This is nothing but a media beat up.
Every year the RAN goes into Reduced Activity Period over the christmas/new year holidays.
We will still have the majority of our Armidales at full tempo on patrol, one major fleet unit will be deployed on Op Resolute up North, another is in the Arabian Gulf, and each base will have an operational standby vessel designated.
What it means is that the background admin duties on base and the daily routine in harbour can be cut away with, no ships are doing work ups, none are on flag showing visits throughout Asia, none are doing trials off Jervis Bay, etc.
Operations only, so that some bloody hard working people can see thier families for the most important part of the year.
Does anybody think thats unreasonable, or even unique to our Navy?
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Originally Posted by bookworm_020
I'm sure the people smugglers and illegal fishermen will be busy over the new year!  Not to mention the brothels!  |
Last year I came alongside Darwin Naval Base at 2030-ish Christmas Eve with a crew of indonesian fisherman onboard under apprehension.
And things are no different this year, just as every other, over 500 men and women will be at sea patrollling waters to our north and in the Arabian Gulf, most wont be lucky enough to be able to bring a catch back just hours before christmas day.