitch Black will extend beyond the three-week duration, contributing to regional stability and enhancing Australia’s role as a security partner, in line with the 2024 National Defence Strategy. The event will also feature a Mindil Beach flying display and an open day at RAAF Base Darwin.

The Battle of Kapyong has come to be known as the most significant and important battle for Australian troops in the Korean War. Watch as The Cove walks us through the history of the Battle of Kapyong.

CHARLES McMoran Wilson, Baron Moran, was Winston Churchill’s physician, confidant and companion during the critical years of his statesmanship.

Like Churchill a World War I veteran, Moran wrote extensively, including the seminal Anatomy of Courage on soldiers in combat and its effects on their health and wellbeing.

He controversially diarised Churchill’s multiple physical and mental struggles until the latter’s 1965 death, including his cognitive decline during his final years.

Moran did not describe Churchill’s alcohol consumption as excessive contrary to perceptions of many of his political critics, including supposed allies.

While in South Africa Banjo Paterson was astonished to observe Churchill and his cousin consuming a large bottle of beer with breakfast, not an uncommon practice in contemporary shearing sheds which Paterson regularly observed.

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