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40 NAVY ENGINEERING BULLETIN AUGUST 2002
Conclusion
Based on the functional
requirements analysis determined
in the initial task, the DEMSSS will
seek to identify best-of-breed
systems/products for adoption
(and/or potential adaptation) to
suit tri-Service requirements rather
than continue down the stovepiped
path of single-service
systems. Similarly, best
commercial-practice systems will
also be sought that fulfil the range
and scale of E&M functions
required by Defence.
Consideration of similar E&M
initiatives in other Armed Forces
will be tailored beside the
corporate E&M requirements
within the DMO and the potential
for improved visibility in ADF
capability management to
determine the scope for
rationalisation of E&M systems in
Defence.
The results of the DEMSSS will be
tabled in a report to the DLB
embodying a range of conclusions
and recommendations for the
future of E&M systems in Defence.
If specific areas for
standardisation are found to be
feasible, a business case and
proposed project mandate will be
documented for consideration by
the DLB. The ultimate outcome of
the DEMSSS should be a much
better understanding of the current
E&M systems environment in
Defence and a clearer assessment
of the way-ahead for E&M systems
in the future.
FIMA & MOTU Support for OP-
SLIPPER “Where and When Needed”
BY WO Greg Martin
FIMA PERTH
Following the tragic events of 11
Sep 2001 the Royal Australian
Navy was committed to a
coalition maritime force to further
enforce sanctions against Iraq
and stem the flow of illegal goods
between ‘rogue’ countries. In
October 2001 FFG’s HMA Ships
ADELAIDE and SYDNEY together
RIGHT MYSELF ON 'CREW-GUARD' OF
APPREHENDED OIL TANKER
BELOW ABMT ROLES AND EDWARDS (FIMA
SYDNEY) WELDING BRACES TO WATER
TIGHT HATCH ONBOARD KANIMBLA
with the amphibious ship HMAS
KANIMBLA were dispatched to
take up station in the North
Arabian Gulf.
Maritime Commander Australia
recognised the additional
engineering workload required by
deployed vessels and activated a
dedicated team of technical
personnel. The specialist team
was drawn from personnel at
Fleet Intermediate Maintenance
Activity (FIMA) PERTH, SYDNEY
and Mobile Operational Technical
Unit (MOTU) East and West. Led
by WOET Gregory Martin from
FIMA PERTH and totalling
seventeen technicians, the
Deployed FIMA Action Group
(DFAG) sailed from Sydney in
October 2001 embarked on
HMAS KANIMBLA. DFAG offered
additional specialist technical
skills to the coalition maritime
force, including FFG SSDG and
LM 2500 maintenance, high
pressure welding, metal
fabrication, lagging, machining,
ADRAC, gauge calibration, high
power and FFG weapons
maintenance. The DFAG mission
was simple: “assist coalition
ships in engineering defect
rectification, thereby affording
ship’s company the least impact
on watch keeping routines and
time off and maximising the time
on station of the coalition forces”.
On taking up station in mid-
November it was soon realised
the mission was to become
somewhat more multi-role than
what was initially intended. DFAG
personnel soon found themselves
forming NBCD decontamination
teams, DC assessors, conducting
force protection duties and
manning of Seaworthy
Acceptance Teams (SAT) Alpha
and Bravo. This latter duty
required DFAG personnel to be
trained and qualified in the use
of ASP batons, 9mm pistols and
12 gauge shotguns. SAT duties
often had DFAG personnel
deploying from KANIMBLA at very
odd hours and for extended
periods, indicative of the flexibility
of deployed FIMA personnel.
Not withstanding the
requirements of the above duties,
the group was able to meet the
requests for engineering
assistance from coalition ships.
At times DFAG had personnel
deployed to three different
platforms concurrently - as well
maintaining a presence onboard
KANIMBLA. The shortest time
deployed to a coalition ship was
four days while the longest was
three weeks. In the three months
the task force spent on station,
DFAG personnel completed 16
URDEF’s, 75 TM 200’s and 37
AMPS tasks, and in the course of
this achievement 229 man-days
were spent deployed away from
KANIMBLA.