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The Royal Australian Navy has launched a new small-arms weapons training facility at HMAS Penguin in Sydney, which will save travel time for sailors and save money for Defence.
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The new Weapons Training Simulation System (WTSS) at HMAS Penguin in Sydney hosted its first training activities this month – this is the third WTSS facility established for the Navy and the first unit to be operated solely by Navy personnel.
The WTSS system provides an efficient and cost-effective small arms training and skills maintenance capability for the Navy, the facility's simulation system is compatible with in-service weapons such as the F88 Austeyr Rifle and Browning 9mm pistol.
The system also delivers the capability to train personnel in the .50 calibre heavy machine gun.
Manager of the new facility Petty Officer Boatswain Brendon Chaffer leads a system-qualified team of five boatswains mates who have been trained by the contracted WTSS provider, Inveris, to operate and maintain the equipment.
“This will be a perfect training facility for the fleet, providing training to ships' force protection teams, gun crews, man overboard sentries and weapon-user groups,” PO Chaffer explained.
It is envisaged that this new facility will become a small-arms training hub for the Sydney region.
Small-arms training in Sydney has normally been supported by units using the WTSS located at Army’s Holsworthy Barracks or travelling interstate to HMAS Cerberus in Victoria, particularly when training is required on the .50 calibre heavy machine gun.
For Commander Surface Force Commodore Stephen Hughes, the delivery of the WTSS is the fruition of a dedicated project and a significant achievement for Navy capability, training and fleet support.
“This is an impressive training facility which will deliver an effect we have been striving to achieve in this location for a number of years,” he said.
The return of investment in the opening of a dedicated Navy facility in the Sydney region is significant.
Sydney-based fleet units will be able to program training to meet schedules without the overheads of travel and accommodation.
Ships' staff will provide range supervisors to conduct practices and WTSS personnel will deliver a full scope of range activities, from standard live-fire practices through to ship’s force protection scenarios.
“During the time of a global pandemic, travel and training has been impacted, and being able to reduce the associated cost and time of sending personnel interstate will provide substantial savings to Navy and Defence,” CDRE Hughes said.
HMAS Penguin is a RAN training establishment that hosts numerous resident units. It is a mixed environment that includes Defence personnel, public servants and contractors to meet the ADF training and operational requirement.
HMAS Penguin includes the Pittwater Annex, which is a training facility that is utilised by numerous residential units. Approval is required prior to accessing this facility.
