Thread: Weapons stolen in Darwin naval base national security breach

Oh well, the vic firearms Amnesty ended yesterday
Victoria Police - 2012 Firearms and Weapons Amnesty

too late to hand them in now I suppose

Originally Posted by bob10

I spent 4 years on Patrol boats, 2 in Darwin , 2 in Sydney.In Darwin, we were along side the main shipping wharf, on the old Attack class boats.[ before the new base was in existence]we shared the wharf with fishing boats. We had an armoury, filled with our personal weapons, & 40/60 ammo for our main weapon. It was secure. We also had a duty watch, of about 5 men. This was from a crew of 19. Every day in harbour. In the old Navy, Bob

My old man did 20 in the navy with two years on patrol boats in Darwin and three in cairns on the attack class boats as well, and I can remember sleeping on the boat when he was on duty....and there was never any one else on boat at the same time.
And after 20 years in the police I can tell you just about all our defence bases would be extremely easy to walk in and out of. Although there is one in Perth that would be pretty hard.

Most military bases now use private security firms for security, no?

Originally Posted by minibloodhound

My old man did 20 in the navy with two years on patrol boats in Darwin and three in cairns on the attack class boats as well, and I can remember sleeping on the boat when he was on duty....and there was never any one else on boat at the same time.

Sorry mate, but that boat would have been out of routine. No operationaL boat would have only one member on board alongside, and NOCNA & NOIC CAIRNS would have kittens if they knew a child was sleeping aboard a patrol boat alongside. Any officer or Senior sailor I/C of duty watch would have a quick flight south, if they allowed that to happen. What was your fathers job on board?. Bob [could you remember the name of the boat?]

Originally Posted by Platinum03

Reports say they never took the firing pin or magazines for the hand guns

Wonder now if the AU Gov will upgrade Security on Bases as required after the Sydney Base was broken into but never did due to funding cuts

Firing pins? I could believe magazines, but firing pins? fantasy. Bob

Apparently a raid this afternoon netted 12 shotguns and 2 pistols from the boat, just on the news.

Dazza

Originally Posted by minibloodhound

and I can remember sleeping on the boat when he was on duty....and there was never any one else on boat at the same time.

I think you misunderstood the duty arrangements - certainly only a requirement for one to be on watch at any given time but a normal duty watch comprised three - the officer of the day (officer or senior sailor), a technical sailor (either senior or junior) and a seaman sailor. I suspect what you remember is just one person being up and around at any given time. I am not sure what arrangements the Armidales run but by the sound of it is a similar arrangement.

Originally Posted by bob10

NOCNA & NOIC CAIRNS would have kittens if they knew a child was sleeping aboard a patrol boat alongside. Any officer or Senior sailor I/C of duty watch would have a quick flight south, if they allowed that to happen. What was your fathers job on board?. Bob [could you remember the name of the boat?]

Sorry mate but happened regularly with CO approval - depended on circumstances. I had my much younger brother onboard while alongside and at sea (routine passage) a few times when operations allowed. As a 12yo he was put to work as a junior in the seaman department. There were also plenty of other instances with relevant approvals - and we are not talking father and son cruises or family days.

Garry

Originally Posted by Dazza67

Apparently a raid this afternoon netted 12 shotguns and 2 pistols from the boat, just on the news.

Dazza

The NT Police have advised all the stolen weapons have been recovered and a person is in custody "assisting the Police".