The new 'command and control' centre in HMAS MANOORA may not be as large as that on USS BLUE RIDGE, but it is never-the-less "very capable", according to COMFLOT, CDRE Jim Stapleton.

CDRE Stapleton should know.

In May he spent three weeks in USS BLUE RIDGE as the deputy commander of Exercise Tandem Thrust.

His remarks came at the official handing over of the facility, known as Joint Task Force Headquarters Afloat, on MANOORA last month.

Costing millions of dollars and to be replicated in sister ship, HMAS KANIMBLA in 2001, the JTFHQ comprises a suite of four state-of-the-art command, control, communications and intelligence facilities.

One aspect allows for email communication ranging from 'top secret' to 'open chat'.

Another allows for video conferencing between ship and shore using satellites.

Yet another provides for computer-linked 'plot screens'.

The floating centre will allow a joint task force commander to maintain secure communications with the Headquarters Australian Theatre, with other members of the task force and with forward units.

The level of communications afforded is the same as if the task force was operating from its home base.

The new facility is the combined result of a project between the RAN, the Defence Materiel Organisation and many contractors led by ADI Ltd.

The RAN's team leader was CMDR Derek Abraham-James.

A crowd of nearly 100 people watched as the head of ADI Ltd, Mr Jean-Georges Malcor formally handed the facility to the Under Secretary of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Mr Mick Roche.

"This is the most capable communications platform in the Australian fleet," Mr Malcor said.

From Mr Roche, "The delivery of this new facility is on time, on budget and on specification".

COMAUST, AVM Treloar and Deputy Fleet Commander, CDRE Hancock also addressed the gathering.

CDRE Stapleton said that although MANOORA may not have a communications complex as large as that on USS BLUE RIDGE, the Australian ship was never-the-less very capable.

"MANOORA's 'pipe' (IT communications conduit) is not as large as that on BLUE RIDGE," he said.

He agreed that because of her new equipment MANOORA would become a higher profile target for any enemy.

In the event the Australian ship was sent into harm's way, she would receive an armed escort.

The Sydney-based LPA is under the command of CMDR Bob Morrison and has a 230-member ship's company.