The Chief of Navy denies Australians were “ordered to their bunks” before a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship but is refusing to reveal precisely what the personnel were doing on board at the time of the lethal operation.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese two weeks ago confirmed three Royal Australian Navy members were embedded in the crew of the US boat which sank the IRIS Dena on March 4, killing at least 87 Iranians.
Shortly after, a defence source familiar with the incident told The Nightly the Australian trio had been instructed to remain in their sleeping quarters during the firing, prompting former Prime Minister Tony Abbott to claim the sailors had been relegated to “tourists”.
While attending the International Fleet Review in Sydney Harbour on Saturday to celebrate the Navy’s 125th anniversary, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond was questioned about the Australian involvement in the deadly mission.
Asked at a joint press conference with Defence Minister Richard Marles if Australian submariners serving on the US vessel had been ordered to their bunks before IRIS Dena was sunk, Admiral Hammond responded: “no”.
When pressed to give further details, the Navy Chief declined but declared: “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”.
“As the Prime Minister said, they were not engaged in offensive operations,” he added, before Mr Marles then intervened to also stress that Mr Albanese had been “very clear that none of our personnel were involved in this incident”.
“When we have personnel that are embedded in other defence forces, including of course the United States defence force, of which we have many, they do so under well understood rules which ensure that their actions reflect the positions and postures of the Australian government,” Mr Marles said.
“Those rules were applying in relation to this incident and it meant that the three submariners on board did not participate in this incident,” he added before taking a veiled swipe at Mr Abbott and others critical of the Australian actions.
“What we have seen suggested is just not right and in fact it’s insulting. And those who are making those suggestions really should know better.”
When again challenged to clarify what the Australian personnel were doing at the time of the controversial incident, Mr Marles responded: “I’m not about to go into detail of that and nor should I.”
“There are strict protocols in place,” he said. “But the suggestion that has been made by others is not correct and it is insulting, and those who have made it really should know much better.”
The Nightly understands there has been considerable angst inside government over how much detail to make public about the incident, with the Prime Minister ultimately deciding to only confirm three Australians were present but to insist they took no part in “offensive action against Iran”.