How Australian submariners avoided taking part in Iranian warship sinking
The ADF personnel on the USS Charlotte were ordered to their sleeping quarters as the submarine’s crew took aim at Iranian warship.
Australians serving on a US submarine which sunk an Iranian warship last week were ordered to their sleeping quarters while the operation to fire torpedoes at the enemy target was underway.
The Nightly has learnt new details of the events which occurred in international waters of the Indian Ocean on Wednesday evening Canberra time, reportedly on board the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Charlotte.
Following a National Security Committee meeting last Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed three Royal Australian Navy personnel were embedded in the crew of the US submarine which fired at IRIS Dena, killing at least 87 people.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I can confirm also, though, that no Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran,” Mr Albanese told Sky News when asked to verify a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time,” Mr Albanese said.
“What they do is ensure that Australian Defence Force personnel, where they’re embedded in third countries’ defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, with Australian policy, and that, of course, is taking place across the board.”
A military source familiar with the tightly held details of last week’s dramatic lethal attack has confirmed to The Nightly that Australian personnel were kept away from the US “offensive action” against Iran, by being ordered to head to their rooms.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and his Department have so far not responded to detailed questions from The Nightly about what the Australian submariners were doing during the US attack on the IRIS Dena.
Critics of Australia’s military alliance with the United States such as the Greens, have since accused the Prime Minister of lying about this country’s involvement in the war against Iran.
Regular joint submarine exercises and training opportunities have been a feature of the military relationship with the US for decades, including participation by Australians in America’s Submarine Command Course since 1999.
British submarine departs WA early amid Middle East crisis
Meanwhile a British nuclear-powered submarine that arrived at Western Australia last month has left HMAS Stirling naval base, but its precise whereabouts or eventual destination remain unknown.
HMS Anson arrived for a month-long maintenance visit just over a fortnight ago, but The Nightly has confirmed the Astute-class boat’s visit has been cut short by events in the Middle East.
Overnight former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe wrote in the London Telegraph that: “I am now told that Anson is not in Australia anymore.”
“If she should happen to be headed for the Gulf of Oman (to assist the USS Lincoln group) at full speed — there’s no need to save fuel when you have a nuclear reactor — she could get there in less than a week.”
“There will be no official comment on her deployment, but she is armed with Tomahawk missiles and could provide additional firepower in the Gulf region, if sent there,” he added.
Former British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has slammed the decision to deploy the UK’s only known available attack submarine to the other side of the earth while tensions were growing in the Middle East.
“I wouldn’t have let HMS Anson, the attack submarine sail down through the Suez Canal and disappear over the horizon,” he told Times Radio.
“I’d have made sure it was loitering in the Indian Ocean, given it was very obvious to the public that America was building up to do something.”An Australian Defence Department spokesperson confirmed to The Nightly that “HMS Anson departed HMAS Stirling today after completing a successful first UK SSN maintenance period in Australia”.
A British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “it is our long-standing policy not to comment on submarine operations to protect national security, the safety of personnel, and the effectiveness of the Royal Navy”.
“This policy applies to both current activities and future operations,” the spokesperson added while adding “HMS Anson has successfully completed all of its planned maintenance”.
