Third Australian warship sent to halt Russian flotilla bound for G20 in Brisbane

news.com.au ^ | 14th November 2014 | Ian McPhedran

[naturalman1975]

A THIRD Australian warship has been dispatched to intercept a Russian flotilla steaming towards the G20 summit in Brisbane and a fourth navy vessel is ready to divert to the area.

The replenishment ship HMAS Sirius is heading into the Coral Sea to support the frigates HMAS Parramatta and HMAS Stuart and the frigate HMAS Sydney is preparing to divert from an exercise in New Zealand to join the mission, according to a government source.

Both Parramatta and Stuart are understood to be carrying Seahawk anti-submarine warfare helicopters, although defence sources said it was unlikely that a Russian submarine is in the area.

.....

It is understood that the Australian Defence Attache in the Russian capital has advised senior Russian military officers that the ships would be refused port access in Brisbane unless there was an emergency.

.....

Defence released a statement saying that Russian warships had been deployed to previous international summits including the 2009 APEC meeting in Singapore and the visit of President Medvedev to San Francisco in 2010.

Russian has increased its global military activity in recent weeks with submarine incursions in the Baltic, bomber flights over the Arctic and the Caribbean and the task group in the South Pacific.

[naturalman1975]

Russian sabre rattling. I would be very surprised if anybody in the Australian Defence community really had any serious concerns about this - and as long as the Russians stay out of our actual waters, they've every right to travel the high seas as close to us as they want to.

But it's also important Australia makes it clear that we will be keeping an eye on them. And it's good training for the Navy and Air Force crews doing that work. And a good chance to gather intelligence too.

[SevenofNine]

I got question why he taking on your fellow countrymen

COME ON this is the same country brought the world Gallpoi

I don’t think Vlady get TCM in Russia just sayin

[tcrlaf]

Australia has 12 active surface combat warships, all frigates. They have deployed 1/4 of their entire fleet to match the Russians.

I’m sure Vlad is just terrified. (not)

[naturalman1975]

If Russia wanted to attack us seriously, we'd be in big trouble. We're a fairly small nation and our Defence Force is small compared to theirs.

We'd be relying on our allies to help us in such a case, of course.

But as to why Russia is doing this - part of this is just general sabre rattling of the type they do from time to time - but our Prime Minister has also been challenging them about the downing of MH317 over the Ukraine (38 Australians died in that incident) to an extent that most national leaders haven't been. And there may be an element of the Russians reacting to that.

If so, bring it on - the murder of Australian citizens is not something our government should take lightly.

[AppyPappy]

Yes but Russian is probably unable to muster up 12 ships in that region. That’s why they are sending such a small flotilla (plus a tug to get them home).

[georgia peach]

Good comment,mate.

[albertabound]

you birds always think the size of your weapon dictates the action..Aussies have guts and will stand up for their National autonomy whomever the adversary...

[naturalman1975]

Believe me, I know the strength of the RAN, and I have no illusions about our ability to resist a concerted Russian attack in the (incredibly unlikely in the short term) event it happened. We'd be defeated, and all we could do is cause as much damage as possible before that happened.

So Putin isn't scared of us on military grounds.

But on diplomatic grounds, things are a little different. At the moment, Tony Abbott is one of the few national leaders willing to confront Putin to any extent even in the diplomatic field - because there are serious indications that the Russians were involved in killing 38 Australia. And the Russians don't like that.

The Russians like the world to think that "We're good guys now, Da!" They don't like that image being challenged and questioned, even when they act like thugs.

[tcrlaf]

“Believe me, I know the strength of the RAN, and I have no illusions about our ability to resist a concerted Russian attack”

It in’t the Russian Navy Australia should be worried about, anyway, but the CHINESE...

The recent moves of Russia and China SHOULD be forcing a rethink in military policy and spending among Western nations, but so far, it isn’t.

[naturalman1975]

We'd be defeated, and all we could do is cause as much damage as possible before that happened.

I should add to that - we'd also be hoping to hold out long enough for help to arrive from our allies who could help us successfully resist.

Primarily the US and the UK (Canada and New Zealand would also be reliable - probably the Dutch as well - but really it's the US we'd need, above all else. And that's why we've been a loyal ally for a long time now).

[naturalman1975]

It in’t the Russian Navy Australia should be worried about, anyway, but the CHINESE...

I agree in general terms, but the Chinese aren't the ones currently sending a force in our direction. They do sometimes.

The Russians are the most pressing issue in the immediate future (ie, the next few weeks).

[VanDeKoik]

Yeah, this isnt 1874.

Like what the hell would the Russians get from a naval attack on Australia?

It makes for an intriguing story, but there isn’t really anything to it.

[rfreedom4u]

The headline is misleading. I seriously doubt they are going to “halt” the Russian ships. That would involve combat and Australia and Russia are not at war.

[xp38]

There is no logical reason for Russia to attack Australia. It has enough problems already on it’s plate.

[DoughtyOne]

The sad thing, we don't now how very sick Vlam Poopin is.

A bunch of world leaders show up and Russia sends in a missile.

What does the world do about it?  Do we send in nukes to Russia and risk a retaliatory strike?

This guy is a craven international criminal at this point.  He has committed acts of war on his neighbors, and has been pushing the limits globally.

What other acts of war is he prepared to commit?  We can go with conventional logic, but wars don't generally start with conventional logic.

Who forsaw the fall of Libya, Egypt, and much of Syria two years out?  Who saw ISIS coming eighteen months out?

Who saw Russia invading Crimea and the Eastern part of the Ukraine even eighteen months out?

Someone does something the international community never saw coming, and you're off to the races.

This is why you keep your military at tip top strength and levels of preparedness.

Our Pres__nt _resident has been sending the wrong smoke signals.  We've got two more years before help arrives.


Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 11/11/2014: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "Let's Work Together"

Election Results: LINK        Animated Photos: LINK        Ayam Cemani chickens: LINK

FReepers, 54% of the FReepathon goal has been met.  Please click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets pick up the pace and end this FReepathon. Thank you!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[GeronL]

Putin fans will be along any minute to talk about how Russia just needs a small bit of territory or something.

[McGruff]

Abbott vows to 'shirt-front' Putin over MH17; Russia says comments 'immature'.

[naturalman1975]

There is no logical reason for Russia to attack Australia. It has enough problems already on it’s plate.

I agree - but I'm talking about hypotheticals.

I'm not worried about Russia at the moment - and unless a world war situation developed at some point in the future, I can't see us ever fighting Russia anywhere near our own shores. But you always consider and think about even the unlikely issues - including ones a lot less likely than this.

[GeronL]

Obama is not your ally, unfortunately

[naturalman1975]

Obama is not your ally, unfortunately

Maybe not, but the United States is, and I expect it will remain so.