HMAS Canberra, the 'quiet achiever' in the coalition against terrorism, arrived home to a resounding welcome at Fleet Base West on August 2.

The Melbourne-based navy band played "Waltzing Matilda" and "We Are Australian" while families waited anxiously with banners and balloons adding colour and excitement to the occasion.

HMAS Canberra had just finished a deployment with the Multinational Interception Force (MIF) in The Gulf carrying out boarding operations on merchant vessels in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

The ship left Fleet Base West in February and headed south to apprehend two fishing boats near the remote Heard and McDonald Islands before sailing for warmer climes.

Maritime Commander RADM Raydon Gates, who was also dockside to welcome the ship home, said Canberra's ship's company represented the "human side of the hard edge of our contribution to the coalition against terrorism".

Canberra's commanding officer, CMDR Roger Boyce, said it was great to be back home and that the ship's company performed outstandingly during the deployment.

The ship carried out 52 boarding operations, with 19 being non-compliant.

"So that meant they actually weren't too happy to have a boarding party on board," CMDR Boyce said.

"The sorts of things they would be carrying normally would be smuggled oil.

"They are not overtly violent or anything like that because they see there is a ship there, there is an armed boarding party going on board, the guys know what they are doing and they don't want to take chances with them."

As well as carrying out boardings, the FFG questioned a further 232 ships transiting Iraqi waters and diverted 101 ships to UN holding areas for further investigations by UN inspectors.

CAPT Peter Sinclair, the Commander of the MIF, dubbed Canberra the quiet achiever during the deployment because of the ship's ability to carry out vital patrol work with a minimum of fuss.

The ship steamed 29,000 miles during her six-month deployment, spending 148 days at sea.

Her embarked Seahawk helicopter flew more than 80 sorties.

The ship is now undergoing a well-deserved leave and maintenance period.

By Tim Slater