Publication:Navy Annual 2005/HMAS NEWCASTLE 'On Watch'
BY LIEUTENANT COMMANDER RON DIEKMANN, RAN
On the 23 May 2005, with tearful farewells from supportive families and friends, HMAS Newcastle departed Fleet Base east (FBe) as the eleventh rotation of ships deployed for duties in the Middle east Area of Operations (MeAO).
On the 14 June 2005, Newcastle officially became part of Operation CATALYST as she sailed into the MEAO. Upon arrival in the Persian Gulf, like her sister ships HMA Ships Adelaide and Darwin before her, Newcastle was tasked to assist in the protection of Iraq's sea-based infrastructure, specifically the oil terminals that produce over 80 percent of Iraq's national income. Newcastle has also been busy with other Maritime Security Operations (MSOs) aimed at setting the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, helping to provide the Iraqi people with the best opportunities for self-determination.
Daily activities see the boarding parties conducting "blue light patrols" of fishing and trading boats (dhows), as well as security sweeps of the oil tankers queuing to receive oil from the oil terminals. Whilst all that is happening, the ship is busy refuelling Iraqi and Coalition patrol boats and providing three 'meals on keels' per day for the United States Navy detachments on the oil terminals. Their task is to provide the final line of defence to the terminals. The Ship's seahawk helicopter is kept busy with daily surface-search sorties in aid of the overall effort to promote a secure and stable maritime environment.
The importance, responsibility and risk of the tasks at hand are not lost on Newcastle's crew. The crew need only think back to last year for a reminder of the vigilance that must be maintained. In April 2004, suicide bombers attacked a Coalition boarding party from USS Firebolt resulting in the death of three United States Navy (USN) sailors. HMAS Stuart was in the MEAO at the time and rapidly and capably rendered.
As the rest of the world watched in disbelief in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on London's transport system on 7 July 2005, the crew of Newcastle tuned in to CNN and watched the events unfold live via satellite television. The effect of the attack was made more poignant noting that a Royal Navy ship, HMS Argyll, was part of the Task Force assigned to protecting the oil platforms - her crew anxiously watching events unfold in their homeland and thinking of their loved.
Now it is Newcastle's turn to be "on watch". Whatever may happen, and as replicated throughout the world in various Royal Australian Navy ships, the crew of HMAS Newcastle stand ready to do what is required of us. With the correct training and right equipment, we are ready to achieve our designated tasks. We look forward to sailing into Fleet Base east at the end of the year and returning to the arms of our loved ones - on completion of being "on watch" in the MEAO.
