HMAS Manoora (II)
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| Pennant | L 52 |
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| Type | Amphibious Warfare |
| Classification | Landing Platform, Amphibious (LPA) |
| Class | Kanimbla Class |
| Based | Sydney |
| Launched | 19 December 1970 |
| Commissioned | 25 November 1994 |
| Decommissioned | 27 May 2011 |
| Displacement | 8534 tonnes8,534,000 kg 8,534,000,000 g 18,814,244.148 lb 301,027,991.708 oz |
| Length | 159.2 metres15,920 cm 0.159 km 0.0989 mi 522.31 ft 6,267.717 in |
| Beam | 21.2 metres2,120 cm 0.0212 km 0.0132 mi 69.554 ft 834.646 in |
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| Main Machinery |
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| Speed | 21 knots10.803 m/s 38.892 km/h 0.0108 km/s 2,126.641 ft/min 35.444 ft/s |
| Company | 23 naval Officers, 2 army Officers, 197 sailors, 18 soldiers and 400 embarked forces |
| Battle Honours |
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HMAS Manoora commissioned in the Royal Australian Navy on 25 November 1994.
Manoora was one of two former United States Navy, Tank Landing Ships purchased by the RAN to bolster its amphibious capability.
Between 1995 and 1999, Manoora underwent an extensive modernisation in Sydney and Newcastle to convert the vessel to a Landing Platform Amphibious (LPA). Work included extensive hull-preservation work, asbestos removal, installation of an electronic propulsion control system, the fitting of a 70-tonne crane, an engineering and sensor upgrade, installation of a modern medical facility, a new communications centre and modifications to the helicopter hangar.
In January 2000, Manoora joined the fleet, beginning a commission in the RAN that would see her actively participate in National and coalition operations which spanned from the Western Pacific to the Middle East.
The first of these was as guard ship during Operation GOLD during which she provided security for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Later that year, Manoora was assigned to Operation TREK supporting the International Peace Monitoring Team in the Solomon Islands.
Between March and April 2001, Manoora again deployed in support of Operation TREK. She returned to Australia in June, before being assigned to border protection duties as part of Operation RELEX. During this period Manoora transported Unauthorised Boat Arrivals from the MV Tampa to a processing centre on the island of Nauru. 2001 also saw Manoora participate in Exercise TANDEM THRUST, and visit overseas ports in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand.
In January 2002 Manoora deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation SLIPPER, Australia’s contribution to the war in Afghanistan. She arrived in the Middle East Area of Operations on 28 February and assumed duties as the RAN Task Group Commander on 30 March.
During the deployment, Manoora’s boarding parties conducted 27 compliant and 4 non-compliant boarding serials. Manoora was stationed, for much of her deployment, as the primary non-compliant boarding asset and the Khwar Abd Allah gatekeeper (the body of water lying between Iraq and Kuwait leading to Umm Qasr). Manoora departed the MEAO on 24 June 2002 and returned to Australia via Mauritius, arriving in Port Phillip Bay on 13 July. The remainder of the year was spent in Australian waters.
In May 2003, Manoora again sailed for the MEAO in support of Operation FALCONER, the Australian Defence Forces’ (ADF) contribution to the war in Iraq. She entered the MEAO on 3 June where she provided additional sealift capacity in theatre and began back-loading ADF equipment and stores to Australia. She returned to Australia on 28 June.
In July 2003, saw Manoora deploy from Townsville to the Solomon Islands in support of Operation ANODE, the ADFs’ contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. Manoora entered the AO on 24 July where she provided logistic and air support for the Maritime Task Group throughout the deployment and transported the rebel leader, Harold Keke, to Honiara following his arrest. Manoora departed the AO on 29 October 2003. During 2003 Manoora also participated in Exercises SEA EAGLE and VITAL MARINER.
During the first half of 2004, Manoora participated in Exercises OCEAN PROTECTOR and TASMANEX in New Zealand before undergoing and extended refit covering the period April 2004 - May 2005.
Between July and September 2005, Manoora deployed in support of Operation RELEX II, before returning to Sydney in November for further maintenance. Throughout 2005 she also participated in Exercise TALISMAN SABRE, DAY TOOTHFISH and MERCURY.
In March 2006 Manoora contributed to Operation ACOLYTE in support of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Further operational service followed in May, when Manoora sailed for East Timor with 320 army personnel, a Sea King and 4 Blackhawk helicopters embarked in support of Operation ASTUTE. After successfully landing her embarked force she provided logistic support, before returning to Australia and sailing for Hawaii to participate in Exercise RIMPAC during June-July. By the years end she had also completed Exercises OCEAN PROTECTOR and CROIX DU SUD in New Caledonia.
The high operational tempo continued into 2007. During April – May, Manoora contributed to Operation RESOLUTE conducting patrols in the waters west of Melville Island out to Ashmore Reef. This was followed by a maintenance period between August and October before taking part in Exercises SEA LION, TALISMAN SABRE, SEA EAGLE and PACIFIC REACH. Successful port visits were also conducted in Indonesia and Singapore.
Between February and March 2008, Manoora deployed in support of Operation RESOLUTE and conducted extensive border protection patrols in the waters north of Australia and in the Indian Ocean from Cape York to Christmas Island. Later, in November, Manoora was tasked at short notice to participate in commemorative services for HMAS Sydney (II) over the site of her wreck with 284 descendants of Sydney sailors embarked.
During 2008 Manoora also participated in Exercises JOINT KIWI, in New Zealand and SEA LION.
The following March, Manoora participated in the Sydney Harbour Fleet Entry, Fleet Divisions and Fleet Review as well as the RAN Fleet Freedom of Entry march though Sydney on 14 March.
In May she transported personnel and equipment to Weipa for the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program and between June and July 2009 she again contributed to Operation RESOLUTE, conducting patrols in waters west of Melville Island out to Ashmore Reef. A maintenance period followed between August and October before Manoora assumed the role of Operation RESOLUTE Long Haul Response Vessel over the Christmas/ New Year period. By the end of 2009 Manoora had participated in Exercises MARS HARPOON, COMMANDO RAJA, NEW HORIZON, TALISMAN SABRE, and visited overseas ports in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
2010 saw Manoora operating in the Eastern Australia Exercise Area before participating in Exercise SEA LION and conducting port visits to Townsville, Cairns, Hobart and Burnie where she exercised Freedom of Entry into the city. In April she took part in Exercise CROIX DU SUD in New Caledonia before returning to Sydney.
Between May and August, Manoora remained alongside in Sydney undergoing maintenance before sailing in September for work ups and participation in Exercise HAMEL in Queensland waters. There she visited Brisbane before taking part in commemorative services associated with the discovery of the wreck of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur. The results of the LPA Seaworthiness Board then necessitated her return to Sydney and the commencement of a Chief of Navy directed Operational Pause.
In February 2011, the Minister for Defence announced the early decommissioning of Manoora. HMAS Manoora was decommissioned on Friday, 27 May 2011 in a ceremony held at Fleet Base East, Garden Island, Sydney.
A video summary of the decommissioning ceremony and a video tribute can be viewed on the Navy's YouTube channel.
