In today’s video, we’ll examine the 10 oldest and most powerful weapon systems still in active service with the U.S. military. These iconic pieces of military technology have proven their durability and effectiveness in various combat environments, from the Vietnam War to modern-day operations.
Defence Media Release
Conventional warfighting and cricket will underscore the deepening defence cooperation between Australian and India, as 120 soldiers from the Australian Army’s 13th Brigade depart for the third iteration of Exercise Austrahind 2024.
The exercise, held this year in India’s Pune region, is a three-week joint training activity and cultural exchange between the two nations.
Commander of 13th Brigade, Brigadier Amanda Williamson, said Exercise Austrahind allowed Australia and India to share their skills and tactics in an increasingly complex regional context.
“Australia and India are top-tier security partners, and we’re strengthening our defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean region,” Brigadier Williamson said.
“Coming together allows us to enhance the scope and complexity of our joint military exercises and develop new ways to address our shared security challenges.
“The planned cultural exchange between the 10th Light Horse Regiment and the Indian Army’s Dogra Regiment will be a remarkable opportunity for two historic units to share experiences.”
Brigadier Williamson said while activities such as traditional dancing, military horse riding and the ceremonial food banquet might be new to some of her soldiers, the planned cricket match between the two units will be more familiar.
“Our soldiers were delighted to host their Indian Army counterparts here in Western Australia last year. We’re looking forward to renewing those connections in India this year, especially on the cricket field,” she said.
“Exercise Austrahind aims to promote mutual understanding and tactical level information sharing, all while exposing participants, many of whom are reservists, to the military culture of a top-tier security partner.
“It speaks volumes about Austrahind’s importance that it has grown so quickly. We’re sending almost three times as many soldiers this year compared to 2022.”
Brigadier Williamson will launch the exercise at Austrahind’s opening ceremony, while Commander 2nd (Australian) Division, Major General David Thomae, will officiate the closing ceremony, highlighting the significance of the event.
Australia and India share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership contributing to an open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Bill Coolburra was born at Palm Island, North Queensland, and joined the Australian Army in 1964. As a sapper with the Australian Engineers, he served in Borneo, Vietnam, Malaya and Singapore. In the Vietnam War, Sapper Bill was part of 3 Field Troop, nicknamed the ‘Tunnel Rats’. Their dangerous work was to enter and clear complex tunnel systems made by the Viet Cong. Well respected in his local community, Bill spent many years after service supporting and mentoring Indigenous youth. His story is one of audacity and friendship.
The Governor-General has announced that His Majesty The King has granted approval for the Victoria Cross for Australia to be posthumously awarded to the late Private Richard Norden of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR).
“Recently, I had the solemn privilege of informing Private Norden’s widow, Mrs. Robynn Freeman, that His Majesty has approved the awarding of the Victoria Cross for Australia to her late husband,” the Governor-General stated.
Private Norden’s citation reads:
“For most conspicuous acts of gallantry in action in the presence of the enemy in the ‘AO Surfers’ Area of Operations in Bien Hoa province, Vietnam, on 14 May 1968, during the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral.”
Full details of Private Norden’s remarkable actions in battle are included below.
Tragically, Private Norden died in 1972 while serving with the Australian Capital Territory Police. His award of the Victoria Cross for Australia, the nation’s highest military honour, speaks to his exceptional courage and selflessness in combat, and it underscores the enduring legacy of bravery upheld by generations of Australian service personnel.
“This is a historic moment for Australia and for the Australian Defence Force,” said the Governor-General. “It is a deeply significant day for Private Norden’s family and loved ones. When I spoke with Mrs. Freeman, I conveyed the gratitude of all Australians for her late husband’s service and courage. I hope this recognition, our nation’s highest, will bring her a renewed sense of pride and affirmation that he will never be forgotten.”
Mrs. Freeman released the following statement:
“We are honoured that His Majesty has approved the Victoria Cross for Australia for Richard, recognised his gallant actions while serving in Vietnam. We would like to keep this special occasion private, and we request that any further inquiries be directed to the Department of Defence or the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General.”
