On This Day
2000-present-day
On This Day - 2000-2019
- July 26, 2003
The patrol boat HMAS WHYALLA, (LCDR T. Byles, RAN), becomes the first RAN vessel to arrive in the Solomon Islands to support the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, as part of Operation Anode. She was later joined by HMA Ships MANOORA, (landing platform amphibious), HAWKESBURY (mine hunter coastal), and LABUAN, and WEWAK, (landing craft heavy).
- July 24, 2003
The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands, (RAMSI), or Operation Helpem Fren, commenced. The military portion was known as Operation Anode, and saw the deployment of several RAN vessels, including HMAS MANOORA, (landing platform amphibious), and several mine hunters and patrol boats, over the following months.
- July 17, 2003
HMAS Kanimbla II returned to Australia after conducting Operation BASTILLE in the Middle East region.
- July 16, 2003
Operation CATALYST began with the deployment of HMAS Newcastle, to the Middle East region.
- June 4, 2003
HMA Ships GASCOYNE and NORMAN, (mine hunters coastal), visited the Cambodian port of Sihanookville, (Kampong Som). This was only the second RAN ship visit to Cambodia, since a previous one in 1996.
The frigate HMAS NEWCASTLE, (CAPT G. Christian, RAN), rescues two British rowers in the Indian Ocean who were attempting to row to Reunion Island. CAPT Christian was the great-great-great-great grandson of the famous Fletcher Christian, who led the mutiny on HMS BOUNTY in 1789.
- May 17, 2003
HMA Ships Anzac III and Darwin returned to Australia from the Middle East region.They were the Navy’s 23rd and 24th ship deployments to the Middle East region since 1990
- May 1, 2003
Major combat operations in Iraq cease, as the Coalition Allies announce that ‘essential combat activities have ceased in Iraq’. The coalition commences stabilization activities the following day, but anti-coalition bombings and shootings continue. This stabilization period saw the commencement of ADF Operation Catalyst, which commenced on 16 July when Operation Falconer ceased.
- April 20, 2003
HMAS STUART, (CMDR D. Greaves, RAN), assisted in the interception and boarding of the North Korean freighter MV PONG SU. STUART carried SAS Troops, who fast roped onto the vessel from a RAN helicopter, and seized the vessel. PONG SU was found to be carrying a large quantity of illegal drugs, and was then escorted into Sydney by STUART.
- March 29, 2003
The Collins class submarine HMAS RANKIN was commissioned. RANKIN was laid down in the Australian Submarine Corporation in Adelaide, and launched on 7 November 2001.
- March 24, 2003
A boarding Party from HMAS KANIMBLA lead by LCDR M. D. Edwards, RAN, captured a number of Iraqi tugs in the Northern Arabian Gulf. Onboard these tugs, and a barge being towed by them, were 186 sea mines which were ready to be deployed, (one of the mines was later presented to the Australian War Memorial as a relic). Later that day a steaming party from KANIMBLA took control of the two tugs, and steamed them to Kuwait Naval Base, where they arrived the next day. During this short period the tugs flew the Australian White Ensign.