HMAS ANZAC sails for the Middle East

6 June 2007

HMAS Anzac, a Royal Australian Navy ANZAC Class Frigate, with her crew of 183 personnel has today departed her homeport at HMAS Stirling at Garden Island, Western Australia (WA), to commence passage to the Northern Persian Gulf.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Mr Peter Lindsay MP, representing the Minister for Defence, and the Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Davyd Thomas AM CSC RAN, joined family and friends in farewelling Anzac as she sailed to take over duties from HMAS Toowoomba, to provide an ongoing contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq as part of Operation Catalyst.

"We are well prepared to undertake our mission," said the ship's Commanding Officer, CAPT Ian Middleton, RAN.

"We have completed a lengthy and rigorous training program to prepare the ship for this task and we are now looking forward to the challenges ahead."

The Commander Australian Fleet, RADM Davyd Thomas, also thanked the families and friends of the Navy personnel deploying to the Gulf for their ongoing support.

"The extended support given to the men and women by their families and friends makes a big difference to their ability to get on and do the job before them. I wish to acknowledge this support given by families, which is essential for any successful long term deployment," RADM Thomas said.

This is Anzac's third deployment to the Northern Persian Gulf and is the sixteenth rotation of Navy ships as part of coalition operations since 2001.

HMAS Toowoomba, which is currently on station in the Northern Persian Gulf, is planned to return to WA in early July 2007.