Flourishing in Difficulties
06 October 2009 By LEUT Gary McHugh and LEUT Joelene Waters
HMAS Perth (Commander Bruce Legge) and HMAS Warramunga (CMDR Bruce Legge) have joined forces in an unprecedented Fleet initiative to benefit each platform’s immediate mission.
Perth is preparing to undertake the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) upgrade, and with Warramunga’s recent return from the Middle-East Area of Operations, the partnership has served as a medium in achieving concurrent ASMD Baseline trials and Mariner Skills Evaluation (MSE).
The unusual circumstances mean that both ships are under a single Commanding Officer, CMDR Bruce Legge, until late November 2009.
“While it may sound cool to have two simultaneous commands, in actual fact it’s simply hard work at all levels,” said CMDR Legge, when discussing the implications of combining two crews in a multi-platform scenario. “Nevertheless, this is an excellent opportunity for the Warramunga Crew, who were able to complete their Mariner Skills Evaluation aboard Perth.”
The combined crew have assigned an innovative motto to their current composition: ‘Flourish in Difficulties’. The maxim represents a combination of Perth’s ‘Fight and Flourish’ and Warramunga’s ‘Courage in Difficulties’.
A significant majority of Perth’s 25-man skeleton crew have been incorporated into Warramunga’s Duty Watches alongside and the wholeship watchbill at sea in Perth, in order to safely sustain the two platforms.
While Perth is at sea conducting trials, Warramunga remains alongside with minimum personnel, conducting an extensive maintenance period. The platform is also fulfilling the duties as Harbour Training Ship for the New Generation Navy initiative: Plan TRAIN.
Despite the MSE taking priority for the Warramunga crew, the chance to find their sea legs after a significant period alongside was equally rewarding, and the crew have taken to the changes with a determined confidence to achieve a collective goal.
For the skeleton crew of Perth, the three weeks at sea will be their last before completing the configuration changes in the upgrade package, due for completion in late 2010. The upgrade will make the ship the first of her kind, with a superior missile defence system that will set the standard for the remaining Anzac Class frigates.
