HMAS Creswell
Encyclopedia
HMAS Creswell is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy
, a part of the Australian Defence Force
, and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), The RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support department.
The Commanding Officer of Creswell is the Superintendent of Naval Waters for Jervis Bay, and also lead authority for the conduct and management of Navy's initial entry, leadership and management training around Australia.
.
, near Nowra
, for the Royal Australian Naval College on 7 November 1911. While the new college was built, the RANC was temporarily located at Osborne House
, Geelong
. Osborne House had been considered as a permanent location for the College.
Construction of the main college buildings was completed in 1915. The senior staff bungalows were designed by John Smith Murdoch
, later the Chief Architect of the Commonwealth of Australia and designer of Old Parliament House, Canberra
.
The RANC, then consisting of the first two entries of cadet midshipmen, moved to Jervis Bay on 10 February 1915; however, it was moved to Flinders Naval Depot in 1930 to reduce costs during the Great Depression
. To reduce overcrowding at the depot, the college moved once again to Captain's Point in 1958.
The establishment at Captain's Point was renamed HMAS Creswell in honour of Sir William Rooke Creswell
, a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
who was an important colonial naval officer, was instrumental to the formation of an independent Australian navy, and served as the First Naval Member of the Naval Board from 1911 to 1919.
. The main course run at HMAS Creswell is the 22 week New Entry Officers Course (NEOC) which provides initial entry training for most of the RAN's officers. Also conducted at the RANC is the residential component of the Reserve Entry Officers Course (REOC).
Further training for officers such as the Junior Officers Leadership Course and Junior Officers Management and Staff Course also take place at the RANC.
to gain their degree. Generally, trainees who have no university education or a three year degree enter the college as Midshipmen, whilst trainees with significant experience or more university education enter as Sub-Lieutenants, Lieutenants and Chaplains.
After completing training at the college, officers proceed to other establishments for primary qualification training. Locations include HMAS Watson
, for Junior Warfare Officers (formerly known as Seamen Officers), and HMAS Cerberus, for Weapons Electrical Engineer, Marine Engineer and Supply
officers.
Subjects studied at NEOC include:
The course includes two periods of sea training:
provides a remotely controlled jet target
for anti-aircraft training exercises conducted in the East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA).
training facility for the RAN in eastern Australia and is located about 3 kilometers south of HMAS Creswell. Its facilities include two firefighting training units and a floodable mock-up of ships compartments, known as "Counter-Sink".
(NGS) exercises.
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
, a part of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
, and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), The RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support department.
The Commanding Officer of Creswell is the Superintendent of Naval Waters for Jervis Bay, and also lead authority for the conduct and management of Navy's initial entry, leadership and management training around Australia.
Location
HMAS Creswell is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch on the shores of Jervis Bay in the Jervis Bay TerritoryJervis Bay Territory
The Jervis Bay Territory is a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia. It was surrendered by the state of New South Wales to the Commonwealth Government in 1915 so that the Federal capital at Canberra would have "access to the sea"....
.
History
Parliament selected the site of Captain's Point in the Australian Capital Territory (Jervis Bay Territory) on the south coast of New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, near Nowra
Nowra, New South Wales
Nowra is a city in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Located SSW and approximately by road south of the state capital of Sydney, it has an estimated population together with its twin-town of Bomaderry of 34,479. It is also the seat and commercial centre of the City of Shoalhaven...
, for the Royal Australian Naval College on 7 November 1911. While the new college was built, the RANC was temporarily located at Osborne House
Osborne House (Geelong)
Osborne House is a historic building built in 1858, located in North Geelong, Victoria, Australia.-History:Osborne House was built in 1858 for local squatter, Robert Muirhead, who named the mansion after Osborne House in the Isle of Wight, England...
, Geelong
Geelong, Victoria
Geelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
. Osborne House had been considered as a permanent location for the College.
Construction of the main college buildings was completed in 1915. The senior staff bungalows were designed by John Smith Murdoch
John Smith Murdoch
John Smith Murdoch was the chief architect for the Commonwealth of Australia from 1919, responsible for designing many government buildings, most notably the Provisional Parliament House in Canberra, the home of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988.-Personal Life:John Smith Murdoch was...
, later the Chief Architect of the Commonwealth of Australia and designer of Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
.
The RANC, then consisting of the first two entries of cadet midshipmen, moved to Jervis Bay on 10 February 1915; however, it was moved to Flinders Naval Depot in 1930 to reduce costs during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. To reduce overcrowding at the depot, the college moved once again to Captain's Point in 1958.
The establishment at Captain's Point was renamed HMAS Creswell in honour of Sir William Rooke Creswell
William Rooke Creswell
Vice Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell KCMG, KBE was an Australian naval officer, commonly considered to be the 'father' of the Royal Australian Navy.-Early life:...
, a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
who was an important colonial naval officer, was instrumental to the formation of an independent Australian navy, and served as the First Naval Member of the Naval Board from 1911 to 1919.
Royal Australian Naval College
The Royal Australian Naval College is Australia's authority for the basic and leadership training of officers for service in the Royal Australian NavyRoyal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
. The main course run at HMAS Creswell is the 22 week New Entry Officers Course (NEOC) which provides initial entry training for most of the RAN's officers. Also conducted at the RANC is the residential component of the Reserve Entry Officers Course (REOC).
