Portal:Military of Australia

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The Military of Australia Portal

The Military of Australia officially known as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 1976 consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Australian Department of Defence administers the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) which consists of the ADF and the civilian personnel supporting the ADF. Approximately 53,000 men and women serve in the ADF with another 21,600 serving in the three reserve components.

The ADF is constituted under the Executive Government sections of the Australian Constitution, Section 68, that says, "The command in chief of the naval and military forces of the Commonwealth is vested in the Governor-General as the Queen's representative." In practice, the control of the ADF is, politically, vested in the Minister for Defence and several subordinate ministers. The Minister acts on most matters alone, however, important matters are considered by the National Security Committee of Cabinet. The Minister then advises the Governor-General who acts as advised in the normal form of executive government. The current Chief of the Australian Defence Force is Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston.

The Military history of Australia covers a period of around 200 years starting with the colonisation of Australia by the British in 1788. Australians have fought in nearly every major war of the 20th Century including the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War as well as numerous UN peace keeping missions.

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The invasion of Tulagi, on May 3 and 4, 1942, was part of Operation Mo, the Empire of Japan's strategy in the South Pacific and South West Pacific Area in 1942. The plan called for Imperial Japanese Navy troops to capture Tulagi and nearby islands in the Solomon Islands Protectorate. The occupation of Tulagi by the Japanese was intended to cover the flank of Japanese forces that were advancing on Port Moresby in New Guinea as well as to provide a base for Japanese forces to threaten and interdict the supply and communication routes between the United States and Australia and New Zealand. The only Allied military forces at Tulagi were 24 commandos from the Australian Army's 2/1st Independent Company, and about 25 personnel from 11 Squadron RAAF, operating a seaplane base on nearby Gavutu-Tanambogo with four PBY Catalina reconnaissance aircraft. Shortly after the Japanese landing the Australian troops on the island began a pre-planned evacuation destroying any materials of value. Tulagi was recaptured by the Allies on August 9, 1942.

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Photo credit: Photographer’s Mate 1st Class Brien Aho, USN
HMAS Anzac conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) in the Central Command Area of Responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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In view of the result of attained at the Washington Treaty which, my advisors believe, guarantee peace in the Pacific for some time to come, it is proposed to reduce the establishment of the navy and army, and postpone the expansion of the air force.

— Governor General Henry Forster during the opening of Parliament, 22 June 1922

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