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HMAS
Diamantina, bound for the solomon Islands Photo: NIU/East
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By
Graham Davis
The Navy’s six Huons were built as coastal minehunters.
They are proving much more than that thanks to the class’s involvement
in Operation Anode, the operation to make the Solomon Islands
a safer place.
“They are capable of many more things outside those for which
they were first designed,” said CAPT Steve McDowall, the head
of the Mine Warfare Clearance Diving FEG.
His remarks came as HMAS Diamantina left HMAS Waterhen on July
27 to replace HMAS Gascoyne in the Solomons.
LCDR Peter Bartlett and his ship’s company of 43 and an Australian
Federal Police officer, will spend about six weeks in the region.
CDRE Kevin Taylor (Chief Combat Support Group), CAPT McDowall,
CO of Waterhen, CMDR Steve Reid, CHAP John Marshall and a small
knot of relatives, farewelled Diamantina.
It’s her second Anode deployment.
Diamantina
has the equipment and the trained people to do the many jobs which
could come her way.
In the past, the Huons have been called upon to make life safer
for the Solomon Islanders destroying ordnance left over from World
War 2.
Stowed on deck are two RHIBs ready to carry out rescues, diving
tasks and personnel transfers.
Top line communication equipment means vital links with Australia
can maintained.
The 710-tonne Huons are also ideal for patrol duties, one of the
high priority roles for the Australian warships.
