Sheean’s cup fever
GG presents award

 

FULL OF PRIDE: The proud crew of the Collins Class submarine HMAS Sheean strike a pose after winning the Duke of Gloucester Cup.

Photo: ABPH Jarrad Oliffee

By Michael Brooke
Volume 49, No. 3, March 9, 2006

Navy personnel of the Silent Service are a daring breed and their professionalism and dedication to duty was recognised when a submarine was awarded the Duke of Gloucester Cup for the second consecutive year.

HMAS Sheean (CMDR Geoff Wadley) was presented with the Duke of Gloucester Cup by the Governor-General, Major General Michael Jeffery and MCAUST RADM Davyd Thomas in a ceremony at Fleet Base West on February 16.

The Governor-General said the Gloucester Cup was awarded annually to the RAN ship or submarine judged as the most proficient in all aspects of operations, safety, seamanship, reliability and training.

“Winning the Duke of Gloucester Cup for 2005 is a great achievement,” the Governor-General said.
“For two submarines to win the cup in as many years is proof of the high level capability of our submarines and the professionalism and dedication of the men and women working in them.”

The Governor-General presented the award to the former, qualifying CO of Sheean, CMDR Andrew Keough.
CMDR Andrew Keough, who has taken up his new posting at MHQ as the Fleet Submarine Operations Officer (FSOO), said “2005 was a big year for Sheean”.

“Our five-month deployment took us to ports including Japan, Thailand and Singapore. We also achieved 55 days at sea which is the longest period ever undertaken by a Collins class submarine. The crew and the boat performed magnificently and I feel extremely proud of what we achieved,” he said.

Following the Duke of Gloucester Cup presentation ceremony, RADM Thomas also presented Sheean with two other awards. The Voyager Trophy, awarded annually to the ship or submarine that displays the best overall fleet efficiency in Anti Submarine Warfare operations and, the Electronic Warfare Proficiency Shield, which is awarded annually to the ship or submarine, judged to be the most proficient in Electronic Warfare.

Sheean was also the runner-up to HMAS Farncomb (CMDR Mark Hammond) for Submarine Fighting Efficiency Award, for demonstrating proficiency in all aspects of warfare, training, safety and weapons handling..

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