Australian Naval History Podcast

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The Australian Naval History Podcast explores naval history in Australia. Each week, historians & veterans discuss a different aspect of Australian naval history. From deep discussions of particular battles, to the histories of submarine classes, the Australian Naval History Podcast is expert analys…

UNSW Canberra


    • Dec 4, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 109 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Australian Naval History Podcast

    S7E14 - Final Episode – Reflections On The RAN

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2022 45:41


    In the final episode of the Australian Naval History podcast series Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Professor Tom Frame, Rear Admiral James Goldrick & Vice Admiral Peter Jones reflect on the 101 episodes and the RoyalAustralian Navy's history

    reflections professor tom frame
    S7E13 - Navy In 15 Objects

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2022 59:38


    To mark the 100th episode of the Australian Naval History podcast series Commander Greg Swinden and his expert panel of Commander Andy Schroder & Peter Djokovic charts the Royal Australian Navy's history in 15 Objects.

    S7E12 - Pacific Forum Patrol Boat Part 2: Operations

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 56:01


    Justin Burke and his expert panel of Commodore Jack McCaffrie, Captain Andrew Mackinnon & Commander Andy Schroder in the second of two episodes discuss the successful Pacific Forum Patrol Boat program.

    S7E11 - Pacific Forum Patrol Boat Part 1: The Concept

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2022 55:49


    Justin Burke and his expert panel of Commodore Jack McCaffrie, Commander Daryl Nield, Mr Jim Nockels & Captain Andrew Mackinnon in the first of two episodes discuss the successful Pacific Forum Patrol Boat program.

    S7E10 - Food In The Navy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2022 66:41


    Commander Greg Swinden and his expert panel of Ms Mellisa Bowers, Commander Amy Blacker, Commander John Goss & Warrant Officer Michael Oleksyn discuss the dramatic changes in the provision of food in RAN ships over 100 years.

    S7E09 - Formation Of The FAA

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 50:49


    Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Rear Admiral Trevor Ruting, Captain Randall Peterie & Warrant Officer Graeme Johnson discuss the use of steam propulsion in the Royal Australian Navy.

    S7E09 - Formation Of The FAA: The Fleet Air Arm's 75th Anniversary

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 50:49


    Rob Garratt and his expert panel of Commodore Jack McCaffrie, Commodore Toz Dadswell & Commodore Norman Lee discuss the formation and early days of the RAN's Fleet Air Arm.

    S7E08 - Marine Engineering In The RAN Part 2: Diesels, Gas Turbines & beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2022 48:30


    Captain Ben Hurst discuss the use of diesel, gas turbine and electric drive propulsions in the Royal Australian Navy.

    S7E07 - Marine Engineering In The RAN Part 1: Steam

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 49:11


    Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Rear Admiral Trevor Ruting, Captain Randall Peterie & Warrant Officer Graeme Johnson discuss the use of steam propulsion in the Royal Australian Navy.

    S7E06 - Defending Convoys Part 2: The heroism of HMAS Yarra

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2022 38:41


    Rob Garratt and his expert panel of Dr Tom Lewis, Dr Mark Bailey & Lieutenant Commander Desmond Woods discuss the heroic defence of a convoy by the sloop HMAS Yarra in World War II

    S7E05 - Defending Convoys Part 1: Australia & the Battle of the Atlantic

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 44:50


    Petar Djokovic and his expert panel of Squadron Leader Kevin Baff, Jan Roberts Billett and Dr Tom Lewis discuss the role of the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force in the World War II Battle of the Atlantic.

    S7E04 - RAN - RN Cruiser Exchange Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2022 45:54


    Dr Richard Dunley and his expert panel of Vice Admiral Peter Jones & Dr David Stevens discuss the exchange of Australian and British cruisers during the interwar period and its on-going legacy.

    S7E03 - The RAN & Bougainville

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 49:55


    Miesje de Vogel and her expert panel of Dr Bob Breen, Captain Nick Bramwell & Rear Admiral Allan du Toit the Royal Australian Navy's participation in peace support operations in Bougainville

    S7E02 - HMAS Adelaide & Malaita Expedition

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2022 32:37


    Miesje de Vogel and her expert panel of Commander Greg Swinden & Commander Neil Westphalen discuss the 1927 deployment by the cruiser HMAS Adelaide in response to an  uprising in the Malaita province of the Solomon Islands.

    S7E01 - HMAS Warramunga & Taiping Disaster

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2022 57:14


    Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Rear Admiral Simon Harrington, Jennifer Maher & Cindy Xie discuss the 1949 loss of the over-crowded 10,000 ton Chinese passenger ship Taiping, and the rescue efforts by the Australian destroyer, HMAS Warramunga.

