HMAS ''Cerberus'' is a

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

(RAN) base that serves as the primary training establishment for RAN personnel. The base is located adjacent to Crib Point on the

Mornington Peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geo ...

, south of the

Melbourne City Centre The Melbourne central business district (also known colloquially as simply "The City" or "The CBD") is the city centre and main urban area of the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, centred on the Hoddle Grid, the oldest part of the city la ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

, Australia. The base is also an official bounded locality of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula and is the only naval base to have a specific listing in the Australian census. HMAS ''Cerberus'' recorded a population of 1,124 at the . A section of the base centred around the Parade Ground was added to the Australian Commonwealth Heritage List on 22 June 2004, known as the HMAS Cerberus Central Area Group.

History

The site for the ''Cerberus'' naval base on Hanns Inlet, between Sandy Point and Stony Point on Western Port Bay was purchased in 1911. The base was opened in September 1920 and became known as Flinders Naval Depot in 1921. The Post Office opened on 2 December 1912 as Flinders Naval Base, was renamed Flinders Naval Depot in 1925 and HMAS ''Cerberus'', Westernport in 1963. ''Cerberus'' now occupies most of Stony Point to the north and all of Sandy Point in the south. From 1930 until 1958, ''Cerberus'' was the home of the

Royal Australian Naval College The Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), commonly known as HMAS Creswell, is the naval academy of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It consists of the RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range an ...

, until it was clear that the base was becoming overcrowded and the College was moved back to HMAS ''Creswell''. With the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, many temporary buildings were erected to facilitate the training of wartime recruits. Many of these buildings were later demolished or replaced.

Facilities and operational units

The primary role of HMAS ''Cerberus'' has always been the training of RAN personnel. With the establishment of four tri-service schools over the last 13 years, this role has been extended to training

Army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

and

Air Force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...

personnel. Specific courses offered include: the School of Survivability and Ship Safety which specialises in fire fighting, damage control and nuclear/biological/chemical defence; and seamanship and weapons training. The base is also the home of the Recruit School – for all sailors their first contact with life in the RAN. HMAS ''Cerberus'' comprises numerous training and recreation facilities, two chapels and a small marina. Training is provided for about 6,000 personnel annually, averaging 800 trainees at any one time.

Training facilities

HMAS ''Cerberus'' currently host to the following naval training schools *RAN Recruit School *SSSS (School of Ship Safety and Survivability) Boatswains Faculty *Defence Force School of Signals – Maritime Communications and Information Systems Wing *Engineering Faculty *Medical Training School *Supply School *Gunnery School *Small Arms Training School *WTSS Range *ADF School of Physical Fitness *ADF School of Catering *ADF Dental School

Crib Point Satellite Earth Station

HMAS ''Cerberus'' hosts the only dedicated weather-related Satellite Earth station in Australia, founded in 1991 and operated by the

Bureau of Meteorology The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM or BoM) is an executive agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. It was established in 1906 under the Meteorology Act, and brought together ...

(BoM) to service China's first Turn Around Ranging Station (C-TARS) and servicing geostationary meteorological satellites, servicing Japan's Himawari or GMS-4 and GMS-5. In August

016 HV-016 is a former military unit of Norway, that was a part of the Home Guard. It was established after 1985 to "stop terror- or sabotage actions that could weaken or paralyze Norway's ability to mobilize its military and its ability to resist". ...

the BoM installed through a contractor Av-Comm, the first Australian ground station for the Himawari 8 weather satellite service.

Recruit School

HMAS Cerberus 4 inch Mk VII gun training WWII AWM 306137

The RAN recruit school is where all full-time and reserve general entry sailors complete their training. The full-time recruit course is eleven weeks in duration, and gives sailors the skills and knowledge required to conduct basic duties in the RAN, and prepare them for their specialised roles. Recruits join the RAN in monthly intakes, and these recruits are placed into one of four divisions. The recruits stay with their division for the entire eleven-week course. Some of the training and education conducted in the recruit course are: * Teamwork exercises * Uniform wearing and maintenance * Drill and discipline * First aid * Survival at sea * Basic ship maintenance and corrosion control * Operation and proficiency on the service firearm, the F88 Austeyr * Ship and sea combat survivability * Physical training and fitness * Basic seamanship Part of the course includes a two-and-a-half-day sea familiarisation course.

Engineering Faculty

The engineering faculty is where Marine Technicians, Electronics Technicians, Marine Engineer Officers and Electronics Engineer Officers complete their employment training.

Sport

The base has an Australian Rules football team competing in the Southern Football League, as well as a hockey club competing in the Hockey Victoria competition. Golfers play at th
Cerberus (HMAS Cerberus) Golf Club
on Stony Point Road.

Memorials and colours

Numerous memorials are at the base with many including stained glass windows in the two chapels: Our Lady of the Sea (Catholic), and St Mark's (Anglican/interdenominational). St Mark's chapel also houses retired King's/Queen's colour flags of

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...

George VI George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; 14 December 1895 – 6 February 1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of I ...

, and

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

References

External links

RAN HMAS Cerberus official websiteRAN Website for Recruit School
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cerberus Royal Australian Navy bases Military education and training in Australia Buildings and structures in the Shire of Mornington Peninsula Towns in Victoria (Australia) Coastal towns in Victoria (Australia) Western Port Earth stations in Australia 1921 establishments in Australia Military installations established in 1921 Military installations in Victoria (Australia) Commonwealth Heritage List places in Victoria Suburbs of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula