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HMAS
Dechaineux her CO and XO on the fin for her arrival at FWB.
Photo by ABPH Philip Cullinan
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HMAS
Dechaineux (CMDR Peter Scott) recently returned to Fleet Base
West after a three-month South East Asian deployment.
Dechaineux undertook a prolonged period at sea punctuated by a
four day port visit to Singapore, which enabled the ship’s
company to enjoy some time off the submarine and take advantage
of the SARS induced improvement in the exchange rate.
Arriving in Darwin the ship’s company had spent 71 of 75
days at sea, so were keen to take advantage of the city’s
many attractions. Sailing from Darwin, Dechaineux conducted a
PASSEX with the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Battle Group, comprising
the aircraft carrier and consorts US Ships Antietam, Ingraham,
and Sacramento.
The carrier continued her run of bad luck with the Australian
Submarine Squadron, being attacked from a range of 3500 yards
after Dechaineux eluded the screen, which included both fixed
and rotary ASW aircraft.
Families and Squadron personnel greeted the boat on the wharf
on a cold, blustery winter’s day, bringing to a close an
almost endless summer for Dechaineux.
After a very busy twelve months, which included two deployments,
over 24,000 nm and over 220 days away from home, Dechaineux is
now in drydock at Tenix.
It was a rare sight in Darwin when HMAS Waller (LCDR Jason Cupples)
and HMAS Dechaineux were berthed together.
Dechaineux’s port visit overlapped with Waller’s participation
in Exercise Kakadu. After a four week AMP, Waller conducted her
Weapons Certification against HMAS Warramunga and was also the
platform for the sea phase of the Submarine Warfare Officer’s
Course.