    S6E16 - The Royal Navy & The Australian Station

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2021 47:09


    Professor Peter Stanley and his expert panel of Dr Honae Cuffe, Lt Tim Döbler & Dr Richard Dunley discusses the presence of the Royal Navy on the Australian Station in the 19th & 20th Century and its contribution to the development of Australia's Navy. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E15 - The RAN & Fisheries In The Southern Ocean

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 61:12


    Vice Admiral Peter Jones and his expert panel of Professor Stuart Kaye, Commodore Roger Boyce, Commodore Les Pataky & Commander Peter Tedman discuss the dramatic fisheries protection operations in the Southern Ocean. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E14 - History Of Replenishment At Sea In The RAN

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 78:32


    Dr Richard Dunley with his expert panel of John Perryman, Commodore Allison Norris, Commander Tony Ladomirski & Captain Ainslie Morethorpe discuss the evolution of replenishment at sea and the RAN efforts to develop a first class replenishment capability. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E13 - Nautical School & Navy Training Ships

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2021 62:50


    Commander Greg Swinden and his expert panel of Sarah Luke & John Perryman discuss the fascinating little known world of Australia's Nautical Schools & Navy training ships. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E12 - RAN Amphibious Operations In WWII

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 80:19


    Miesje de Vogel and her expert panel of Professor Peter Dean, Petar Djokovic & Vice Admiral Peter Jones discuss the series of amphibious operations the RAN took part in during World War II. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E11 - The Navy & The SIEVs

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2021 90:53


    Miesje de Vogel and her expert panel of Commander Wes Heron, Professor Rob McLaughlin, Commodore Richard Menhinick & Professor Cameron Moore discuss, the at times harrowing story, of the Navy's interception of the first ten Suspected Irregular Entry Vessels or SIEVs during 2001-2002. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre - Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E10 - The Melbourne Group 99

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 56:03


    Miesje de Vogel and her expert panel of Commander John Ingram, Captain Jo Morrice & Stephen Nguyen discuss the 1981 rescue of 99 Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea by the aircraft carrier Melbourne and the frigate Torrens. The refugees became known as the Melbourne Group 99 or MG 99 for short. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E09 - Attack Class Patrol Boats In Northern Australia

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 82:02


    Dr Honae Cuffe and her expert panel of Captain Bob Dagworthy, Rear Admiral Max Hancock, Commodore Jim Stapleton & Commodore Mike Smith discuss the eventful service of the RAN's Attack Class patrol boats in Northern Australia. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E08 - The RAN & The Cold War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 62:36


    Petar Djokovic and his expert panel of Rear Admiral James Goldrick, Air Commodore Ian ‘Buzz' Pearson and Commodore Kim Pitt discuss the RAN & RAAF involvement in the Cold War at sea. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E07 - Helicopters Over The Sinai

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2021 51:52


    Commander Greg Swinden and his expert panel of Group Captain Terry Wilson, Lieutenant Commander Graeme Lunn and Lieutenant Commander Mick Galvin discuss the Australian contribution to the Multinational Force & Observers or MFO in the Sinai from 1982 to 1986. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia,, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E06 - The RAN in the Gulf after the Iraq War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 68:27


    Dr Richard Dunley and his expert panel of Rear Admiral Allan du Toit, Rear Admiral Bruce Kafer & Rear Admiral Steve Gilmore discuss the Coalition and RAN operation in the Persian Gulf after the 2003 Iraq War. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia,, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E05 - The RAN In The Gulf 1941 & Operation Marmalade

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2021 66:16


    Rob Garratt and his expert panel of Chief Petty Officer Peter Cannon and Rear Admiral Simon Harrington or Commander Bart Harrington discuss the two major operations undertaken by the RAN in the Persian Gulf in 1941.

    S6E04 - The RAN In East Timor INTERFET Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2021 68:11


    Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Commodore Jim Stapleton, Commodore Andy Gough, Commodore Daryl Bates, Captain Vaughn Rixon & Professor David Letts discuss the naval operations in support of East Timor's INTERFET force.

    S6E03 - The RAN in East Timor INTERFET - Part 1: The Planning

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2021 50:01


    Professor Rob McLaughlin and his expert panel of Commodore Jim Stapleton, Commodore Daryl Bates, Captain Vaughn Rixon & Professor David Letts discuss the planning phase of the naval operations in support of East Timor's INTERFET force. Produced by the Naval Studies Group & the Creative Media Unit at the University of NSW (Canberra) in conjunction with the Australian Naval Institute, the Submarine Institute of Australia, Naval Historical Society & the Seapower Centre -Australia. For more information see: https://unsw.adfa.edu.au/hass/our-research/naval-studies-group

    S6E02 - RAN Submarines in the Interwar Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 34:28


    Professor Peter Stanley and his expert panel of Rear Admiral Peter Briggs, Professor Michael White & Rear Admiral James Goldrick discuss the chequered history of RAN submarines in the interwar years.

    S6E01 - First Victory: The Sydney-Emden Battle

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2021 75:19


    Professor Rob McLaughlin & his expert panel of Rear Admiral Henning Bess, Mike Carlton and Wes Olson discuss the World War I sea battle between the Australian cruiser 'Sydney' and the German cruiser 'Emden'.

    Season 6 is about to set sail!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 0:52


    Season 6 of the Australian Naval History Podcast will start on Monday, 30 August. New episodes will be available weekly. We look forward to sharing this season with you!

    S5E20 - The Navy & The 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 49:55


    Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Commander Rick Neville, Lieutenant Nick Trimmer, Warrant Officer Shane Pashley & John Stanley and Commander Tanzi Lea about the dramatic rescue during the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. In particular, the panel discusses the efforts to rescue survivors from the Winston Churchill.

