--- title: "Seapower 2026 — Sydney | Model Diplomat" description: "Seapower: To Fight and Win at Sea – 125 Years of Australian Naval History is a professional conference in Sydney, Australia, Nov 19–20, 2026." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/conferences/professional/seapower-to-fight-and-win-at-sea-125-years-of-australian-naval-history-2026" --- # Seapower: To Fight and Win at Sea – 125 Years of Australian Naval History Nov 19–20, 2026[Sydney, Australia](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1\&query=Sydney%2C%20Australia)In-person Starts in 12 days[Registration open](https://navalinstitute.com.au/seapower-call-for-papers/) The 'Seapower: To Fight and Win at Sea – 125 Years of Australian Naval History' conference, held in Sydney, AUS, offers a comprehensive exploration of [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia)'s naval past. This event serves as a significant platform for scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts to delve into the historical trajectory of the Royal Australian Navy and its contributions to maritime security and national defense. The conference aims to foster a deeper understanding of the strategic, operational, and cultural aspects that have shaped the nation's naval capabilities over more than a century. ## Committees & topics - Topics Command at Sea: Leadership in the Royal Australian Navy · Australian Sailors, the WRANS and the Evolution of Maritime Culture · Campaigns and Operations of the Royal Australian Navy · Securing Australia's Economic Connections to Global Trade · Building the Fleet: From HMAS Australia (I) to Ghost Shark and Nuclear Submarines · Navies, Labour Markets and Economic Development · Biography, Autobiography and Memoir in Naval History · The Changing Role of Navy in Australian Defence Strategy ## Why it matters Understanding the historical evolution of naval power, particularly in a maritime nation like AUS, is crucial for comprehending contemporary geopolitical dynamics. The conference's focus on a century and a quarter of naval history provides valuable insights into how past challenges and triumphs inform current strategic thinking and future defense planning. By examining the development of naval doctrine, technology, and personnel, participants can draw parallels to modern naval operations and the ongoing need for robust maritime forces. This historical perspective is particularly relevant in the current global environment, where maritime security remains a paramount concern for many nations. The lessons learned from AUS's naval experiences, including its participation in various conflicts and its role in regional stability, can offer valuable guidance for policymakers and military strategists. The conference thus contributes to a broader discourse on the enduring importance of seapower in maintaining international order and protecting national interests. ## How to prepare To effectively engage with the conference material, delegates should consider preparing by reviewing key periods in AUS's naval history, including its foundational years and significant engagements. A strong understanding of the strategic context in which the Royal Australian Navy operated, both regionally and globally, will enhance participation in discussions and presentations. Familiarity with the evolution of naval technology and its impact on maritime warfare will also be beneficial. Attendees might also benefit from exploring concepts related to national security and defense strategy. Considering the broader implications of naval history through frameworks such as the 'power-interest grid' or '[dynamic analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis)' could provide a richer context for the discussions. Understanding how historical events have shaped current maritime policies and international relations will allow for more insightful contributions and a deeper appreciation of the conference's themes. ## Country perspectives Where the most-relevant 1 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile. [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Host and primary focus of historical analysis.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Role in topic](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [As the host nation, AUS is the central subject of the conference, with its naval history spanning 125 years being the core theme. The event will explore the Royal Australian Navy's development, strategic roles, and contributions to national and international security.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) ## Topics & background The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it. 1 ### Command at Sea: Leadership in the Royal Australian Navy Command at sea has been a defining institution of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) since its formation in 1911, inherited from Royal Navy traditions but progressively adapted to Australian conditions and personnel. Early Australian commanders operated under British operational control during the First World War, including at the Battle of Cocos in 1914 when HMAS Sydney destroyed SMS Emden, and gradually assumed independent operational responsibility through the interwar period. The Second World War, particularly the loss of HMAS Sydney (II) in 1941 and the actions of HMAS Perth in the Sunda Strait, tested Australian command under extreme conditions and exposed tensions between coalition integration and national command. The post-1945 era saw command at sea evolve through the Korean War, confrontation with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Gulf wars, with Australian officers increasingly leading multinational task groups such as the Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East. Today, command philosophy in the RAN emphasises mission command, ethical decision-making, and interoperability with the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and partners across the Indo-Pacific, while grappling with the demands of increasingly complex platforms including air warfare destroyers and, prospectively, nuclear-powered submarines. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Sovereign authority over RAN command, doctrine and operational tasking.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Origin of RAN command traditions and long-standing training partner.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Principal alliance partner shaping coalition command arrangements.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [New Zealand](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [ANZAC partner in combined maritime command and exercises.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) 2 ### Australian Sailors, the WRANS and the Evolution of Maritime Culture Australian naval culture grew from a small colonial force into a distinct service after the 1911 establishment of the RAN, drawing on Royal Navy customs but shaped by Australian egalitarianism, larrikinism and the experience of long deployments far from home. Sailors served in both world wars, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf, developing a strong identity around ships' companies and traditions such as commissioning pennants, divisions and the ANZAC legend at sea. The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) was first raised in 1941 to meet wartime shore-based personnel shortages, disbanded after the war, then re-established in 1951; it was integrated into the RAN in 1985, and women have served at sea since 1983 and in combat roles, including submarines, since the 1990s and 2000s. Contemporary Australian maritime culture reflects deeper demographic diversity, the recognition of Indigenous service, and a re-examination of historical practices following reviews into conduct and inclusion. The lived experience of sailors — from messdeck life to operational tempo, family separation and mental health — has become a central concern of personnel policy as the Navy transitions toward more technologically demanding platforms. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Home service shaping sailor identity, WRANS legacy and personnel policy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Source of inherited customs, uniforms and ceremonial traditions.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Reference point for gender integration and modern personnel models.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Comparable Commonwealth navy with parallel WRCNS/integration experience.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) 3 ### Campaigns and Operations of the Royal Australian Navy The RAN has participated in nearly every major conflict involving Australia since 1914. Early actions included the capture of German New Guinea, the destruction of SMS Emden by HMAS Sydney, and Mediterranean and North Sea operations in the First World War. The Second World War saw the RAN engaged from the Mediterranean (Matapan, Tobruk's 'Scrap Iron Flotilla') to the Pacific, with heavy losses including HMAS Sydney (II), Perth, Canberra and Vampire, and significant contributions to the Coral Sea, Leyte Gulf and Borneo landings. Post-war, the RAN deployed to Korea (where HMAS Sydney operated as a carrier), the Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, Vietnam (including the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam and gun-line destroyers), and the 1991 Gulf War. Since 1990 the Navy has been continuously engaged in Middle East maritime security under operations such as DAMASK, CATALYST and MANITOU, in regional stabilisation (East Timor, Solomon Islands), border protection, and Indo-Pacific presence operations including freedom of navigation activity and exercises such as Talisman Sabre and RIMPAC. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Force provider for all RAN campaigns and operations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Coalition lead in Pacific, Korean, Vietnam and Gulf operations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Lead partner in both world wars and Commonwealth operations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Pacific War adversary and current Indo-Pacific maritime partner.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Adjacent maritime power, Confrontation adversary and key archipelagic partner.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) 4 ### Securing Australia's Economic Connections to Global Trade As an island continent at the end of long sea lines of communication, Australia depends overwhelmingly on maritime trade — roughly 99 percent by volume — for energy imports, manufactured goods and the export of iron ore, coal, LNG and agricultural products. Protecting this trade has been a core RAN mission since 1914, when convoy escort across the Indian Ocean and Pacific became a defining task; the Second World War saw Japanese submarines attack shipping off the east coast and lay mines in Australian approaches, sharpening awareness of homeland maritime vulnerability. In the contemporary period, the security of the Malacca, Sunda and Lombok straits, the South China Sea, and the broader Indo-Pacific sea lanes underpins Australian economic strategy. The RAN contributes to this through Operation MANITOU in the Middle East, regional patrols, capacity-building with Pacific Island states, and participation in the Combined Maritime Forces and Quad maritime initiatives, while debates continue over the balance between high-end warfighting capability and sustained presence for trade protection. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Trade-dependent state seeking to secure its sea lines of communication.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Largest trading partner and principal source of strategic competition at sea.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Alliance guarantor of the rules-based maritime order.