Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success has completed her five-month deployment to Operation MANITOU and is heading home to Fleet Base East, Sydney.
Deployed as part of Australia’s Joint Task Force 633, the Durance class Auxiliary Oiler Replenishment ship was initially assigned to US Fifth Fleet Task Force 53, to provide logistic support to coalition navy ships operating in the Middle East Region.
Having quickly demonstrated her capability early in the deployment, the role of Success was expanded and she was assigned to the Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 150 and tasked with a maritime security, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics mission.
During her deployment the ship’s company conducted 23 boardings, 11 maritime security awareness visits in support of NATO Operation OCEAN SHIELD and three other visits to vessels in Middle Eastern waters.
The embarked medical officer provided assistance to local mariners on three occasions and the ship’s divers assisted with emergency repairs to a local fishing vessel after responding to a distress signal.
Operation MANITOU is the Australian Government’s contribution to the international effort to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.
Adelaide class frigate HMAS Newcastle has replaced Success on Operation MANITOU and is the 60th Royal Australian Navy ship to deploy the Middle East since the first Gulf War in 1990.
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Image: Australian Navy