Joint Fires in the Littoral:
Applying Modern Lethal Effects in Australia’s Approaches (1943–1945)

Date: Wed 14 Oct 2026, 5pm – 9pm

Location: Adams Auditorium, Campbell, ACT
What did it take to command, project and sustain firepower across contested littoral waters – and what would it take today? The fourth and final Firepower seminar examines Australia’s largest ever amphibious lodgement through expert presentations, a moderated panel discussion, and a keynote address from Professor David Kilcullen, followed by a catered networking event.

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Firepower Seminar Series – Topic scope and Author’s Briefs

Seminar 4 – Joint Fires in the Littoral (Generating, commanding and projecting firepower across Australia’s approaches) 
Pres 1:
Theatre Comparison
  • Case Study: ‘The Apogee of Amphibious operations’: provide a theatre comparison for contemporary Australian littoral joint fire and manoeuvre, addressing:
  • The Australian Naval Squadron, and its learning and evolution from earlier campaigns in supporting amphibious operations in the SWP 1942–1944.

Presenter

  • VADM (retd) Peter Jones RAN
Pres 2:
Campaign Application
  • Oboe: Operationally outstanding, or operationally ‘overtaken by events’?
  • How did Australia generate, command and project the joint fires required to support Australia’s largest ever amphibious lodgement in 1945?
  • What Allied dependencies were needed to set theatre conditions, project and sustain the operation?

Presenter

  • Dr Dayton McCarthy
Panel Qs:
Relevance for Today
  • What lessons for today’s military and political decision-makers can be drawn from Australia’s preparation for and conduct of the Borneo campaign?
  • What Australian experiences then are not applicable for Australia today?
  • What strategic policy and/or military capability decisions might be considered to best prepare Australia’s firepower today, for employment tomorrow?

Panel Members

  • Prof Peter Dean
  • CAPT Jen Parker RAN
  • Dr Malcolm Davis

Media: Max Blenkin (ADM)
Seminar 4 Networking Event (evening)

Intro/Thanks

  • MAJGEN (retd) Craig Furini
Keynote Address
  • How did Ukraine’s political, industrial and civic leadership galvanise national military capability, and steward Ukraine’s societal will to employ it in the forceful defence of Ukraine’s military strategic interests?
  • How might Australia’s political, industrial and civic leadership galvanise national military capability, and steward the Australian societal will to employ it in the forceful defence of Australia’s future military strategic interests?

Keynote Speakers

  • HE Vasyl Myroshnychenko
  • Prof David Kilcullen

Register today for the final Firepower Seminar in our series happening in Canberra.

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Imagery: Defence Image Gallery and the Australian War Memorial