Australian navy ship raided

The theft of weapons from an Australian navy patrol boat moored at this base near Darwin is being treated as a national security breach.

Intruders got onto the boat and overpowered a sailor on board to reach the weapons.

Australia's Chief of Navy says they're looking at all angles including security.

SOUNDBITE: CHIEF OF NAVY, VICE-ADMIRAL RAY GRIGGS, SAYING (English):

"That's something we need to obviously look into very carefully. There is, as I said, an investigation underway from a police perspective and I've also initiated a review of security on board our ships and establishments this morning."

Australian media reports say the type of patrol boat targetted by the thieves would normally carry weapons including machine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, and ammunition.