Armidale Class Patrol Boat Crew Attack Four
Attack Four was formed in Darwin on January 16, 2006 to commence training for their first posting to a new Armidale Class Patrol Boat. With the addition of their first and current Commanding Officer, LCDR Andrew Lugton, RAN, in April 2006, Attack four posted into NUSHIP Albany to prepare her for commissioning. The crew sailed almost immediately for cyclone avoidance and then successfully completed a mission readiness work up period June then sailed for Albany, Western Australia.
HMAS Albany was commissioned with Attack Four embarked in Albany on 15 July 2006. The commissioning lady is Mrs Annette Knight, a former mayor of Albany and Western Australian citizen of the year. It was during this period the crew formed links with the local branch of the Naval Association, the RSL and people of the city as well as the Albany based Naval Reserve Cadet unit TS Vancouver. Attack Four is twinned with Naval Reserve Cadet unit, TS Koopa, based on Bribie Island, Queensland.
Attack Four conducted their first crew handover following the Albany commissioning and enjoyed their first off rotation period in the new multi crewing arrangement for RAN patrol boats. Following this period, Attack Four posted into HMAS Larrakia and during this rotation conducted the Patrol boat group's very first short notice handover of an operationally ready crew into HMAS Pirie, whose borne crew did not have such status.
Attack Four has spent the vast majority of their on rotation periods in HMA Ships Albany, Larrakia and Pirie at sea assigned to Operation Resolute in northern waters and Christmas Island. Operation Resolute is the Australian Government response for maritime and fisheries protection. This has seen the crew conduct numerous successful boardings and subsequent apprehensions of Foreign Fishing Vessels (FFV's) found operating illegally in Australian waters.
In June, 2007, Attack Four rotated again into HMAS Albany and is preparing to conduct the inaugural freedom of entry to the city of Albany.
