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STARDEX
training invaluable
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HMA
Ships Geelong and Cessnock
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HMA
Ships Geelong (LCDR David Moncrieff) and Cessnock (LCDR Matt Moncrieff)
recently crossed the line on their way north, welcoming in a number
of ‘Shellbacks’ into King Neptune’s realm.
In a welcome break from northern patrols, the two boats are currently
conducting an eight-week deployment to SE Asia, visiting ports in
Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.
After a brief visit to Surabaya, Geelong and Cessnock each conducted
a crossing the line ceremony before holding a BBQ and inter-ship
olympics. The score was fairly even, with the long-standing question
of who was fastest, finally settled. No tales out of school, but
suffice to say that the Cessnock engineering department got to go
fishing that afternoon instead of the threatened major DCEX.
After a three-day visit to Changi Naval Base, which included a visit
from the Maritime Commander, the boats sailed in company with other
FPDA units for STARDEX 2002.
Although well and truly ‘out gunned’, the exercise provided
an invaluable training opportunity, particularly for officers of
the watch and junior officers under training, with rare in-company
time and heavy traffic to contend with.
With one PWO badge between the two boats and limited communications,
the exercise provided a steep learning curve for the operations
staff. Lessons learned include the futility of assuming a fishing
boat disguise when your spotlight actually illuminates your pennant
number, as pointed out by HMAS Adelaide who claimed a kill.
Geelong and Cessnock were also among the first units on scene when
an RMAF Hawk aircraft ditched in the early phases of the exercise.
After post exercise debriefs in Singapore, the boats will make their
way to Brunei for Exercise PENGUIN before turning for home.
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