233 officers and sailors departed for the Middle East region yesterday onboard HMAS Melbourne from Garden Island, Sydney.
Australian Navy’s Melbourne will spend six months conducting counter terrorism, counter piracy and narcotics interdiction operations as part of Combined Maritime Forces’ Operation MANITOU.
While deployed, the vessel will build on the success of recent Navy rotations, disrupting the supply of narcotics.
Melbourne deployment is the 61st rotation of a Royal Australian Navy ship to the Middle East region since 1990. She will relieve HMAS Newcastle on station.
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Image: Australian Navy