CA signs the door of the SAD onboard HMAS Kanimbla. Photo by LS Rachel Irivng, Service newspapers

Part ship’s Coy happy to be SAD

By LS Rachel Irving
HMAS Kanimbla, one of three RAN vessels currently on patrol in the waterways of The Gulf, distinguishes herself in many ways including by the composition of her ship’s company.

Onboard there are 21 Army members permanently attached to the Ship’s Army Detachment (SAD) and 35 more with a RBS70 det and an LCM8 det.

OC SAD Maj Neil Grierson said life onboard for the Army team has been extremely busy.

“We got into theatre, unloaded the LCM8s and they’ve been working with the British and Americans on tasks around Kuwait and up to Iraq,” he said.

“They’ve been used as floating platforms for stores re-sups, for transporting stores and personnel – particularly with the British, tactical offloads and some tactical administrative offloads of British troops. They’ve also been moving mines and prisoners of war.”

At the time of this interview, the LCM8s were waiting to transport captured mines to RAN clearance divers who werefurther north up the KAA.

One of the primary roles of Kanimbla is acting as the mother vessel for smaller craft operating through the AO.

“When they come alongside, we provide them with rations, fuel and water, the SAD will also be involved with craning if we can’t manhandle the gear onboard.”

Kanimbla captured four Iraqi vessels, including those containing mines which made quite quite a bit of media coverage.

The ship has employed extra defence by way of the RBS70 detachment.

A air defence detachment from 16 AD Regt have been involved in 24-hour defence watches, providing security for Kanimbla from either air or surface threat, manning three or four mounts.

Maj Grierson said the SAD people that they have onboard – “termites – have been doing a significant amount of work with coalition RHIBS and their normal tasking within the ship.

“We get pretty busy when we’re alongside. But for the operation side they were running 24 hours/7 days.”

The SAD has personnel in Kanimbla’s communications centre running, repairing and looking after the comms.

According to Maj Grierson, Army flight deck personnel have been doing a phenomenal amount of work on Kanimbla with coalition aircraft, as well as the ship’s SK50 embarked helo.

“The feeling from within the SAD is very positive. We’re pleased with what we’ve been doing over here.

“It’s definitely a morale boost when you see the CDF and CA come onboard and talk to everybody.

“It lets us know that in Australia we’re still highly regarded and still thought about.”

He admitted when people first post onboard they generally have a few teething problems getting used to the way the Navy works.

“You try to avoid becoming marinised but you want to feel comfortable within your skin with the way the ship operates, you have to train yourself up as a Navy person.

“With the SAD, I don’t think I’ve ever worked with a better or more professional group of people. They’re very very dedicated to their job and to maintaining the high standards they have. I’ve got nothing but pride in the way they’ve performed.”

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