HMAS Adelaide bids adieu to Singapore
23 May 2007 By LCDR Brian Chase
Saturday 19th May 2007 marked another milestone, in this HMAS Adelaide's final year of Commission as she sailed from Singapore for the last time. During her 27 years in service Adelaide (II) has made over 30 visits to Singapore and during that period Singapore has changed dramatically. Gone is the infamous 'Wang' with its Patio (a popular place for 'Jack' to eat) as are most of the bars 'Old Salts' frequented after a hard day of 'Rabbit' shopping. The surrounding area has also changed significantly, with high-rise apartment blocks replacing the old townships of Chong Pang (with its markets and open-air eatery) and Nee-Soon where many sailors purchased stereos and cameras from Transit Road.
Adelaide's final three port visits to Singapore during April and May saw her participation in Exercises BERSAMA LIMA 07 and SINGAROO 11/07 and its attendance at IMDEX 2007 (the latter expo in company with HMA Ships Farncomb and Bathurst). While poor weather curtailed many of the activities planned for BERSAMA LIMA, SINGAROO was a great success, forging closer ties between Australia and Singapore. The highlight of SINGAROO was the first successful RAN engagement of a dual aerial target by Adelaide's 76mm gun. Exercise activities were cut short as Adelaide rendered immediate medical assistance to the MV PADOVA on 10th May, after she suffered a catastrophic engineering failure and resulting personnel injuries. Adelaide was assisted in her efforts by RSS VENGENCE and MV Kendrick (RSN Charter Vessel), proving the close operational ties that SINGAROO has enabled.
IMDEX 2007 saw a tremendous gathering of ships from many countries, with every berth in Changi Naval Base full and alive with colour and ceremony. IMDEX was a showcase event allowing the Singaporean Navy to proudly show off its new 'Stealth' Formidable Class Frigates, alongside units from Australia, China, France, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, USA, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Naval personnel from every nation took the opportunity to visit the IMDEX exhibit checking out the vast array of new naval technology on display. The IMDEX Sports Olympiad was held on the 18th May, with Soccer, Basketball, Tug-of-War, Water Polo, Badminton and Tennis being contested. The combined RAN team didn't win any single event, however, the team scored a credible fourth overall (including the soccer team who resoundingly beat the 'Poms'!)
On Adelaide's final departure, the Chief of Navy, VADM Shalders, embarked in Adelaide for WMSX 07 (Western Pacific Naval Symposium MultiLateral Sea Exercise). This exercise represents another first for Adelaide as although she had exercised with many other navies individually, WSMX 07 marked the first opportunity that Navies from Australia, India, China, Singapore, New Zealand, USA and France had participated together at sea.
Once the Chief of Navy was safely landed ashore by USN helo, Adelaide shaped course towards Sihanoukville, Cambodia and the DACC (Defence Aid to the Civil Community) task delivery of spare 'body parts' for the Australian Orthopaedic Association. This will be Adelaide's second visit to Sihanoukville, having been the first ever RAN MFU to visit there in August 2005. During this previous visit, Adelaide's Ship's Company forged a close association with the locals, in particular the organisation representing the victims of land mines that still abound in Cambodia. Thus Adelaide's delivery of prosthetic limbs for the Australian Orthopaedic Association.