The Governor-General has assured Mrs. Freeman that a special investiture ceremony will be planned with the utmost respect and dignity to mark this prestigious award and its importance to the nation.
Citation Details: Private Richard Norden, Victoria Cross for Australia
Private Richard Norden’s actions on 14 May 1968 were exemplary in their bravery. While serving with the 5th Platoon, B Company, of the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR), in the AO Surfers Area of Operations in Bien Hoa province, Vietnam, his platoon came under heavy ambush from an estimated squad of seven to ten North Vietnamese Army (NVA) soldiers. As a member of the lead section, Private Norden immediately took action under intense enemy fire, advancing forward to reach his wounded Section Commander and forward scout.
In his initial advance, Private Norden killed one NVA soldier and, upon expending his ammunition, recovered that enemy’s weapon and continued his assault. Displaying extraordinary valour, he then half-carried, half-dragged his seriously wounded Section Commander back to safety. Despite his own severe injuries, Private Norden returned to the line, pressing forward again to reach the forward scout. In a final act of selflessness, he neutralized another NVA soldier who was using the scout as a shield, only to confirm that the scout had been killed. Determined to secure the area, Private Norden gathered grenades, advanced for a third time, and cleared the position, allowing the scout’s body to be recovered.
Private Norden’s courage and self-sacrifice enabled his platoon to secure the position, and his actions likely saved the lives of his fellow soldiers. His legacy as a courageous and selfless soldier will be forever honoured by this award.
Copied from DVA website
This year marks the 110th anniversary of the battle at sea between HMAS Sydney and Germany’s light cruiser SMS Emden on 9 November 1914.
SMS Emden was raiding the Cocos-Keeling Islands, aiming to destroy the British wireless station and cut the undersea cable delivering international telegraphs to Australia.
HMAS Sydney, also a light cruiser, and one of the escorts protecting the first convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops to sail for the war, set off to investigate a distress signal coming from the Cocos-Keeling Islands station. Sydney sighted the islands at 9.15 am and spotted smoke coming from Emden’s funnel almost immediately.
Commanded by Captain John Glossop RN, Sydney had the edge over Emden in speed, range of guns, and armour. However, when Emden saw that Sydney was approaching at speed to engage, fired and hit Sydney at about 9.40 am.
In return, Sydney scored more than 100 hits on Emden in an intense engagement that lasted almost 2 hours. Emden was soon engulfed in fire and lost 2 of 3 funnels and its foremast.
Badly damaged, Emden was deliberately run aground by her Captain Karl von Müller on North Keeling Island, preventing the ship from sinking and in the hope of saving as many lives as possible. Of its 316 crew, 134 lost their lives and a further 65 were wounded.
Sydney disengaged from the battle to capture the German crew of Emden’s scuttled collier (coal supply ship) and, when it returned to Emden at 4 pm, the wrecked cruiser was still flying the German ensign. After an inconclusive exchange of signals, Glossop fired two further salvoes.
A German sailor finally climbed up the mast and took down the ensign, and another waved a white sheet on the quarterdeck.
Four Australians lost their lives as part of the battle, and more than a dozen were wounded. The battle was considered a strategic win as it removed the immediate threat to Australia’s oceanic links to Britain. It also ensured control of the Indian Ocean for future contingents and trade, underscoring the strategic importance of Australia’s oceanic connections to the world.
Today, we remember those who served and the Australians who sacrificed their lives in Australia’s first single-ship battle at sea.
Lest we forget.
Tangle News
As cost-of-living pressures rise, Australians are asking, “Are we better off than before?” A resounding number of Australians seem to answer “no.” Under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government, inflation has surged to levels unseen since the pandemic, while support for the Coalition has climbed to its highest since the 2022 election.
A major driver of this inflation has been linked to decisions made in Canberra. Treasurer Jim Chalmers, alongside Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, has overseen projects whose costs have blown out far beyond initial budgets, raising questions about fiscal management under the Albanese government. Australians are feeling the pressure as the ripple effects of these policies reach households and businesses nationwide.
