AUKUS

[wink]

This is good. Hopefully the Aussie sailors will learn some of our "customs". We had a NFO ride on a RAN sub for RIMPAC in 1982 or so. When they returned to port at Pearl some of us went to meet our guy on the dock. Some time that night, after welcome home libations, the sub's Royal Australian Navy Ensign was appropriated off the stern staff. HOLY SHIT! You would never think Aussies could not take a joke. It nearly caused an international incident. It took a lot of heat, but eventually it appeared out from under a JO's mattress and mysteriously was flying proud on the stern one morning.

 

[sevenhelmet]

This is good. Hopefully the Aussie sailors will learn some of our "customs". We had a NFO ride on a RAN sub for RIMPAC in 1982 or so. When they returned to port at Pearl some of us went to meet our guy on the dock. Some time that night, after welcome home libations, the sub's Royal Australian Navy Ensign was appropriated off the stern staff. HOLY SHIT! You would never think Aussies could not take a joke. It nearly caused an international incident. It took a lot of heat, but eventually it appeared out from under a JO's mattress and mysteriously was flying proud on the stern one morning.

Yeah, funny but no joke. Imagine any ship's company SEL reacting to that happening on one of ours. Holy shit, indeed.

 

[nittany03]

This is good. Hopefully the Aussie sailors will learn some of our "customs". We had a NFO ride on a RAN sub for RIMPAC in 1982 or so. When they returned to port at Pearl some of us went to meet our guy on the dock. Some time that night, after welcome home libations, the sub's Royal Australian Navy Ensign was appropriated off the stern staff. HOLY SHIT! You would never think Aussies could not take a joke. It nearly caused an international incident. It took a lot of heat, but eventually it appeared out from under a JO's mattress and mysteriously was flying proud on the stern one morning.

Yeah, fucking with another country’s national flag is a bit beyond “just a joke.” One below for headwork for that JOPA.

 

[number9]

Yeah, fucking with another country’s national flag is a bit beyond “just a joke.” One below for headwork for that JOPA.

It would be one thing if it was something unofficial like the Boxing Kangaroo. But the national flag? Big yikes.

 

[wink]

Navy ensign. Not the National flag. But yes. It was a bit over the top. Still, it was a different time. Different Navy. No one one from the ship or squadron cared so much except for the reaction of the Aussies. There was no recrimination for the perp.

I always thought the Aussies were as mad about the embarrassment of of their security detail not preventing it than anything else. A Red Team could not have done a better job focusing them on in port security.

 

[hlg6016]

That's akin to stealing a unit's guidon, Your just asking for a fight.

 

[Mos]

Sounds like an act of war. Or at least an act of piracy. Sometimes piracy is the right course.

 

[Flash]

First Australian Sailors Graduate from Nuclear Power School, Set to Serve on U.S. Navy Subs in Hawaii
Looks like AUKUS is already off to the races, first Aussies have graduated from power school. I knew they wanted to get this program on the fast track, but I didn't know it'd get going *this* fast.

Good news but manning could be a serious limiting factor, they've had serious recruiting and retention challenges for years and will need even more folks to crew their new Virginia-class boats. That's actually been a common issue for all our Commonwealth partners since the end of the Cold War.

 

[GroundPounder]

Yeah, fucking with another country’s national flag is a bit beyond “just a joke.” One below for headwork for that JOPA.

'The Flag. Albuhera, May 16, 1811'​

Oil on canvas by William Barns Wollen (1857-1936).

Little different circumstances, but the Empire does take very seriously defending the colours, as well as their national flag.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Good news but manning could be a serious limiting factor, they've had serious recruiting and retention challenges for years and will need even more folks to crew their new Virginia-class boats. That's actually been a common issue for all our Commonwealth partners since the end of the Cold War.

I've seen some chatter to the effect that AUKUS could have second-order effects helping with recruiting in the RAN and across the ADF. Attract more young Aussies who want to break into high-tech sectors, nuke sub training being the only (so far as I'm aware) way to get nuke power training in Oz. Even if they don't make the cut for nuke, at least you're getting smart young folks into the recruiting office door.

 

[Random8145]

This is good. Hopefully the Aussie sailors will learn some of our "customs". We had a NFO ride on a RAN sub for RIMPAC in 1982 or so. When they returned to port at Pearl some of us went to meet our guy on the dock. Some time that night, after welcome home libations, the sub's Royal Australian Navy Ensign was appropriated off the stern staff. HOLY SHIT! You would never think Aussies could not take a joke. It nearly caused an international incident. It took a lot of heat, but eventually it appeared out from under a JO's mattress and mysteriously was flying proud on the stern one morning.

I guess the offender received a "stern" warning...?