Tag: Rockingham

Rankin Home for Christmas

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December 16, 2018 – After nearly seven months away on deployment, the crew of HMAS Rankin has returned to Fleet Base West, to be met by the sight of familiar faces. Arriving just in time for Christmas, the crew were welcomed by friends, family and representatives of the Submarine Force. Rankin’s return to her home port comes after several busy months at sea, the highlight being her involvement in the multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 18. Life goes on and being away for such a long period saw…

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HMAS Stuart welcomed home from Asian deployment

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November 17, 2018 – With families and well-wishers waiting eagerly on the wharf, HMAS Stuart has returned to her home port of Fleet Base West after a three-month North East Asian Deployment. While deployed, Stuart took part in a number of exercises conducted in the North East Asia region in company with HMA Ships Melbourne and Sirius. Stuart Commanding Officer Commander Chris Leece said it had been a busy deployment for the ship and her crew of around 190 officers and sailors. “During the deployment to Northern Australia and North…

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HMAS Ballarat deploys for nine-month Middle East mission

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October 28, 2018 – HMAS Ballarat and her Ship’s Company of 190 officers and sailors departed Fleet Base West at Garden Island, Western Australia for maritime security operations in the Middle East on Sunday, 28th October 2018. Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead joined family and friends to farewell the ship and loved ones for their nine-month deployment to Operation MANITOU. RADM Mead said Ballarat would continue the RAN’s contribution to the Middle East region to ensuring safe and open access to the region while fostering trade and commerce.…

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HMAS Toowoomba returns from seven-month deployment

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September 2, 2018 – HMAS Toowoomba has returned to her homeport of Fleet Base West, Rockingham, Western Australia, after the ship’s longest deployment to date, successfully contributing to seven Task Groups in seven months. Commanding Officer, Commander Mitchell Livingstone, said Toowoomba achieved many milestones since February, supporting an extensive series of exercises, international engagements and training activities. “I’m extremely proud of my ship’s company and the professionalism they displayed over the course of this highly successful deployment,” Commander Livingstone said. “Toowoomba has participated in three exercises, the grueling Principal Warfare…

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HMA Ships Stuart and Sirius Deploy

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August 28, 2018 – There were banners, tears and hugs on Diamantina Wharf at Fleet Base West on August 22 as HMA Ships Sirius and Stuart headed off on deployment. The bright sunny conditions did little to take the chill off the strong southerly wind that kept families and friends huddled together as their loved ones departed. Speaking before Sirius slipped her lines, Senior Officer Western Australia, Commodore Brett Dowsing, said the deployment of these ships was a significant occasion. “The deployments of Sirius and Stuart today is extremely important…

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HMAS Sheean returns from deployment

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After departing Fleet Base West at the end of May, Collins Class submarine, HMAS Sheean, has made a welcome return to friends and families who lined the wharf on August 14. Among the welcoming crowd was the Director General Maritime Operations, Commodore Matt Buckley, CSC, RAN. Commodore Buckley, who exercised Operational Control of Sheean throughout the deployment, is also a previous Commander of the Submarine Force. “It’s been a few years since I stood here to welcome back one of our boats, and I am delighted to be here today,”…

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Garden Island – where conservation meets capability

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There is often something charming about an older building, but if one truly feels like it might be from another century, it may be time to consider some improvements. But what happens when heritage value and modern warfare combine? Navy’s home in the west, Fleet Base West at Garden Island has a thought-provoking history but is about to get a significant series of upgrades that need to take into account the value of documenting past use. Having boasted numerous military installations as part of the fixed defenses ‘to keep the…

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Silent service secrets revealed

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The crew of HMAS Waller had the unique opportunity to show their family members what they do when they go to sea on a recent sea ride from HMAS Stirling at Rockingham to the Port of Fremantle. The visitors were treated to a hands-on adventure which included several hours with the submarine dived as Waller sailed in preparation for Port of Fremantle Maritime Day activities. Many had never been underway in a submarine and were treated to viewing live information on the displays as well as noting the skill and…

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Support Ship returns from Indo-Pacific mission

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True to her motto of ‘To Serve and Provide’- HMAS Sirius sailed into her home port of Fleet Base West after almost four months at sea on 15 December, in time for well-earned Christmas break. Family and friends of the 73 crew gathered around Diamantina Wharf to welcome back the underway replenishment ship after participating in the Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment. Commanding Officer, Commander Michael Oborn said that their recent mission focussed on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including Indonesia, Japan, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the Republic…

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Upgrades underway at HMAS Stirling

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Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne and Senator for Western Australia Slade Brockman today welcomed the commencement of the $367 million redevelopment of Western Australian naval base HMAS Stirling. Minister Payne and Senator Brockman attended a sod-turning ceremony to officially mark the commencement of construction, which will deliver upgraded infrastructure and services to support Navy’s operations in the Indian Ocean. “HMAS Stirling is one of Australia’s most important naval bases and this investment will modernise essential infrastructure such as the wharves, power, water and security systems,’’ Minister Payne…

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Busy Ballarat Returns Home

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HMAS Ballarat has sailed into her home port of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia, to a large gathering of family and friends after completing a three month deployment to South East Asia and; participating in Exercise TALISMAN SABER off the Australian coast. The deployment, which began in early April, was part of the Australian Government’s efforts to promote regional stability and improve interoperability between regional partners and included port visits to Zhanjiang, Singapore, Sattahip, Bangkok, Da Nang and Kota Kinabalu. Ballarat’s Commanding Officer, Commander Paul Johnson said that…

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Cristóbal Colón arrives in Australia

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February 19, 2017 – The most modern escort ship of the Spanish Navy arrived today to Australia to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) for a period of four months, with the aim of collaborating in the training of the endowments of its new destroyers of the class “Hobart.” The frigate ‘Cristóbal Colón’ left its base in Ferrol on January 9 and after forty-two days of transit, has arrived in the morning today to the West Base of the RAN, near the city of Perth. During its transit to Australia, the…

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