THE NAVY RESERVIST - Royal Australian Navy

NAVY RESERVIST 12
Paradise safe
by LCDR Iain Weir
and SBLT Carolyn Docking
NAVY Reserve divers recently assisted the PN
with a vital aid program when five members
of the Hobart-based Diving Team 10 (DT10)
deployed to the Solomon Islands for 33 days
with just 13 days’ notice.
The five-man team comprised DT10 OIC,
LCDR Paul Gregg, POCD Bill Denholm, LSCD
Steve Taylor, LSATV Nick Dingle, and ABCD
Chris Van den Broek.
LCDR Gregg runs his own financial company,
LS Taylor is a commercial diver, and LS Dingle
and AB Van den Broek are constables in the
Tasmanian Police.
The team were part of the ADF’s Operation
Render Safe, an ongoing initiative designed
to remove unexploded ordnance (UXO) from
WWII from the islands.
They were embarked in HMAS Melville and
the task ’surfaced’ because Melville was
unable to field a complete PN dive team.
During an earlier inspection by the Mine
Warfare Clearance Diving Group (MCDGRP),
the team had asked if they could be
considered for a deployment.
“When the need arose, the task was offered
to them,” LCDR Herman Westerhof from the
MCDGRP said. “They are a highly motivated
team and they jumped at the opportunity.”
During the deployment, the team conducted
a wide range of tasks, including surveys of
potential anchorage sites, laying and recovery
of hydrographic equipment, environmental
data gathering, visual survey of Former Mined
Areas, identification of an area containing
potential UXO, the visual survey of WWII
wrecks, hull inspections and daily training
and shipboard tasks.
A DT10 diver signals the all clear during deployment. Photo: LCDR Greg Weir.
LCDR Gregg said one of the highlights of the
trip was the survey of a Japanese submarine
wreck, following concerns that torpedoes and
other explosives might remain on the boat.
“The wreck was in eight to 26 metres of
water and was in surprisingly good condition
notwithstanding that the forward part had
been damaged by a civilian salvage team in
the 1970’s,” he said.
LS Taylor said the trip had been a fantastic
experience.
LS Dingle said the deployment was a huge
eye-opener into what Reservists are capable
of.
The Naval Reserve provides a good
opportunity to do something totally different
from policing.
“I’m a shift worker so it’s a bit of a juggling
act but the police and the dive team respect
each other’s work commitments and allow
flexibility,” he said.
LS Dingle served in the RAN from 1993 until
2002 and joined the Reserves in 2005, the
same year AB Van den Broek also joined.
“It is something different, keeps me active
and fit and gives me life skills,” said AB Van
den Broek.
His partner, Alex Marshal, was very supportive
of his naval career.
“It’s good for him to be a Reservist as he’s
part of a team and gets to represent his
country,” she said.
“I am very supportive of his career in the
Navy and I wouldn’t have any issue with him
going full-time. I was happy for him to get a
deployment.”
Both LS Dingle and AB Van den Broek said
the Tasmanian Police were very supportive
of their deployment and they nominated the
force for a Defence Employer Award, which it
ultimately won.
The team and its employers were later
welcomed back at a reception at Anglesea
Barracks.
Melville’s CO later praised the team for its
onboard efforts.
“The DT was an extremely professional and
experienced group who integrated quickly into
routine soon after joining. They contributed
to communal duties and watch on deck
requirements and took an active interest and
role in training in Melville,” he said.
The Navy Reservist - ISSUE #2