On This Day

2000-present-day

June 23, 2005

HMAS Tobruk (II) returned to Sydney after operations in the Middle East region under Operation CATALYST. HMAS Tobruk transported 20 Australian Army ASLAV vehicles for operations in Iraq.   HMAS Cessnock II decommissioned

May 23, 2005

HMAS Newcastle departed for the Middle East region on Operation CATALYST. Newcastle’s deployment was the Navy’s 34th individual ship deployment to the Middle East region since 1990

April 4, 2005

HMAS TOBRUK, (CMDR N. Bramwell, RAN), departed Sydney en-route to the Persian Gulf. The ship’s task was to transport equipment and personnel from the Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment to Iraq, where they would be deployed to the Al Muthanna Task Group in Southern Iraq.

April 2, 2005

A Sea King helicopter from HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious, CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), crashed and burst into flames at Nias Island, off the west coast of Sumatra, while providing medical support following a devastating earthquake, (Operation Sumatra Assist II). Of the eleven ADF personnel onboard nine were killed. The two badly injured survivors were dragged clear of the wreckage by Indonesian civilians who were waiting for the helicopter to land. Those killed were:RAN; LEUT Mathew Davey, RANR, (Medical Officer) LEUT Matthew Goodall, RAN, (Aircrew) LEUT Paul Kimlin, RAN (Aircrew) LEUT Jonathon King, RAN, (Aircrew) POMED Stephen Slattery, (Medic) LSA Scott Bennett, (Aircrew) RAAF; SQNLDR Paul McCarthy, (Medical Officer) FLTLT Lyn Rowbottom, (Medical Officer) SGT Wendy Jones, (Medic)

March 29, 2005

An earthquake hit the west coast of Sumatra, (which had been recently devastated by a Tsunami in December 2004). Operation Sumatra Assist II was launched, and HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR G. A. McGuire, RAN), which had taken part in the first assistance operation, was diverted to Nias Island to provide support. KANIMBLA had been on her way back to Australia and was alongside in Singapore when directed to return to Sumatra.

March 12, 2005

The frigate HMAS ANZAC, (CAPT Richard Menhenick, CSC, RAN), departed Australia on a six month world cruise, (Operation Northern Trident). During the cruise the ship was destined to take part in the Gallipoli 90th Anniversary commemorations at ANZAC Cove, and also the Battle of Trafalgar 200th Anniversary celebrations in the United Kingdom.

February 27, 2005

ADML M.W. Hudson, AC, RAN(Rtd), died in Sydney. He was born in 1933 and entered the RAN College in 1947. During his 44 year career he was commanding officer of HMA Ships VENDETTA, BRISBANE, STALWART, and MELBOURNE. He was also the Flag Officer Commanding the Australian Fleet, (FOCAF), and Assistant Chief of Defence Force (Policy). In 1985 he was appointed as Chief of Naval Staff and held the position until he retired in March 1991. He was promoted to four-star Admiral shortly before his retirement. Following his retirement he served on the Navy League Advisory Council and was President of the Naval Association.

February 24, 2005

HMAS ARUNTA, (CMDR W. Bairstow, CSC, RAN), provided assistance to the Panama registered container ship MV MSC DENISSE that was drifting southeast of Christmas Island with a flooded engine room. ARUNTA provided engineers to pump out the engine room. HMAS STUART, (CMDR P. Spedding, OAM, RAN), was also en-route to provide assistance. Both ships were employed on Operation Reflex II immigration patrols.

January 22, 2005

The Anzac class frigate, HMAS BALLARAT, (CMDR S. Hunter, CSC, RAN), ran aground at Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island, while conducting Operation Reflex border protection patrols. BALLARAT was able to return to HMAS STIRLING, under her own steam for repairs to her propellers and rudder.

January 13, 2005

HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR Steve Woodall, RAN), arrived at Banda Aceh, (Northern Sumatra), to provide support as part of Operation Sumatra Assist, following the devastation wreaked on the area by a Tsunami on 26 December 2004. Large portions of the coastal areas of Northern Sumatra, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India were destroyed, and nearly 400,000 people killed, and millions made homeless. KANIMBLA carried Sea King helicopters which were used to support the distribution of food and water, and heavy engineering equipment for use by the Australian Army’s 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, (which flew to Aceh by RAAF C-130 aircraft). The Primary Casualty Receiving Facility onboard KANIMBLA was also used to treat many injured Indonesian civilians.

December 31, 2004

HMAS Kanimbla II sailed from Sydney for Indonesia via Darwin for Operation SUMATRA ASSIST in the wake of the Boxing Day Tsunami.

December 1, 2004

CAPT P. G. Lockwood, DSC, CSC, RAN, was awarded the United States Bronze Star, in recognition of his meritorious service as the Commanding Officer of HMAS ANZAC, (guided missile frigate), during her service in Iraqi waters in 2003 as part of the RAN contribution to Operation Falconer. A few days later the Bronze Star was also awarded to CAPT A. Ingram, RAN, Commanding Officer of HMAS DARWIN, (guided missile frigate), and CAPT D. L. McCourt, OAM, DSM, RAN, Commanding Officer of HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious), in the same conflict.

