Australian naval personnel on board US subs instructed to comply with all directions from American commanders

Australian naval personnel serving on board US submarines have been instructed to comply with all “lawful and reasonable directions” from their American commanders despite concerns about military operations launched by the Trump administration.

A Navy directive outlining the conduct expected of “embedded” members has been leaked just weeks after confirmation that Australian sailors were among the crew of a US submarine that sank an Iranian warship in March.

Ever since the deadly strike the Albanese government has consistently argued the three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel took no part in any “offensive action” when the IRIS Dena was sunk in the Indian Ocean killing at least 87 Iranian sailors.

“No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran,” the Prime Minister declared on March 6 when asked about the incident but added that legal questions about the operation were a matter for the United States.

According to US media, the attack was launched by the USS Charlotte, a Los-Angeles-class attack submarine, although the Pentagon has not publicly confirmed which boat in its fleet was involved.

Shortly after the Prime Minister confirmed Australians were on board the US submarine as it launched torpedoes against the IRIS Dena, The Nightly revealed the embedded sailors had been ordered to their bunks as the deadly operation took place.

Now The Nightly has obtained a leaked directive sent by Australia’s Chief of Navy in late 2024 instructing embedded RAN members that they “must comply with all lawful and reasonable directions given by USN members of a superior corresponding rank”.

“This Directive constitutes a ‘general order’ for the purposes of the Defence Force Discipline Act (indicated by use of the word ‘must’)”, Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond wrote.

“Failure by a RAN member (to) comply with this mandatory provision may result in disciplinary or administrative action against the RAN member,” the chief says in his directive sent a month after Donald Trump’s November 2024 election win.

The Chief of Navy directive titled: “Additional United States Navy authority over RAN members embedded in United States Navy nuclear powered submarines” also cites an existing memorandum of understanding between both militaries.

“Nothing in this directive should be interpreted or construed as delegating, authorising or otherwise granting USN personnel command over RAN members embedded on USN submarines,” Admiral Hammond concludes.

According to the Defence Department, one in 10 crew members onboard US Navy attack submarines is Australian, with more than 50 RAN sailors and officers currently serving across the fleet as part of AUKUS training initiatives.

Greens Senator David Shoebridge, who first obtained the Navy chief’s 2024 directive, says the document raises more questions about how the Australian personnel were operating on the day the IRIS Dena was sunk this year.

“If you’re embedded on a US nuclear submarine your No.1 responsibility is not to the Australian people, your No.1 responsibility — and if you don’t comply you get punished — is to follow what your US military superiors say,” he said.

Senator Shoebridge argued the directive placed RAN personnel in “an impossible situation for somebody who’s embedded on a nuclear submarine in a conflict” but protected their superior officers in Australia.

“What we see is structures being set up that put all of the responsibility down onto often very junior members of the defence force and with a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card for the political class and for the senior military personnel,” he said.

“It may well be that the senior US military on the submarine decided for themselves that they didn’t want to involve the Australians in the conflict and maybe directed them not to be involved, but doesn’t that just highlight the sovereign risks here?

“The decision is being made, not in Canberra, it’s being made by US military personnel.

“And if they want to give directives to the Australian military personnel embedded on this or any other submarine, what this document says is the Australians have to follow.”

When asked on March 21 about the IRIS Dena’s sinking, Admiral Hammond told reporters: “I’m comfortable that our sailors on board that submarine performed their duties in accordance with the agreement we have with the United States Navy”.

Defence Minister Richard Marles has responded to the comments made by the Greens, calling them “completely incorrect.”

“There are longstanding arrangements that govern these deployments. Under these, all Australians are required to comply with Australian law, policy and direction,” he said.“The Government has been clear that Australian personnel have not participated in offensive action against Iran.”