Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew Assail Five

Commanding Officer	Lieutenant Commander Samuel Woolrych

Assail Five is the fifth of six crews which form Assail Division. Based in Darwin, Assail Five is one of six rotational crews which share responsibility for the Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPBs), HMA Ships Ararat, Maitland, Pirie and Broome. Following Attack Division, Assail Division is the second to have been formed up as part of the RAN's multi-crew concept onboard ACPBs.

Assail Five officially formed up to commence platform training on 06 Nov 2006. Being the first rotational crew of the Assail Division, Assail Five's formation did not coincide with the commissioning of an ACPB. The crew was inaugurated into RAN service on 17 Nov 2006, along with Assail Six, during a ceremony held at HMAS Coonawarra.

Assail Five commenced the multi-crewing programme onboard the Navy's ACPBs in 2007, when the crew assumed responsibility of HMAS Maitland.

Since completing crew training ashore and at sea, Assail Five has contributed to the ADF's domestic maritime security activities against illegal fishing and people smuggling operations in Australia's northern approaches. These operations form a major part of the Australian Government's overall efforts to protect our Exclusive Economic Zone.