Jan and Apr 1993 - Navy League of Australia

NAVALNEWS
T
SECOND GUIDED MISSILE
FRIGATE FOR W A
he guided missile fngatei FFG). HM AS
DARWIN, will be homeported in
Western Australia Irom December,
ihe Minister for DflfillC. Senator Rohcn Rav
has announced
The ship will loinmiw other ctHtimissioned
vessels now based at the Nav\\ Reel Base
West al HMAS STIRLING. south of Penh
The fourth and last FFG built in the l'nited
Slates for Australia. DARWIN was
commissioned into the RAN in July I9K4 and
recently distinguished herself in the first, ihird
and fifth RAN Gulf Task Force deployments
enforcing l'nited Nations Security Council
sanctions against Iraq
Senator Ray \ announcement of her basing
m the west follow s the homeporting of sister
shipHM AS ADELAIDEm Western Australia
last October M992)
Senator Ray said the arrival of DARWIN
will bring the number ol commissioned KAN
units based in (he west to 10 Apart from
ADELAIDE, others current I v homeponed at
HMAS STIRLING include the destroyer
escorts HMA Ships SWAN. TORRENS and
DERWENT: HMA Submarine ORION.
underway replenishment ship HMAS
W'ESTRALIA. hvdrngraphic survey ship
HMAS MORESBY, and Fremanile class
patrol boats HMA Ships Bl'NBlRY and
GERALDTON
'The basing of DARWIN in Western
Australia will represent a significant
enhancement of the destrovcr/fngate force
now at STIRLING." he said
Senator Ray said that, although the first
combat ship to be homeponed in the west.
HMAS STUART, had since been
decommissioned, there had been 'a steady
increase' since then in the number of ships
based in the west.
Contractors to Garden Island Naval Base
Dorsogna Bros Pty Ltd
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HMAS AD€LAID£ on the shiplift facility m WA tor an $8 5 m refit (LSPH Scott Connolly)
"The population has also grown steadily
from about 500 and their dependants in 1984
to about 1 800 plus dcpendanls today", he said,
"and in ihe longer term will employ about
2530 Navy personnel al STIRLING and in
WA-hased ships."
Senator Ray added that about half the
RAN'smajorcomhatants will be based in WA
by the year 2000.
"TrWhorneportingofDARWlNisa further
demonstrationoftheGovernment'sand Navy's
commitment to the two-ocean basing policy."
he said.
T
LARGEST NAVY SHIP -
NEWCASTLE REFIT
he Royal Australian Navv replenishment
ship HMAS W'ESTRALIA arrived in
Newcastle on Saturday 9th January to
begin a four month refit with FORGACS
Engineering Ltd.
The S3 million plus contract was awarded
on 15th December 1992. with work
commencing at the Newcastle dockyard on
lKth January.
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NAVAiNBNS
CONTINUED
The 'irst FFG homeported in WA HMAS ADELAIDE towers over the DEs HMA Ships
DERWENT and SWAN (RAN)
PROGRESS REPORT (JAN 93)
HMASTOBRUK
H
MAS TOBRUK is now in Somalia to
land Army vehicles and equipment
and the embarked force of 75 lo aid
the United Nations international Task Force
lUNITAF) in Operation SOLACE
Since her departure from Sydney on 26th
December HMAS TOBRUK underwent a
work-up and an Operational Readiness
Evaluation (ORF) and received a satisfactory
grading from the Sea Training Group. Once in
Townsv ille. the crew were able to keep up the
enthusiasm and worked well with the Army to
load (he ship with the equipment bound for
Somalia and provisions for the six month long
deployment.
On 4th January 1993. TOBRUK made a
one day stop in Darwin to stock up on food,
water and fuel. During the short slay, the
Mayor of Darwin visited TOBRUK and read a
letter addressed to the Commanding Officer.
ship's company and embarked forces. The
letter was from the people of Darwin wishing
them every success in their forthcoming tourof
duty in Somalia and a safe return home. This
was TOBRUK's last farewell from Australia
before they sailed for Somalia.
Another one day stop was made to the
British owned island. DiegoGarciaon the 14th
January for last minute provisions. The
pe rsonnel of the United States Communications
Facility based at Diego Garcia were helpful in
providing TOBRUK with what she needed and
provided assistance in every possible way.
During their time at sea TOBURK's crew
continued their own work-up program to
prepare themselves fully for their support role
to the Australian Army for the duration of
Operation SOLACE.
Major Damage Control exercises, small
arms training and Defence Team training has
been a constant pan of TOBRUK's daily
activities. Morale is high, as everyone onboard
is aware of the importance of iheir task and of
the hope that Operation SOLACE will bring.
On the 17th January HMAS TOBRUK
rendezvoused with HMAS JERV1S BAY who
was on her return trip from unloading Army
supplies and troops in Mogadishu. TOBRUK
will transfer mail and some personnel lo
JERVIS BAY for Ihe return to Australia via
Singapore.
TOBRUK arrived in Mogadishu on 20th
January and spent four days unloading and
assisting the Australian Army. She will then
sail down to Mombassa in Kenya to pick up
more supplies for the Army in their continued
support of this United Nations humanitarian
mission. HMAS JERVIS BAY arrived on 12th
January.
USS RANGER VISITS SYDNEY
T
he United States aircraft carrier USS
RANGER sailed inloSydncy Harbour.
Saturday 9th January. Accompanying
the 81.16.1 ton. 1,070 foot long ship was her
escort and support group, comprising the guided
Trie fmal moments of the BREMER, a landing craft built for the Army in WWII The
vessel was recently scuttled m Moreton Bay (Courier Mail)
The Navy. April-June. 1993 5