HMAS Perth Mid Pacific 11 update
29 June 2011 By LSIS Yuri Ramsey
Azure water and a pod of Dolphins greeted HMAS Perth (CAPT Mal Wise) as she pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the 6 of June 2011 as part of Mid Pacific 2011 (MIDPAC 11) deployment.
MIDPAC 11 saw Perth test and evaluate the Anti-Ship Missile Defence (ASMD) Upgrade while HMAS Sydney (CAPT Peter Leavy) conducted Standard Missile 2 (SM2) and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) firings at the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Hawaii.
In the morning of the 9th of June, ship's company from both HMAS Perth and HMAS Sydney played cricket with the Honolulu Cricket Club at Waikiki. After a fairly close game, with an excellent knock by LSCIS Zessin and a good performance by ABMT Harmer with both the ball and bat, Perth eventually lost by three wickets and three overs.
On the evening of 9th of June, HMAS Perth hosted a cocktail party where Officers from the United States Navy, US Air Force, US Coast Guard and VIPs were treated to Australian hospitality, with marinated Kangaroo on skewers proving a hit. The night was concluded with a Ceremonial Sunset led by Guard Commander LEUT Sean Bates.
On the 10th of June the Officers of Perth and Sydney conducted a combined Wardroom Mess Dinner onboard the Might Mo, battleship USS Missouri. 60 Officers enjoyed a traditional RAN mess dinner under the imposing 16 inch guns of the ‘Mighty Mo’, venue of the signing of the Declaration of Surrender by the Japanese at the conclusion of World War Two.
On the 11th, Sailors and Officers from Perth and Sydney headed to Waikiki at the foot of the Diamond Head Crater to play the ‘Hawaiian Harlequins’, a local rugby club in a game of rugby union. It was a game of two halves with the Harlequins dominating the first and combined Navy team dominating the second. The combined Navy team were defeated 38-29. Afterward the Harlequins hosted a traditional Hawaiian barbeque.
Many of Perth's crew took time off to go to the famous Waikiki beach, hiking in the hills, jump on a helicopter for an aerial tour of the island, snorkeling with turtles and dolphins and of course grabbing bargains at the Navy Exchange store. Next stop after MIDPAC 11 for Perth will be participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre 11.
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