Management of a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear) incident on a warship can be one of the most difficult ones for a naval damage control team to deal with. From detection to neutralising the threat, it is essential that the responders have the training and tools to provide an effective response. Such threats are especially pertinent for navies whose missions are evolving in a manner that widens their exposure to such hazards, there being a steady shift in fleets from 'blue water' to 'green/brown water' missions. This concerns deployment into littoral and inland waterways, where CBRN strikes can easily be launched from land. Like many other navies, Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships operate in two environments, the littoral and 'blue' water, each pose unique maritime threats. A ship operating close to or alongside land is vulnerable to attack from land forces that can potentially deploy CBRN munitions spanning missiles, artillery, mortars, mines and rocket launchers, as well as aerosol release. The main threat in 'blue water' is from direct aerosol release, as there are no known naval munitions capable of carrying CBR agents. A ship is better able to manoeuvre away from CB plumes in the open seas than it is in the littoral, where an attack can prove far more effective, especially if the ship lacks CBR countermeasures.
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