November 19, 2004

A Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron, en-route from Perth, WA, to Nowra, NSW, on completion of an exercise in Western Australian waters, was diverted to take personnel from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, (RFDS), to a remote site some 120 miles south of Kalgoorlie, WA, to treat a seriously injured patient. The patient was located in an area where RFDS fixed wing aircraft were unable to land. After being treated at the site, the patient, (who was found to have a broken pelvis, a broken leg, and internal bleeding), was airlifted to Perth. In a separate activity on the same day, HMAS LEEUWIN, (hydrographic survey ship), stopped to render assistance to the yacht WILD FORTUNE, which was experiencing engine problems north east of Bali.

October 15, 2004

The ANZAC class guided missile frigate HMAS ARUNTA, (CMDR W. J. Bairstow, CSC, RAN), visited the Russian port of Vladivostok. ARUNTA became only the second RAN warship to visit this Russian port, the first visit being by HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), in 1995).

October 7, 2004

The guided missile frigate HMAS MELBOURNE, (CMDR. R. V. S. Dutschke, RAN), responded to a distress call from the iron ore carrier LOWLANDS GRACE, which was anchored off Port Hedland WA. The iron ore carrier had been practicing life boat drills, when one of the lifeboats capsized. MELBOURNE dispatched two RHIB’s with a medical team embarked, who rescued two of the merchant sailors, but two others had already drowned by the time the frigate’s boats had arrived.

September 23, 2004

The mine-hunter HMAS DIAMANTINA, (LCDR Peter Bartlett, RAN), returned to Sydney after six weeks service in the Solomon Islands, as part of Operation Anode. During her deployment her ships company helped dispose of 230 pieces of WWII ordnance, ranging from hand grenades to 250 pound bombs. They also assisted in repairing medical equipment at the hospital at Taro.

September 22, 2004

ADML A. L. Beaumont, AC, RAN, (Retired), died after a lengthy illness. He had joined the Navy as a 13 year old Cadet Midshipman in 1948, and had risen through the rank to become Vice Chief of the Defence Force, (1988-92), and then Chief of the Defence Force, (1993-95). He was also a three time recipient of the Order of Australia, being firstly made a Member, (AM), then elevated to an Officer, (AO), and then a Commander, (AC), of the order.

September 13, 2004

Exercise Bersama Lima 2004 commenced in Singaporean and Malaysian waters. This majorFive-Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) Exercise involved over 30 ships, 80 aircraft, and some 3,000 personnel. The RAN was represented by HMA Ships ANZAC, ARUNTA, WESTRALIA, SHEEAN, HAWKESBURY, YARRA, DUBBO, and GERALDTON, as well as CDT 1.

August 27, 2004

The frigate HMAS ANZAC, (CAPT Richard Menhinick, CSC, RAN), rescued 15 Indonesians from a sinking vessel south of Batam Island. The crew of the vessel lit a fire to attract attention when their over-laden vessel began to take on water. This was spotted from ANZAC, who sent her RHIB to investigate. Moments after the RHIB arrived alongside, the vessel rolled over and sank. ANZAC proceeded on her way to Singapore, where the 15 Indonesians were handed over to Singaporean Authorities for repatriation to Indonesia.

August 16, 2004

15 sailors from HMNZS ENDEAVOUR, (tanker), were injured during a life boat drill that went awry, while the ship was berthed at Fleet Base East, Sydney. During a regular test of the lifeboats, one of the boats accidentally plunged 10 metres into the harbour. Personnel from HMA Ships MANOORA, (landing platform amphibious), and SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), were involved in the rescue of the New Zealand sailors, and two were later transferred to Balmoral Naval Hospital for further treatment.

August 13, 2004

The mine-hunter HMAS GASCOYNE, (LCDR Dean Schopen, RAN), returned to Sydney after seven weeks service in the Solomon Islands, as part of Operation Anode. During the deployment, her crew helped to destroy several pieces of WWII ordnance, including a Japanese 250 pound bomb, and several US 5 inch shells. Many of these items were close to local villages.

August 11, 2004

Exercise Singaroo, (joint exercise involving the RAN and the Singapore Navy), commenced in the waters off Darwin, NT. RS Ships VICTORY and VIGILENCE, (Victory class corvettes), were involved, along with HMA Ships ANZAC, CANBERRA, MELBOURNE, (guided missile frigates), KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious), WESTRALIA, (auxiliary oiler replenishment), DECHAINEUX, (Collins class submarine), BENDIGO, and WOLLONGONG, (patrol boats).

July 30, 2004

The guided missile frigate HMAS ADELAIDE, (CMDR B. R.Victor, RAN), departed from Fleet Base West to deploy to the Persian Gulf as part of the ADF contribution to Operation Catalyst.

July 13, 2004

HMAS BRISBANE, (former guided missile destroyer), was handed over to the Queensland Government in a ceremony at Fleet Base East, Garden Island, Sydney. The ship left Sydney Harbour, under tow, for the last time three days later. The Queensland Government plan was to sink the ship off the Sunshine Coast, (near Mudjimba Island), where she would become a dive wreck.

June 30, 2004

The banner of the Scrap Iron Flotilla Association, was laid up at HMAS WATERHEN, (mine-countermeasures shore-base, Sydney), for safe keeping. The date of the loss of HMAS WATERHEN, (destroyer), during WWII, was chosen as the day to conduct the ceremony.