HMAS Manoora at sea, now on her way to the Solomon Islands as part Op Helpem Fren. Manoora transported the first 600 ADF personnel to the area as part of a multi-national peacekeeping effort in the Islands. File photo by LSPH Rex Hunt.t

By Graham Davis

HMAS Manoora, (CMDR Martin Brooker) has departed Townsville for the Solomon Islands as part of the ADFs latest operation.

Operation Anode or Operation Helpem Fren as it is known in the wider community, is aimed at helping restore law and order in the Solomons.

On Monday, July 21, the 8,400 tonne Manoora, left Townsville to take up a position off the Solomons and prepare for the arrival of a multi-national team of police and military, which has since departed.

Manoora carried more than 600 ADF personnel.

Fifteen hundred Australian sailors, soldiers and airmen, 155 Australian Federal Police, 90 Australian Protective Service officers and a number of civilians, are deploying in the operation.

They will be boosted by contingents from New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and PNG.
The total force, to be led by Australia, is expected to reach 2225.

The Prime Minister said the National Security Committee of Cabinet had sanctioned the operation. The Opposition supports the mission.

Manoora’s diversion across the Coral Sea came as she returned from The Gulf where she had been sent to collect vehicles and equipment used by the ADF in the Iraqi conflict.

The Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill told of Manoora’s departure.

“The Manoora is being deployed to ensure that it can be in place for the arrival by air of police and military elements.”

Before departing for the Solomons by sea and by air a period of training was undertaken in Townsville.

The first Pacific Island military contingent, a rifle company from Fiji arrived in Townsville on July 18, joined by other international groups.

All participants undertook the training in Townsville before the bulk of them flew to the Solomons.

“This combined preparation will ensure that all contingents are well prepared to work together to uphold the laws of the Solomon Islands and assist the Solomon Islands Government and people restore stability in their country,” Senator Hill said.

Senator Hill said the Federal Government would consider Australia’s contribution to the regional assistance package to the Solomon Islands Government.

He expected the initial police and military elements would be in a position to deploy from Thursday, July 24.

“Restoring law and order to the Solomon Islands is essentially a policing task,” the Minister said.

“The defence force elements from the Pacific Forum countries, including Australia would provide back-up for the police, as well as assisting with logistics support and humanitarian tasks.”

Manoora is regarded as an ideal vessel for the role.

As well as having $12 million in state-of-the-art communications equipment she carries on this deployment two Sea King helicopters, landing craft, has a full medical team, operating theatre and 36 bed hospital, with eight beds classed as “intensive care.”

In the hours before her Townsville departure she took on police vehicles and other equipment.

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