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Custodian of critical archipelagic chokepoints north of Australia.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Major trade partner and Indo-Pacific maritime security collaborator.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Singapore](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/singapore) [Hub state controlling the Malacca-Singapore Strait.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/singapore) 5 ### Building the Fleet: From HMAS Australia (I) to Ghost Shark and Nuclear Submarines Fleet construction has been intertwined with Australian industrial policy since the Commonwealth ordered the battlecruiser HMAS Australia (I) and accompanying cruisers and destroyers as the founding fleet unit of 1913. Successive generations of warships — Tribal- and Battle-class destroyers, River-class frigates, the Daring class, Oberon submarines, Adelaide-class frigates, Collins-class submarines, ANZAC frigates and Hobart-class air warfare destroyers — have been built or assembled in Australian yards at Cockatoo Island, Williamstown, Osborne and Henderson, with periodic struggles over cost, schedule and sovereign industrial capability. Current shipbuilding plans encompass the Hunter-class frigate, general-purpose frigates, Arafura-class offshore patrol vessels, and the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle, alongside the AUKUS pathway announced in 2021 toward conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines drawing on US Virginia-class boats and the future SSN-AUKUS design with the United Kingdom. The program represents the most ambitious naval recapitalisation in Australian history and raises profound questions about workforce, nuclear stewardship and integration with allied industrial bases. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Customer and host of sovereign naval shipbuilding under AUKUS Pillar I.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Provider of Virginia-class SSNs and key combat systems.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Co-developer of SSN-AUKUS and Astute-class technology partner.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Former Attack-class submarine partner; cancelled in 2021 in favour of AUKUS.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Selected partner for the Mogami-derived general-purpose frigate program.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) 6 ### Navies, Labour Markets and Economic Development Navies have historically functioned not only as military instruments but as significant employers, training institutions and drivers of industrial development. In Australia, the RAN and the shipyards that supply it have shaped regional labour markets in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth across more than a century, providing apprenticeships, engineering skills and a pipeline between civilian and military sectors. Wartime expansion from 1914 and 1939 mobilised tens of thousands of personnel and stimulated manufacturing capacity in metalwork, electronics and propulsion. Contemporary debates focus on the workforce implications of the Naval Shipbuilding Plan and AUKUS, which require sustained growth in skilled trades, nuclear engineering, systems integration and cyber expertise at a time of tight labour markets. Comparative experience from the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan informs Australian thinking on how to align defence industrial policy, vocational training and regional economic development without distorting wider productivity. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Principal investor in naval workforce and shipbuilding precincts.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Comparator for submarine industrial base and workforce scaling.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Partner in nuclear skills pipelines through AUKUS.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [South Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [Reference economy demonstrating naval shipbuilding-led industrial growth.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Long-standing model of integrated naval and commercial shipbuilding.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) 7 ### Biography, Autobiography and Memoir in Naval History Naval history has long been shaped by personal narrative — from the journals of officers such as Matthew Flinders and John Collins, to the memoirs of Second World War commanders like Hec Waller and Captain Emile Dechaineux, to the recollections of ordinary sailors collected by the Australian War Memorial and the Sea Power Centre – Australia. Biography illuminates command decisions in actions such as the loss of HMAS Sydney (II) and the Sunda Strait battle, while autobiography and oral history capture the texture of life on the lower deck, in the WRANS, and in submarines. The genre has evolved alongside historiographical trends: from hagiography of senior officers toward more critical institutional and social history, including studies of trauma, race, gender and dissent within the service. Memoir literature now plays a central role in public understanding of contemporary deployments to the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, and in debates over veterans' welfare following the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Primary subject and custodian of RAN biographical and memoir literature.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Shared archival tradition and source of comparative naval biography.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Major comparative literature on Pacific War and modern operations.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [New Zealand](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Adjacent Commonwealth tradition of naval memoir and oral history.