2 April 2025
Off the coast of Queensland, it was anything but quiet on the bridge of HMAS Sydney.
Sailing past Shoalwater Bay Field Training Area, Sydney fired its Mk 45 naval artillery 5-inch gun, in support of an Army joint fires team that acted as spotters for the activity.
Sydney conducted the live-fire training ahead of its participation in Exercise Bersama Shield in Malaysia and Singapore in April.
While joint live-fire training between Navy and Army is rare, it is critical for supporting land manoeuvres so the ADF can control strategic land positions during conflict.
The training allowed participants to physically see and feel the difference in how the rounds landed, the effects of terrain on the round and how the movement of the firing vessel created a difference in the fall of shot.
After the first “engage” command was given, the gun fired, sounding like a large metal safe dropping from a skyscraper. The ship shuddered, and several people jumped on the bridge. With 45 rounds to go, the radio chatter continued and people flocked to the window to see the damage.
'It’s always an experience to see the gun go off, the sheer power of these massive machines and the trust other people have put in you to use them is truly something.'
One of those people was Leading Seaman Ashley Rolfe, a senior weapons maintainer also known as a ‘gun buster’.
“It’s always an experience to see the gun go off, the sheer power of these massive machines and the trust other people have put in you to use them is truly something,” Leading Seaman Rolfe said.
After the coordinated efforts, Leading Seaman Rolfe’s team was the first to go outside on the forecastle and clean the gun.
“The funny thing is, since the old ages of the cannon, we’ve been using the same kind of cleaning rods and an oiled cloth, just like back then,” he said.
Commanding Officer 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Beale, said his crew back on shore refined procedures usually only practised virtually.
“This live fire is a mission rehearsal before an upcoming international exercise,” Lieutenant Colonel Beale said.
“Our forces have now conducted initial integration with the knowledge that we will deepen our ability to fight together as we prepare more rehearsals.”
Sydney will participate in Bersama Shield as part of Navy’s second regional presence deployment of 2025, according to the ship’s Commanding Officer, Commander Ben Weller.
“The ability for Navy and Army to support each other through the provision of joint fires and effects is an important aspect of the modern battlefield where the integration between the land and maritime domains will determine success or failure for future wars,” Commander Weller said.
