By
ABCIS Quentin Mushins
HMAS
Launceston (LCDR Mike Gough) will return home later this month
after participating in Exercise CAGGOU in Noumea.
During
the exercise Launceston operated with the French Naval ships Jacques
Cartier and La Glorieuse and conducted towing, boarding, underway
replenishment and force protection serials off Noumea.
“The
CAGOU exercises provided an excellent opportunity for Australian
warships to work with warships from a very professional NATO Navy
close to home. It was a shame our time in Noumea was cut short
by the need to avoid an approaching cyclone,” LCDR Gough
said.
When
Launceston left Cairns for Noumea, she passed through a tropical
depression that turned into TC Erica. The cyclone followed the
ship, creating rough weather in the area and forcing Launceston
to modify her passage plan. When Erica tracked directly towards
Noumea, and with TC Eseta also in the area, it was decided to
depart Noumea early and commence the passage to the ship’s
next port, Funafuti (Tuvalu).
The
Tassie Devil continues her deployment with visits to Tarawa, Majuro
and Rabaul before returning home..