Further training for officers such as the Junior Officers Leadership Course and Junior Officers Management and Staff Course also take place at the RANC.
NEOC
NEOC is undertaken by direct entry officers, graduate entry officers, and candidates who intend to proceed to ADFAAdfa
Adfa is a village in the Welsh county of Powys, in mid Wales.- External links :*...
to gain their degree. Generally, trainees who have no university education or a three year degree enter the college as Midshipmen, whilst trainees with significant experience or more university education enter as Sub-Lieutenants, Lieutenants and Chaplains.
After completing training at the college, officers proceed to other establishments for primary qualification training. Locations include HMAS Watson
HMAS Watson
HMAS Watson is a Royal Australian Navy base located on Sydney Harbour at South Head, near Watsons Bay, New South Wales. Commissioned in 1945 , the base served as the RAN's radar training school...
, for Junior Warfare Officers (formerly known as Seamen Officers), and HMAS Cerberus, for Weapons Electrical Engineer, Marine Engineer and Supply
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
officers.
Subjects studied at NEOC include:
- Military training, including drill, discipline, command, wearing of the uniform, parade and ceremony
- Proficiency on the ADF's service firearms, including the F88 Austeyer and Browning Hi-Power 9mm pistol
- Physical training and fitness
- RAN History
- Survival at sea
- Sea combat survivability
- Naval weapons and technology
- Maritime studies including boatwork and basic seamanship
- Leadership and command studies
- RAN rank, organisational and operational structure
The course includes two periods of sea training:
- One week sea familiarisation course, where the basics of seamanship taught in the classroom are applied in practice
- Four week Sea Training Deployment, where the trainees become crew members of a Major Fleet Unit, and accompany the ship for whatever activities it is undertaking at the time
Notable graduates
- Commodore Sir James Maxwell RamsayJames Ramsay (Australian governor)Commodore Sir James Maxwell Ramsay KCMG, KCVO, CBE, DSC .Served as Governor of Queensland, Australia from 22 April 1977 until 21 July 1985...
, KCMGOrder of St Michael and St GeorgeThe Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KCVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSCDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, RAN - Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins, KBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CBOrder of the BathThe Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, RAN - Captain Hector WallerHector WallerHector Macdonald Laws Waller, DSO & Bar was the captain of the light cruiser HMAS Perth in World War II. In a naval career spanning almost 30 years, he served his country in two world wars...
, DSODistinguished Service OrderThe Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and barMedal barA medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, RAN - Rear Admiral Harold B. Farncomb CB, DSO, MVORoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, RAN - Lieutenant Commander Robert William "Oscar" RankinRobert William RankinRobert William Rankin was a Royal Australian Navy officer who was killed in action in World War II. He is one of six people to have a Collins class submarine named after him.-Naval career:...
, RAN - Captain Emile Frank Verlaine DechaineuxEmile DechaineuxEmile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux, DSC was an Australian mariner who achieved the rank of Captain in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II. He was killed by a Japanese aircraft in what is believed to be the first ever kamikaze attack, in the lead-up to the Battle of Leyte...
, DSCDistinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is...
, RAN - Captain Joseph BurnettJoseph BurnettJoseph Burnett was a Royal Australian Navy officer most widely known as the captain of the light cruiser in the battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran on 19 November 1941...
, RAN
Other entry routes
- Sailor initial entry training is conducted through HMAS Cerberus
- Under the Naval Officer Year One (NOYO) scheme, introduced in 2000, Midshipmen attending the Australian Defence Force AcademyAustralian Defence Force AcademyThe Australian Defence Force Academy is a tri-service military Academy that provides military and tertiary academic education for junior officers of the Australian Defence Force in the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force .Tertiary education is provided by the...
spend their first year on NEOC and, for Junior Warfare and Supply Officers, on initial phases of their respective application courses before progressing to the Academy. Midshipmen attempting to become pilots or observers are not part of the NOYO scheme and proceed directly to ADFA on initial entry.
Kalkara Flight
The Kalkara Flight at nearby Jervis Bay AirportJervis Bay Airport
Jervis Bay Territory Airport is the only airport of the Jervis Bay Territory, Australia. It is located about 10 kilometres east of Sussex Inlet and about 2 kilometres south of Jervis Bay Village and HMAS Creswell....
provides a remotely controlled jet target
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
for anti-aircraft training exercises conducted in the East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA).
RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety
The RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety, colloquially known as the "school of many S's", is the primary CBRN and damage controlDamage control
Damage control is a term used in the Merchant Marine, maritime industry and navies for the emergency control of situations that may hazard the sinking of a ship...
training facility for the RAN in eastern Australia and is located about 3 kilometers south of HMAS Creswell. Its facilities include two firefighting training units and a floodable mock-up of ships compartments, known as "Counter-Sink".
Beecroft Weapons Range
Beecroft Weapons Range, located on Beecroft Head, is a live fire range for conducting Naval Gunfire SupportNaval gunfire support
Naval gunfire support is the use of naval artillery to provide fire support for amphibious assault and other troops operating within their range. NGFS is one of a number of disciplines encompassed by the term Naval Fires...
(NGS) exercises.