[Australia]: Message to New Zealand [SEC=SECRET]

[Owen]

​

CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

15 October 2004

Dear Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, I'm reaching out in the hopes we can strengthen military-to-military ties between Australia and New Zealand. At the moment Australia conducts Operation Resolute which is a border protection operation that includes patrol zones such as those in Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island which directly border New Zealand's exclusive economic zone. We would like to establish a direct line of communication between the Commander, Operation Resolute Rear Admiral Mark Hill and the Commander in charge of New Zealand's border protection operations to better coordinate responses and the movement of assets between our respective zones of operations. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral David Johnston.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6266 8040​

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basedcnt

 

[Basedcnt]

Secure, Encryted - Secret

Recipient: Vice Admiral David Johnstone < Owen >
CC: Rear Admiral David Ledson < cn@rnzn.nz.gov >, Commodore Jack Steer < cotw@nzdf.nz.gov / mccom@rnzn.nz.gov >
Sender: Air Marshall Bruce Ferguson < cdf@nzdf.nz.gov >
Date: 15 October 2004
Subject: Operation Territorial Watch - Operation Resolute Joint Comms

I appreciate you contacting me. I am more than happy for a direct link to be establised. As such, Commander, Operation Territorial Watch is currently Commodore Jack Steer. His email is cotw@nzdf.nz.gov. He is also Maritime Component Commander.

Furthermore, would you be interested in conducting joint Navy exercises? The New Zealand Navy / Air Force recently welcomed the SH-2G Sea Sprite into service aboard many of the Navy's vessels, and we wish to gain real anti-ship and anti-submarine experience in real-world conditions.

Thank you,

Air Marshall Bruce Ferguson, Chief of Defence Force
Commonwealth of New Zealand

 

[Owen]

​

CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

15 October 2004

Dear Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, Yes we can certainly look at some naval exercises. We can contribute HMAS Newcastle, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Macquarie and HMAS Tobruk to this. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral David Johnston.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6266 8040​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

basedcnt

 

[Basedcnt]

View attachment 7641

Secure, Encryted - Secret

Recipient: Vice Admiral David Johnstone < Owen >
Sender: Rear Admiral David Ledson < cn@rnzn.nz.gov >
Date: 15 October 2004
Subject: RAN-RNZN Joint Exercise

We can deploy HMNZS Anzac, currently on Operation Territorial Watch, and HMNZS Wellington, which is in her training cycle, and HMNZS Endeavour. We request that the RAN deploy a Collins-class submarine for this exercise in order for the RNZN to get ASW experience.

If you so wish, 2SQN RNZN can deploy some of its 9 NH.2A helicopters and maintenance personnel, to the RAN's Adelaide- and ANZAC- class frigates.

Rear Admiral David Ledson, Chief of Navy
Commonwealth of New Zealand

 

[Owen]

​

CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

15 October 2004

Dear Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, We do not currently operate the Collins-class submarine. The Seasprites may dock on the Adelaide and Anzac-class vessels while they are on deployment. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral David Johnston.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6266 8040​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

basedcnt

 

[Basedcnt]

Secure, Encryted - Secret

Recipient: Vice Admiral David Johnstone < Owen >
Sender: Rear Admiral David Ledson < cn@rnzn.nz.gov >
Date: 15 October 2004
Subject: RAN-RNZN Joint Exercise

Thank you. Where and when would you prefer to conduct the exercise?

The New Zealand Navy can deploy to Beecroft Weapons Range and the surrounding seas by the 5th of next month.

Rear Admiral David Ledson, Chief of Navy
Commonwealth of New Zealand

 

[Owen]

​

CHIEF OF JOINT OPERATIONS​

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: SECRET (ENCRYPTED)​

15 October 2004

Dear Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, The Beecroft Weapons Range is on the Beecroft Peninsula and is a restricted defence zone that allows the Royal Australian Navy to practice striking land-based targets via ship-launched missiles or helicopter. If practicing striking land-based targets is something the Royal New Zealand Navy is interested in we can certainly accomodate an exercise off the coast of New South Wales there and inside Jervis Bay with vessels to use the HMAS Creswell naval base in the Jervis Bay Territory. This will allow your personnel to use facilities on land such as a post office, supermarket, accomodation, public telephones, the beach and the Royal Australian Navy Central Canteens Service. There is a small naval airfield in the Jervis Bay Territory which can land small aircraft, helicopters and UAVs. If you wish to bring larger aircraft, HMAS Albatross is the main Royal Australian Navy naval air station which is nearby in Nowra. Yours sincerely, Vice Admiral David Johnston.

Russell Offices, CANBERRA, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6266 8040​

Protective Marking:	Business Impact Level:	Compromise of Information Confidentiality:	Required to be Encrypted:
UNOFFICIAL	No Business Impact	No damage. This information does not form part of official duty.
OFFICIAL	Low Business Impact	No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information.
OFFICIAL: Sensitive	Low to Medium Business Impact	Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised.
PROTECTED	High Business Impact	Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
SECRET	Extreme Business Impact	Serious damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.
TOP SECRET	Catastrophic Business Impact	Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals.

basedcnt

 

[Basedcnt]

Secure, Encryted - Secret

Recipient: Vice Admiral David Johnstone < Owen >
Sender: Rear Admiral David Ledson < cn@rnzn.nz.gov >
Date: 15 October 2004
Subject: RAN-RNZN Joint Exercise

Excellent. In that case, we will also dispatch HMNZS Canterbury, loaded with 4 NH.2A aircraft and spare parts, in addition to HMNZS Endeavour, Anzac and Wellington each with 1 NH.2A.

I have talked with Chief of Air Force Air Vice-Marshall Lintott, and he has offered to send half-a-dozen TA.1A aircraft, with trainees, instructors and other maintenence personnel, to HMAS Albatross to participate in the exercise.

Rear Admiral David Ledson, Chief of Navy
Commonwealth of New Zealand