Pte Melanie Layton, SAD, on board HMAS Manoora as the ship steams into Melbourne on returning from Op Slipper. Photos by Sgt David Pang, 1JPAU(P)

SOLDIERS of the Ship's Army Detachment, HMAS Manoora, played an active role in the search and seizure of vessels during their recent deployment to the Middle East.

Some of the 20 soldiers aboard participated in boarding parties with the ship's sailors, storming non-compliant ships to search for contraband.

OC SAD Maj Sid Alexander said because the cargo specialists weren't too busy while actually at sea, they provided personnel for boarding parties.

"A number of soldiers were actively involved in those operations, conducting compliant and non-compliant boardings with other members of the ship's crew," he said.

"These guys are fundamentally forklift and crane drivers, so to go and do what is essentially an infantry MOUT sort of role was a bit out of the ordinary for them.

"They qualified on pistol and shotgun and completed fast-roping courses, then put all those skills to use in the performance of duties boarding foreign vessels."

Pte Melanie Layton said the boarding parties were the most exciting part of her 18 months aboard HMAS Manoora.

"We would board these vessels looking for oil smugglers - we trained to fast rope out of a helo onto the deck, though most of the time we boarded by boat," she said.

"We boarded a non-compliant vessel with all the windows boarded up with metal and we had to cut through to conduct the search."

Maj Alexander said the Op Slipper deployment had kept the department busy.

"We had an embarked force from 16 AD Regt to look after, our communicators were busy supporting the embarked command and task group and aviation was busy with resupply tasks from US Sea King support.

"The team did exceptionally well - communicators and aviators were busy all the time and those cargo specialists who weren't so flat out stepped up to the plate and really supported the rest of the ship."

He said their role was normally to look after all embarked forces on board.

"We make sure they're accommodated, their communications work, look after their flying operations and we also look after the ship's cargo, making sure it's loaded, stowed, secured and unloaded again at the other end."

"Navy don't have a cargo branch, which is why we perform that role for them and as for the aviation and communications, our role is to be a kind of forward scout.

"We are here to make sure that when we get an embarked force on board we have communicators already in the department who can initiate them in the procedures they need to know.

"We're a bit like a cross between a hotel concierge, a translation service and a liaison officer."
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By Cpl Jonathan Garland