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) 8 ### The Changing Role of Navy in Australian Defence Strategy Australia's defence strategy has oscillated between expeditionary commitments alongside great-power allies and the defence of the continent and its approaches. From 1911, the RAN was conceived as a fleet unit contributing to imperial defence; in the Second World War it operated globally under British and then American command; during the Cold War it deployed forward to Korea, Malaya and Vietnam. The 1986 Dibb Review and 1987 Defence White Paper shifted emphasis toward a 'Defence of Australia' posture centred on the sea-air gap to the north, prioritising submarines, maritime patrol and surface combatants for layered defence. Since 2016, successive Defence White Papers, the 2020 Strategic Update, the 2023 Defence Strategic Review and the 2024 National Defence Strategy have re-prioritised long-range strike, undersea warfare and integrated deterrence in response to Chinese military modernisation and the deterioration of the Indo-Pacific strategic environment. The RAN is now central to Australian strategy through AUKUS-enabled nuclear-powered submarines, an enlarged surface fleet, autonomous undersea systems and deeper interoperability with the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and regional partners. Key players - [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Strategy-setter integrating naval power into national defence posture.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) - [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Treaty ally anchoring force-posture and capability cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) - [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Principal strategic challenger shaping Australian maritime planning.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) - [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [AUKUS partner contributing to submarine and broader naval strategy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) - [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Special strategic partner deepening Indo-Pacific maritime cooperation.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) - [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Key archipelagic neighbour central to northern approaches strategy.](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) ## Resources News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for Seapower: To Fight and Win at Sea – 125 Years of Australian Naval History. Recent reporting to ground your prep [US Job Openings at 6.7M](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-job-openings-at-67m-implications-for-2026-elections) [Trump's Economic Reset](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-reset-aiming-to-tackle-high-gas-prices) [Trump's Economic Approval Hits 30% Amid Iran](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/trumps-economic-approval-plummets-to-30-amid-iran-tensions) [GOP Promotes Trump's Tax Savings on Deadline](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/gop-highlights-trumps-tax-savings-on-filing-deadline-day) Lessons Bite-sized lessons to build the basics [Engagement Strategies](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/engagement-strategies) [Dynamic Analysis](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/dynamic-analysis) [The Power-Interest Grid](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/power-interest-grid) [Hidden Stakeholders](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/lessons/hidden-stakeholders) Courses Guided courses that go deeper on the topic [Cross-Cultural Communication](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/cross-cultural) [Stakeholder Mapping](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/stakeholder-mapping) [Advanced Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/advanced-negotiation) [Multilateral Negotiation](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/courses/multilateral-negotiation) The states in play, with the data that shapes their stance [Australia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/australia) [United Kingdom](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-kingdom) [United States](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/united-states) [New Zealand](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/new-zealand) [Canada](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/canada) [Japan](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/japan) [Indonesia](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/indonesia) [China](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/china) [Singapore](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/singapore) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/singapore) [France](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/france) [South Korea](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) [Country dossier](https://modeldiplomat.com/country/south-korea) ## Frequently asked questions - - - Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. [Create free account](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-up?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Fseapower-to-fight-and-win-at-sea-125-years-of-australian-naval-history-2026) Already a member? [Log in](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-in?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Fseapower-to-fight-and-win-at-sea-125-years-of-australian-naval-history-2026) Free account Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free. [Create free account](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-up?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Fseapower-to-fight-and-win-at-sea-125-years-of-australian-naval-history-2026) Already a member? [Log in](https://modeldiplomat.com/sign-in?next=%2Fconferences%2Fprofessional%2Fseapower-to-fight-and-win-at-sea-125-years-of-australian-naval-history-2026)