ABMT Dean Plowman and ABMW Greg Sherrin head for shore in BANDICOOT's utility boat.

Three of the RAN's smaller ships, the minesweepers BANDICOOT, WALLAROO and BROLGA have done great work and "flown the flag" for Australia in Operation Bel Isi in recent months.

Defence asked for the help of the trio of Sydney-based ships when it had to deploy larger vessels such as HMAS TOBRUK and the LCHs to help in East Timor.

But as CAPT Noel Gilby, the Operation PR Officer in Bougainville reports, the vessels and their ships' companies acquitted themselves very well.

Along with humanitarian work the craft provided transport for land-based forces.

In September MSA BROLGA under the command of LCDR Mariano Gargiulo made history when it arrived in Bougainville making her the first ship of the Minesweeping Squadron to deploy overseas in the 10 years the squadron has been operational.

Later MSA WALLAROO under the command of WO Graham Dennien spent several weeks on station.

The vessel and complement then returned to Sydney for a rest with MSA BANDICOOT under the command of CPO Ron McKay taking her place.

Upon completion of the rest period, WO Dennien and his team returned to Bougainville by air replacing Ron McKay and his complement on the BANDICOOT.

It was the first time an exact "crew for crew" exchange had been carried out for an Australian warship although during the Indonesian conflict in1966 the companies of two of Australia's "one tonne" minesweepers HMA Ships HAWK and Gull were flown home and their places taken by officers and sailors with minesweeper experience who had been assembled in Australia.

Members of the ship's company ready an outboard motor for a PMG patrol insertion.

CPO McKay said, " for many of the crew, the operational deployment was their first experience outside Australian waters.

"While our activities in Bougainville are dramatically different to our usual role in Australian naval operations, this tour provides important operational and training experience for the crew."

He said the deployment gave him and his complement the rare and valuable opportunity to work with other services and peace monitors from Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand.
He believed BANDICOOT's role in the operation highlighted the versatility of the minesweeper auxiliary in peacekeeping style operations.

"We were a vital support element for the peace monitoring group, providing mobility for personnel and taking equipment and supplies to some remote areas.
"With many of the 300 strong force dispersed at different sites around the island and road transport often ruled out because of weather and road conditions, shipping is an essential element of day-to-day operations for the PMG."