    S5E19 - The Flagship HMAS Melbourne - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 32:45


    In this, the final part in a two-part special, Commander Greg Swinden discusses with Rear Admiral Cathcart Swan, Commodore Jack McCaffrie & Commander Tom de Voil the life of the famous Australian flagship HMAS Melbourne.

    S5E18 - The Flagship HMAS Melbourne - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2020 45:52


    In this, part one of a two-part episode, Commander Greg Swinden discusses with Rear Admiral Cathcart Swan, Commodore Jack McCaffrie & Commander Tom de Voil the life of the famous Australian flagship HMAS Melbourne.

    S5E17 - The RAN & The Iraq War

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2020 70:03


    This is the last of four episodes on the RAN in the Arabian Gulf. Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Dr David Stevens, Vice Admiral Peter Jones, Commodore John Stavridis & Captain David McCourt the RAN’s involvement in the Iraq War.

    S5E16 - The RAN & Sanction Enforcement Against Iraq

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2020 51:08


    This is the third of four episodes on the RAN in the Arabian Gulf. Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Dr David Stevens, Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, Rear Admiral James Goldrick & Mr Paul Singer the RAN’s involvement in the 12 years of UN Security Council sanction enforcement operations against Iraq.

    S5E15 - The RAN And Operation Desert Storm

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2020 44:15


    This is the second of four episodes on the RAN in the Arabian Gulf. Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Dr David Stevens, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders & Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie, the RAN’s operations in the Gulf War.

    S5E14 - The RAN And Operation Desert Shield

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2020 47:38


    This is the first of four episodes on the RAN in the Arabian Gulf. Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Dr David Stevens, Vice Admiral Russ Shalders & Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie the RAN operations from the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to the Gulf War.

    S5E13 - HMAS Pioneer In East Africa 1915

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2020 64:20


    Professor Peter Stanley discusses with Dr Richard Dunley & Lieutenant Tim Döbler, FGN the German naval activities off East Africa and the role of HMAS Pioneer in the campaign to counter the German cruiser Königsberg.

    S5E12 - RAN Destroyers & Frigates In The Korean War

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 39:34


    Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths, Peter Djokovic and Michael Kelly the important contribution the RAN destroyers & frigates made in the Korean War.

    S5E11 - The RAN And The Spanish Flu Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2020 43:04


    A century before COVID-19, Australia's first overseas aid mission was to assist Pacific Islands gripped by Spanish Flu. Join Professor Rob McLaughlin, Dr Steve Bullard, Commodore Mike Dowsett and Commander Neil Westphalen as they discuss this critical mission and explore parallels to the current pandemic.

    S5E10 - The Patrol of U-862 to Australia & New Zealand

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2020 37:59


    Professor Rob McLaughlin discusses with Dr David Stevens and Captain(N)Hillman, FGN the little known story of U-862 and the Allied efforts to counter the German U-boat campaign off Australia.

    Scrap Iron Flotilla

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 56:43


    Commander Greg Swinden discusses with Dr Karl James, Flight Lieutenant Greg Pierce & Dr John Nash the story of the most famous group of RAN ships – the World War II Scrap Iron Flotilla. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E08 - Countering German Raiders In The Indian Pacific

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2020 59:44


    In this episode of the Australian Naval History Podcast, Professor Peter Stanley is joined by John Perryman, Lt Tim Doebler and Stephen Robinson to discuss German raiders in the Indian Pacific. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E07 - Hydrography In The RAN - Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2020 51:43


    In this episode, Professor Rob McLaughlin and Commodores John Compton, Fiona Freeman and Rod Nairn continue their discussion on hydrography in the Royal Australian Navy. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E06 - Hydrography In The RAN - Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2020 59:08


    In part one of this two-part discussion, Professor Rob McLaughlin and Commodores John Compton, Fiona Freeman and Rod Nairn explore hydrography in the Royal Australian Navy.

    S5E05 - Warship Building In Australia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2020 56:35


    In this episode, Professor Peter Stanley with Rear Admiral James Goldrick, Honae Cuffe and John Jeremy look back at warship building in Australia. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E04 - The Battle Of Sunda Strait

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2020 58:29


    In this episode, Professor Rob McLaughlin, Mike Carlton, Rear Admiral James Goldrick, Rear Admiral Jeff Harley and Dr Ian Pfennigwerth discuss the Battle of Sunda Strait. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E03 - HMAS Wyatt Earp & Antarctica

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2020 50:35


    In this episode, Professor Peter Stanley, Trish Burgess and John Compton discuss HMAS Wyatt Earp and Antarctica. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

    S5E02 - The RAN Protection Of Shipping WWII

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2020 37:41


    Hear Commander Greg Swinden with Nicole Townsend, Rear Admiral Simon Cullen & Dr Mark Bailey discuss the RAN Protection of Shipping in the Second World War. Produced by the Naval Studies Group in conjunction with the Submarine Institute of Australia, the Australian Naval Institute, Naval Historical Society & the RAN Seapower Centre.

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