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One
of the Chinese-built patrol boats in Iraq’s new navy.
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By
Graham Davis
The
world’s newest navy, the Iraqi Coastal Defence Force, is up and
running with a lot of help from the Royal Australian Navy.
It has five new 27 metre-longpatrol boats, 10 RHIBs and more than
100 officers and sailors.
The patrol boats and RHIBs are already on the job in the Northern
Arabian Gulf and the shipping lanes running into Iraq’s principal
port Umm Qasr.
In February of this year, following a request to Australia to
train an Iraqi navy, 11 officers and sailors from the RAN and
an Australian soldier, were sent to Iraq to provide the training
and technical support.
The RAN personnel had extensive skills on Fremantle class patrol
boats.
The team was led by LCDR Tony Powell, who upon returning to Australia
some weeks ago was replaced by LCDR Terry Morrison.
“We arrived in Iraq between February 7 and 27,” LCDR Powell said.
“We joined a training team of up to 72 people led by CAPT John
Murphy of the Royal Navy.
“Our job was to train the Iraqis and to bring their five patrol
boats, then sitting on concrete in Dubai, into operation.” he
said.
“In the team were members from the Royal Marines, Royal Navy,
US Marine Corps, US Navy, US Coastguard and the Dutch and Italian
navies.
“At first we had to do the training in sheds and warehouses.
“Then a $16 m purpose built training establishment was constructed.
“Meanwhile we had to get the patrol boats from Dubai. They were
built in China but had been confiscated two years ago before reaching
Iraq.
“Our CPOMT George Massouras was one of a small team who went down
to the patrol boats.
They had engines but things such as radar and communications units
were still in boxes.”
It was decided to paint the five patrol boats a nice shade of
grey. CPOMT George Massouras was given the job.
The work continued apace and over a month in mid-year Lieutenants
Scott Rivett and Phil Alley, with composite crews, brought the
boats to Umm Qasr.
Ashore the trainers were giving their students theory and practical
instruction in subjects as varied from search and rescue, firefighting,
survival at sea, navigation and seamanship The arrival of the
five patrol boats saw an expansion of the training program.
The Iraqi sailors, many who had served in the former Iraq Navy,
showed good mariner skills.
