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Mine hunter fleet on patrol
By Michael Brooke

Volume 50, No.2, February 22, 2007
 

HUNTER: Gascoyne will patrol Australia’s northern EEZ.
Photo: LSPH Helen Frank
 
“Return to the Sea” – the motto of the Mine Hunter Coastal (MHC) HMAS Gascoyne (LCDR Max Muller), rang true as she departed HMAS Waterhen on February 12 for the voyage north to join Op Resolute.

Gascoyne will bolster the RAN’s role in the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-government effort to safeguard Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and other offshore areas.

COMAUSNAVMCDGRP, CAPT Geoffrey Uren, told Navy News that Gascoyne and the other MHCs have been doing Op Resolute patrol duties no different to the Armidale Class Patrol Boats.

“They are part of the Fleet that is up, patrolling in the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria region, and doing a very good job,” he said.

CAPT Uren said there is normally one MHC on station 365 days per year, but two MHCs are currently on station to bolster the RAN’s contribution to Op Resolute while the issue with the ACPBs is being resolved.

He said each MHC will remain on station for 18-weeks during which time two Hunter crews will rotate through serving nine-weeks each.

There are three Hunter crews, two of which rotate through the MHC on station, he said.

“We are employing a new fly-in and fly-out concept, using three crews and two platforms, which maximises the amount of time each MHC spends on station,” he said.

CAPT Uren said LCDR Muller’s crew had very short notice to prepare for Op Resolute, “as originally they had a different program, which included participating in Exercise Mullgogger with the Mine Warfare Task Group.”

LCDR Muller said “his crew have done extremely well to respond to this new challenge at such short notice.”

He said Gascoyne completed her Mariner Skills Evaluation under the watchful eye of Minor Warfare Sea Training Group staff, before sailing to HMAS Cairns where she conducted a range of mission preparations with HMAS Tarakan.

The Boarding Officer, LEUT Kevin Whatling, told Navy News that prior to leaving Waterhen the boarding party were challenged at the Weapons Tactical Training Simulator (WTTS) facility at Holsworthy Barracks.

“The serials thoroughly tested the boarding parties understanding and application of the rules of engagement,” he said.

Boarding party members, who are armed with either Steyrs or pistols, are taught to apply the appropriate amount of force to manage any threatening security situation that might arise on operations.

The Navigation Officer LEUT Libby Duggan said since returning from the Christmas stand-down, the ship’s company “have trained hard and are on course” to give a good account of themselves in what will be Gascoyne’s third Op Resolute patrol.