New Zealand and Australian Anzac-class frigates HMNZS TE MANA and HMAS MELBOURNE met up recently in the Arabian Sea.
Both being assigned to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) task forces conducing counter-piracy operations, the rendezvous was an opportunity for the ships’ crews to exchange visits and get a taste of home at sea. Three Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) sailors are serving as a boat’s crew on HMAS MELBOURNE, which is deployed by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) to the same area of operations.
The seamless meeting on the high seas during an operational deployment was also an evidence of the close ties between both nations.
HMZNS TE MANA is conducting counter-piracy operations for CTF-151 off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden since late last year.
The crew is keeping vigilance of the region with the ship’s boarding teams and the Seasprite helicopter crew focused on flying operations.
The two frigates are deployed until February 2014.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 16, 2014; Image: RNZN