Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga and her combined engineering support team (WCEST) have recently completed a scheduled maintenance period in Bahrain.
It is only the second time an engineering support team has been deployed to the Middle East region and follows the success of last year’s period of maintenance by HMAS Arunta’s CEST.
The intermediate maintenance availability (IMAV) was conducted to sustain Warramunga in her mission as part of the Combined Task Force 150 and Combined Maritime Forces.
WCEST comprises 25 personnel from both Fleet Support Unit (FSU) South East and West along with five Defence civilian contractors from Naval Ship Management who are part of the Warship Asset Management Alliance (WAMA).
CAPT Michael Turner, RAN, the Surface Combatant Capability Managers Representative, said the IMAV had again highlighted that the FSU and WAMA can successfully complete maintenance to the required standard, in the available time, anywhere in the world.
“The ability of FSU to deploy a team which responds to maintenance demands while ships are on operations, exercise or as part of a Task Group, is a significant force enabler for Navy,” CAPT Turner said.
HMAS Warramunga is deployed on operation Manitou as part of Combined Maritime Forces, which is a 32-nation partnership focused on defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation and promoting a safe maritime environment.