By LEUT Matt Carroll

Storm clouds gather in Diego Garcia as Melbourne heads for The Gulf.

Commander Vern Dutschke and his ship’s company in HMAS Melbourne have relieved CAPT Gerry Christian and his team in HMAS Newcastle on Operation Catalyst duties in the Arabian Gulf.

Newcastle is returning to Australia.

HMAS Melbourne did a fuel stop in Diego Garcia on November 13 while en-route to the area of operation.

The fuel stop was delayed by a day because of the closure of the US Navy port as a precaution against an approaching cyclone.

After embarking fuel and stores Melbourne travelled “at speed” to make up the lost day and rendezvous with her sister FFG.

Four days and 2000 nautical miles later, Melbourne arrived on time to conduct a dual “replenishment at sea” with USNS Pecos and relieve Newcastle.

The FFGs then conducted officer of the watch manoeuvres and personnel transfers for hand-over briefings before Melbourne bid farewell to Newcastle.

Along with the hand-over briefs an opportunity arose for some family reunions between members of the two ship’s companies.
These included a de-facto couple, two sets of brothers and two cousins.

As Newcastle faded from the radar screens, Melbourne looked ahead to the Straits of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf.

Melbourne has now officially taken over as the sea borne presence of the Navy in the Middle East.

Operation Catalyst will see the ship and her ship’s company away from their families, friends and loved ones over Christmas and early 2004.

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