A WA member contingent visited Austal on Monday 29 November for a briefing on the Company’s activities and a tour of the latest Guardian Class OPV of the Replacement Pacific Patrol Boat Program.  Members were treated to being escorted for the excellent two-hour program by the Company’s COO, Ian MacMillan and Defence Programs Manager, Matt Klingberg.  We were impressed by the plans for expansion overseas and the depth of the current ADF programs including the 21 Guardian Class, and 6 Enhanced Cape Class vessels for the RAN.  

All touring members could not believe the differences between the habitability standards that they had endured during their years of service versus that now in place for today’s sailors – the galley in these vessels is larger than the junior sailors’ quarters of the Attack and Fremantle Classes of Patrol Boat that those photographed below were more familiar with; and a good thing too – all agreed!

The hungry tourists then adjourned to the Fishing Harbour at Fremantle for fish and chips with a coldie and the regaling of stories lit-off almost immediately.

L-R:  Bob Mummery, Trevor Vincent (Navy League), Ian MacMillan (Austal), George Carter, Ian Cook, Barrie Yesberg, Dave Oliver, Jim O’Neill, Brett Dowsing, Frank Morrah, Jeff Wake, Bob Potts, Matt Klingberg (Austal), Kevin Roe.