One of the most contentious issues has been Minister Chris Bowen’s climate initiatives, which include ambitious renewable energy projects. While many Australians support the transition to sustainable energy, concerns are growing over the pace and expense of these projects. Initial budgets have consistently fallen short as timelines extend and costs mount, with recent reports suggesting that the gap between projected and actual spending could exceed billions of dollars. This has led to fears that Australian taxpayers are footing the bill for these ballooning expenses, adding further strain to household budgets already grappling with high inflation.
Senator Malcolm Roberts from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has been vocal in his criticism, pointing out that Canberra’s policies have driven inflationary pressures rather than alleviating them. According to him and other critics, decisions from Canberra are directly impacting essential costs—energy, housing, food—making everyday expenses harder for Australians to manage.
Adding fuel to the fire, the latest Newspoll results reveal a sharp increase in Coalition support, suggesting that a growing number of Australians hold the Albanese government accountable for the economic pain they’re experiencing.
As tensions rise, the US preps for war against China by dusting off deserted WWII air bases, like Tinian, in the South China Sea. Learn about the historical significance of these abandoned Pacific air bases in this video.
In a historic recognition of bravery during the Vietnam War, Australia has awarded the Victoria Cross to Private Richard Leslie Nordern, who served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and displayed extraordinary courage in the Battle of Coral-Balmoral. The posthumous award was presented by Governor-General Sam Mostyn following the national Remembrance Day service in Canberra on November 11, 2024.
The Victoria Cross recognizes Nordern’s gallant actions on May 14, 1968, during a pivotal and gruelling conflict in the Vietnam War. The Battle of Coral-Balmoral, fought between May and June 1968, was among the most challenging and costly battles for Australian forces in the Vietnam War. Facing intense North Vietnamese and Viet Cong offensives, Australian soldiers, including Nordern, were tasked with defending the forward operating bases Coral and Balmoral in South Vietnam’s Bien Hoa province. Their bravery in this battle is a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of the Australian military in an unforgiving conflict.
Private Nordern’s actions on that day are noted for their conspicuous gallantry and devotion to his comrades, qualities that have earned him the Victoria Cross—the highest military award for bravery in Australia. The Victoria Cross for Australia is awarded for exceptional acts of heroism under fire, conspicuous gallantry, and unwavering devotion to duty, recognizing service members who perform beyond the call of duty under life-threatening conditions.
This honour brings the total number of Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians to 101. Governed by the approval of the King and awarded on the recommendation of Australia’s Defence Minister, the medal serves as a lasting symbol of sacrifice and courage. Governor-General Mostyn’s presentation highlighted the enduring legacy of the ANZAC spirit and reinforced the solemn reverence for Australia’s military history, especially on Remembrance Day, when Australians honour those who served and fell in defence of their nation.
The Fiji Times
ADF officers who were part of Operation Kuru Kuru. Picture: SUPPLIED
As part of contribution to maritime surveillance in the Pacific, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed its support to Operation Kuru Kuru, assisting Fiji to tackle illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing activity.
Operation Kuru Kuru is a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to monitor and protect Pacific Island countries’ exclusive economic zones.
The ADF provided a C-27J Spartan and KA350 King Air aircraft, operating out of Vanuatu, Samoa, Papua New Guinea and now Fiji.
“This is in addition to support from the Navy where vessels support FFA’s (Forum Fisheries Agency) Operation 365 during frequent deployments and transits in the Southwest Pacific,” said Commander Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN
“We are at our best when we work together as a Pacific family, to face joint challenges together.”
The ADF contribution to Operation Kuru Kuru was conducted through Operation Solania, the ADF contribution to maritime surveillance in the Pacific.
On Remembrance Day we commemorate those who died in the First World War, as well as all Australian Defence Force personnel who have fought and died in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The year 2024 marks the 106th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Allied forces and Germany, which ended the First World War (1914–18). On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. More Australians were killed and wounded in the First World War than in all subsequent conflicts combined. As a mark of respect Australians are encouraged to pause at 11am for one minute’s silence and remember all those who died or suffered for Australia in all wars and armed conflicts. Defence joins all Australians on Remembrance Day to acknowledge, honour and remember the courage and sacrifice of those who have served our country and those who gave their lives in service to our nation.