NAVY News :: Features

Joy and tears as Sailors return

LSBM Peter Crack meets his daughter Madelan for the first time

Joy and tears as Sailors return

L SEWL Gail Harding reunites with husband Guy, an Army Corporal

CPO Trevor Syme with his nephews keen Collingworrd supporters from Melbourne, Nathan, Trent and Jacob Goodrich

CPO Trevor Syme with his nephews keen Collingwood supporters from Melbourne. Nathan, Trent and Jacob Goodrich

Joy and tears as Sailors return

LSMT Shaun Steperson

Joy and tears as Sailors return

POEW Julie Higgs with daughters Jordan and Maddy

LSBM Hendo Lugris shares the moment with his younger brother

POCSS Maurice Hall with his son Mitchell

Joy and tears as Sailors return

By Tim Slater

Hearing gunfire that heralded the start of Op Falconer was a defining moment for HMAS Anzac sailor LSATA Darren Smith.

LS Smith said the first day of the war, when HMAS Anzac, in company with two British and one American warship sailed up the Khawr Abd Allah (KAA) waterway, was a hair-rising and exciting moment.

"The morning we sailed up the KAA I stuck my head outside and heard the guns in Iraq going off and I knew it was the real deal," LS Smith said.

HMAS Anzac participated in naval gunfire support over three days, supporting the Royal Marines of 40 Commando, firing 46 high explosive rounds against Iraqi targets.

LS Smith's job on the ship was to help maintain the ship's embarked Seahawk helicopter that was kept busy during the war flying a range of sorties including providing support for AUSCDT3 in Umm Qasr.

He said the operational environment was unbelievable with coalition ships ranging from Ticonderoga cruisers firing Tomahawk cruise missiles to amphibious warships landing marines.

"There were also heaps of different helicopters flying around, it was a very busy time," LS Smith said.

The hardest part of the deployment was the time away from Australia. And apart from missing family and friends, LS Smith was looking forward to having a beer, relaxing and just being back home.

He said it was great to see the huge crowd that had assembled to welcome the ships home.

ABBM Nathan Harris was kept busy during the deployment as a part of HMAS Darwin's boarding party who, along with HMAS Anzac's crew, carried out more than 400 boardings.

"I didn't get stuck on the ship, I got to go out and chase these guys in dhows," AB Harris said.

He said the boarding operations became a bit frustrating, with the crews having to turn around the same boats numerous times.

"When we first got up there we didn't quite know what to expect because it was changing all the time," he said.

"And no matter how many times you caught them they still came out two hours later, it was very frustrating."

CPOSTD Ron Zelina from HMAS Darwin said the continual patrolling for the dhows, before the main war started had been a fascinating experience, particularly when mass breakouts occurred.

"One particular night we had 300 dhows come out and that was probably the most awe-inspiring thing that I have ever seen," CPO Zelina said.

"We didn't have to turn them back, but we had to make sure that no-one was absconding and we had to make sure that those that were leaving us were heading out of the way."

CPO Zelina said all the training paid off when the war started and the atmosphere on the ship changed.

"During training you try and put the impetus into making it for real," CPO Zelina said

"But there was no requirement for an impetus any more, everything was real, we were very much on our toes, there was a heightened sense of alertness."

Another operational highlight was ridding the KAA of mines.

"That was a big day for us because it meant we had achieved a major milestone and we didn't have to contend with mines as well as the other asymmetric threats," he said.

CPO Zelina said he was looking forward to spending time with his family, watching football and even taking in a movie or two.

"It is absolutely fantastic to be home after our greeting from the WA weather last night," he said.