On This Day

2000-present-day

January 19, 2004

The submarine HMAS DECHAINEAUX becomes the first RAN vessel to use the new Naval Ammunition Wharf at Twofold Bay, NSW. The facility was built to replace the previous ammunition storage depots in Sydney and Point Wilson, VIC.

December 28, 2003

The patrol boat HMAS CESSNOCK, (LCDR R. Stevenson, RAN), rescued 13 Taiwanese and Vietnamese fishermen from the long-liner vessel PACIFIC TARKER, which had run aground on Roncador Reef, (200 miles from Honiara, Solomon Islands). CESSNOCK was involved in peace keeping duties as part of Operation Anode in the Solomon Islands at the time.

December 22, 2003

Sea King helicopters from 817 Squadron were involved in water bombing to fight several fires burning near HMAS CRESWELL, Jervis Bay, NSW. Over 100 campers, from nearby Green Patch, also took refuge at CRESWELL during the height of the fires.

December 15, 2003

HMAS Cessnock II arrived in the Solomon Islands as a part of a naval task group and ground forces to help restore law and order

December 11, 2003

HMAS Newcastle arrived home in Sydney from the Middle East Area of Operations. In addition to the 396 boardings the crew conducted during her deployment, three Newcastle sailors in one of the ship’s Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats also saved the lives of four Iraqi merchant sailors whose tug sank in heavy seas in the northern Persian Gulf. Newcastle’s deployment was thye RAN’s 28th individual ship deployment to the Middle East Area of Operations since 1990.

October 22, 2003

HMAS ARUNTA, (frigate), and HMAS TOBRUK, (landing ship heavy), arrive in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for a four-day good will visit.

October 18, 2003

A provisional acceptance ceremony was held at NAS NOWRA, NSW, for the Super Sea Sprite Helicopter, (SH-2G(A)), for 805 Squadron.

October 4, 2003

The ANZAC class guided missile frigate HMAS PARRAMATTA, was commissioned. PARRAMATTA was laid down in Tenix Williamstown Dockyard, VIC, and launched on 17 June 2000.

August 23, 2003

HMAS BRUNEI departs Bougainville, bringing to an end six years of RAN support to the peace monitoring group, as part of Operation Belisi II. RAN landing craft heavy had been regularly deployed to Bougainville since late 1997.

August 6, 2003

HMAS NEWCASTLE, (guided missile frigate), enters the Persian Gulf to relieve her sister ship HMAS SYDNEY, (guided missile frigate), on Maritime Interdiction Operations.

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.

March 18, 2003

The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, commits Australian forces to support any action taken by the US led Coalition against Iraq. This commitment was detailed as Operation Falconer.

Later in 2003 the following operational awards were announced for Operation Falconer, (the Coalition invasion of Iraq, and associated Arabian Gulf duties):

DSC CAPT. P. D. Jones, AM, RAN

DSC CAPT P. G. Lockwood, CSC, RAN

AM CMDR A. J. Ingram, RAN

AM CMDR C. P. Percival, RAN

DSM CMDR D. G. McCourt, OAM, RAN

DSM LCDR S. Craig, RAN

DSM LCDR M. L. Maley, RAN

OAM CMDR L. Charles-Jones, RAN

OAM CMDR P. Spedding, RAN

OAM CMDR M. K. M. Wise, RAN

OAM LCDR M. D. Edwards, RAN

OAM WO A. M. Kirkpatrick

OAM CPO V. W. Heath

Commendation for Distinguished Service LCDR I. M. Ingham, RAN

Commendation for Distinguished Service LEUT B. J. Horn, RAN

Commendation for Distinguished Service LEUT D. R. Horrobin, RAN

Commendation for Distinguished Service CPO M. V. Winter

Commendation for Distinguished Service PO G. R. Stevens

Commendation for Distinguished Service LS J. P. Dunn

Commendation for Distinguished Service LS S. W. Gillespie

Commendation for Distinguished Service LS T. A. Miles

Unit Citations for Gallantry were also awarded to HMAS ANZAC, (guided missile frigate), HMAS KANIMBLA, (landing platform amphibious), and Clearance Diving Team 3.

 

 

 

 

March 1, 2003

The Huon class mine hunter coastal HMAS YARRA, was commissioned. YARRA was laid down in ADI Yard, Newcastle, NSW, and launched on 19 January 2002.

February 22, 2003

The main body of Clearance Diving Team 3 arrived in Bahrain for service in the Persian Gulf/Iraq, as part of the Australian commitment to Operation Falconer, (the war in Iraq).

February 4, 2003

HMAS Kanimbla II departed Darwin for her second deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations BASTILLE and, later, FALCONER

January 23, 2003

HMAS KANIMBLA, (CMDR D. G. McCourt), departs Sydney for service in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Bastille. The LPA had previously served in the Persian Gulf during the period December 2001 to March 2002 as part of the RAN force allotted to Operation Slipper.