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HMAS Wollongong joins fleet
Volume 50, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
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HMAS Wollongong commissioned at Fleet Base East on June 23.
Wollongong is the 10th of 14 Armidale Class Patrol Boats to be commissioned into service and was built by Western Australian ship builder Austal Ships.
The Australian White Ensign used in the ceremony was the same one hauled down from the previous Wollongong, a Fremantle Class Patrol Boat that decommissioned in January 2006.
Commanding Officer HMAS Wollongong Lieutenant Commander Mark Taylor RAN said, “This is a joyous occasion for my crew and the Navy – the result of many months of hard work preparing Wollongong for her introduction into service and commencement of her border protection role.”
Wollongong is the second of four ACPBs to be based in Cairns. She is part of the ARDENT Division that consists of six crews.
In attendance at the ceremony were Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells representing the Minister for Defence, the Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas and veterans from the first ship to bear the name Wollongong, a Bathurst Class Corvette which served with distinction during World War II. |
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