On This Day
2000-present-day
On This Day - 2000-2019
- February 28, 2002
HMAS Manoora II arrived in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the war in Afghanistan
- February 27, 2002
RADM R.W. Gates, CSM, RAN, was appointed as Maritime Commander Australia.
- February 19, 2002
HMAS CANBERRA, (frigate), escorts the two illegal fishing vessels MV LENA and MV VOLGA into Gage Roads in Western Australia to be handed over to civilian authorities. The two vessels had been apprehended near Heard Island in early February and escorted back to mainland Australia with RAN steaming parties onboard each vessel.
- February 6, 2002
HMAS CANBERRA, (frigate), apprehended the MV LENA near Heard Island and a boarding party fast roped on to the illegal fishing vessel. The next day CANBERRA apprehended the MV VOLGA, which was also fishing illegally in Australian waters. During this time CANBERRA was supported by HMAS WESTRALIA, (tanker),who refueled the frigate regularly to allow her to extend her time in the area.
- December 28, 2001
VADM D. J. Shackleton, AO, RAN, departed from HMAS SYDNEY, via Seahawk Helicopter, to return to Bahrain after a four day period spent embarked in HMA Ships KANIMBLA, ADELAIDE, and SYDNEY, which were then employed on Maritime Interception Operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper.
- November 24, 2001
HMAS PERTH, (former guided missile destroyer), was sunk as a dive wreck at Seal Rock, Albany, WA. The scuttling charges were fired by a former member of the crew of the earlier HMAS PERTH, (cruiser), which had been sunk in 1942 at the Battle of Sunda Strait.
- November 18, 2001
A memorial to HMAS SYDNEY, (cruiser),which was sunk in the action with the German raider KORMORAN, was dedicated at Mount Scott in Geraldton, WA. The memorial consists of a dome formed by 645 interlocking metal seabirds, one for each of SYDNEY’s complement. The memorial dominates the Geraldton skyline, and has sweeping views of the Indian Ocean where the wreck of SYNDEY still lies.
- November 8, 2001
The Indonesian fishing boat SUMBER LESTARI, (later termed SIEV 10), with 164 suspected illegal immigrants onboard, caught fire and sank near Ashmore Reef. The patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG, (LCDR S. Thompson, RAN), then in the area on Operation Relex border protection patrols, rendered assistance. WOLLONGONG rescued all 164 passengers, but two were unconscious and later died. CPOMT D. R. Zanker was later awarded the CSC for actions in providing medical support to the passengers.
The LPA, HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR D. G. McCourt, RAN), and guided missile frigate HMAS ADELAIDE, (CMDR N. S. Banks, RAN), departed Western Australia for service in the Arabian Gulf, as part of Operation Slipper, (International Campaign Against Terrorism). In early December they linked up with HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), to conduct patrols of the Northern Arabian Gulf, searching for vessels attempting to smuggle oil out of Iraq.
- October 23, 2001
HMAS Kanimbla II departed for the Middle East as part of the maritime force assigned to Operation SLIPPER.
- October 19, 2001
A suspected illegal entry vessel, (SIEV), departs the Indonesian port of Lampung, Sumatra, bound for the Australian territory of Christmas Island, with 420 men, women and children onboard. Many of these were from the troubled Middle East countries of Iraq, Iran, Palestine, and Algeria, and were fleeing tyranny in those countries. The 19 metre vessel, given the identifier SIEV-X, was un-seaworthy and sank later that day in International waters, but still inside the Indonesian zone for search and rescue. Indonesian authorities were slow to react, and by the time Indonesian fishing boats arrived on the scene, some 353 people had drowned; many of them women and children. Despite the fact that the incident happened in the Indonesian search and rescue zone, and the Indonesian Government did not request any support, the Australian Government was criticized in some circles for failing to divert an RAN vessel, then on Operation Relex immigration patrols, near Christmas Island, to the scene.
HMAS Brisbane decommissioned in front of approximately 1700 guests marking the end of the DDG era in the RAN