Anzac departs
20 June 2007
"My job is to bring you back safely." They were the words of HMAS Anzac's Commanding Officer to his ship's company and their families, as the frigate left Fleet Base West on June 5 headed for the Northern Persian Gulf.
CAPT Ian Middleton and his crew of 183 sailed to replace HMAS Toowoomba, currently on station as part of Operation Catalyst.
"It's a pretty poignant moment for the ship - a time of mixed emotions," CAPT Middleton said of the departure.
"You don't want to leave your family but you also know you have a mission and a job to do."
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, the Honorable Peter Lindsay, agreed.
"It's a sad day for families but a great day for our country," Mr Lindsay said.
"Australians may be cynical about other groups in the community, but they are not cynical about the commitment, dedication and professionalism of today's defence force. You are wonderful people."
With approximately half the ship's company returning to the Northern Persian Gulf for the second or third time, CAPT Middleton said he was confident the ship and his crew are prepared for any situation they may face.
"It's a tense part of the world. It's not somewhere you let your guard down. That's what our training has focused on - to get us to a level where we are prepared to deal with any incident."
"We're well-trained, well-equipped and ready for the task. My mission is to bring everyone home safely. I've told the families that - and I intend to do it."
Anzac will work with other coalition ships in guarding two major Iraqi oil platforms, where much of the country's Gross Domestic Product is generated.
"This mission is about Iraq," CAPT Middleton stressed. "It's about looking after Iraq's future and ensuring the oil platforms remain up and running and providing GDP."
Sailing into extremely hot conditions with temperatures expected around 50 degrees celsius, CAPT Middleton said the welfare of his ship's company was at the forefront of his mind.
While on station, Anzac will continue the ADF's work in training the Iraqi Navy, with members of both navies cross-decking between platforms. The aim is for the RAN to guide and mentor the Iraqis in taking over the roles the coalition has been providing for them since 2003.
This is the third Gulf deployment for HMAS Anzac, the 16th rotation of Navy ships as part of coalition operations since 2001 and the continuation of Navy's presence in the region since 1991.
