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We’re
MIF’d for a while yet: MC
The
Royal Australian Navy will keep ships in The Gulf for the “foreseeable
future”, the Maritime Commander, RADM Raydon Gates, said.
“We will be here until the task is completed and the sanctions
lifted,” he said.
“If it did ‘blow up’ we would have two frigates here,
though the Americans may well ask for an LPA,” RADM Gates said.
His remarks came as he completed a visit to The Gulf region.
RADM Gates visited our ships HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Arunta, the
support personnel in the region and senior defence personnel from
Coalition nations.
The RAN has around 475 members serving in the region, with the two
warships soon to be replaced by HMAS Darwin and HMAS Anzac.
Some support personnel will also be rotated.
RADM Gates said he had seen first hand the workload undertaken by
the RAN personnel in The Gulf.
He had been impressed by the enhanced boarding skills attained by
personnel across all categories.
“We have the envy of other nations in these operations,”
he said. “Our allies recognise that for the size of our country
our contribution is significant.”
Back in Sydney RADM Gates called a “clear lower deck”
at Maritime Headquarters. He said our warships in The Gulf continue
to do good work.
“The LSE is doing a great job” as are the RAN personnel
posted to Camp Doha, the massive US and Coalition base in Kuwait.
RADM Gates also thanked those who had taken part in Exercise STARDEX
and praised the staff working at Maritime Headquarters declaring
, “your work is extremely important.”
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