Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
17 August 2005
Task Force 58 commanding success in the Gulf
By Cpl Cameron Jamieson
With the words "I relieve you sir", a unique chapter has closed in Australian naval history. It came about as the result of many years of cooperation and training with Australia's key military partners, and may be the herald of future commands by ADF personnel.
The radio call marked the end of Commodore Steve Gilmore and his Royal Australian Navy (RAN) team's command of Task Force 58, the coalition's naval force conducting maritime security operations across the northern Persian Gulf.
"These operations focus on a number of sub-tasks, the most critical being the protection of Iraq's offshore oil platforms," CDRE Gilmore said. "TF58 also conducts maritime interception operations, including boardings, where we seek to detect, deter and deny movement across the Gulf by any criminal and insurgent elements." The oil terminals are absolutely vital to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq.
"They produce 80 per cent of the country's GDP, and so they are critical to the future of Iraq," CDRE Gilmore said. "That is why TF58 has a considerable capability and the intent to protect Iraq's offshore terminals. It is made up of a diverse and impressive array of ships, including guided missile cruisers, frigates, patrol boats, Coast Guard cutters, fast attack boats and Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats. We also have afloat-support ships and a number of helicopter assets."
While TF58 will continue to operate in the Persian Gulf under a US commander, it is time for CDRE Gilmore and his team to return to Sydney to be debriefed over the success of the Australian command group. Doubtless there will be many lessons learnt to be discussed, as CDRE Gilmore's command has been the highest level at-sea tactical command held by an Australian naval officer for 60 years.
"Having an Australian in charge of such a large coalition task force with a mission of such significance made this mission a very unique opportunity for Australia, myself and the members of my team," CDRE Gilmore said. "I think the request for Australian command is a direct reflection on the high regard the coalition forces have for the professionalism of the ADF. We have worked together over a very long period of time and we have gone to great lengths to ensure our interoperability is such that at short notice we can come together and focus on a mission, and be effective and efficient in its prosecution."
TF58 comprises ships from the Royal Navy, US Navy, US Coast Guard and Iraqi Navy, with HMAS Newcastle representing the RAN. Cdre Gilmore said that one of his greatest challenges was harnessing the terrific capability of the force and bringing it together as one. "The coalition is a very effective way of prosecuting a mission as complex as this one," he said. "Each of the individual navies here brings something special to the table. They all have some aspect of their normal operations that has been fine-tuned to a point that we can use it here to fill specialist roles.
When I look at TF58 and what is has achieved over the last few months I must say that the whole of our capability is far greater than the sum of the individual parts." Another major responsibility for CDRE Gilmore and his command team was the training and integration of the Iraqis into the task force. "That was a particularly satisfying part of my command," he said.
"I was tasked with the integration of the Iraqi Navy so that it may eventually take charge of maritime security in its own territorial waters. The new Iraqi Navy was established in 2003, and it has come a long way in a short period of time, and over the last four months our task force has been instrumental in getting the Iraqis into the final straight of the integration process.
We now have all five Iraqi patrol boats integrated into the task force - not just as addition craft but replacing coalition vessels. Iraqi Marines are also taking their place on the oil terminals which will see them take responsibility for the point-defence of the terminal facilities."
Despite in some cases having years of active service experience under the former Iraqi regime, there has been no resentment by the Iraqis towards the coalition forces' attempts to bring new ideas and procedures to the Iraqi navy.
"The Iraqi sailors and marines I have met appear to be thankful for the opportunity to develop their skills so they can take on the responsibilities themselves," CDRE Gilmore said. "They seem very proud of their new service, and they are gaining considerable confidence as each month goes by and as they progress through each of the way-points we've developed together." One person who will be particularly sorry to see the Australians go is US Navy Capt Stephen Hampton, the CO of the USS Normandy, a Ticonderoga-class Cruiser which has been CDRE Gilmore's flagship for the last couple of months. "It's been an honour and a pleasure to work for CDRE Gilmore and his team," CAPT Hampton said.
"The Australians bring a unique perspective on maritime security operations, and they bring a focused war-fighting and mission-accomplishment attitude to the way they do business. Their different focus and perspective has brought progress to the situation in the northern Persian Gulf and I think that's been the most important thing that we have got from this partnership.
There has been tactical progress, we've improved the defence of the critical infrastructure here and there's been significant progress towards our end state of having the Iraq Navy and Marines taking over responsibility for their territorial waters and infrastructure."
CAPT Hampton said although the Australian team was small in number, their professionalism and knowledge made them a potent force.
"They were very focused and really kept their eye on the ball," he said. "That has allowed us to move forward towards our common goal; that is, personal freedom and freedom of choice for the Iraqi people and a new stable government in Iraq."
| 128_2849 Commander of maritime Task Force 58, CDRE Steve Gilmore, presenting the CTF58 Commendation to the OIC of MSD 22, LtCdr Pat Fulgham USN on Al Basrah Oil Terminal on 11 May 2005. (Date taken: 11 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 128_2850 Commander of maritime Task Force 58, CDRE Steve Gilmore, presenting the CTF58 Commendation to the OIC of MSD 22, LtCdr Pat Fulgham USN on Al Basrah Oil Terminal on 11 May 2005. (Date taken: 11 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 128_2872 Commander of maritime Task Force 58, CDRE Steve Gilmore presenting a copy of the CTF58 Commendation to each member of the Maritime Security Detachment 22 on Al Basrah Oil Terminal on 11 May 2005. (Date taken: 11 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050427ctf58_KirkHayden_001 LCDR Andrew Hawke (left) and CPO Merv Beergah, in the Dog Cell on board USS Antietam. (Date taken: 11 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050810adf8243116_396 Rear Admiral (RAdm) Davyd Thomas (right) with Commodore (Cdre) Steve Gilmore on the foredeck of the United States Ship (USS) Normandy on the eve of Commander Task Force 58's completion of mission in the North Persian Gulf. (Date taken: 11 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050811cpa8267338_030 Commodore Steve Gilmore CSC RAN has recently handed over command of Task Force 58 in the northern Persian Gulf to an American commander, ending the most senior command held by an Australian Navy officer over allied forces at sea since World War 2. (Date taken: 08 July 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_KHayden_20050515 LCDR Andrew Hawke conducting the breakaway from USS Walter S Dhiel under the watchful eye of CAPT Ed Quinn, USN aboard USS Antietam. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_KHayden_20050603_th.jpg CDRE Gilmore presenting CTF 58's farewell gift to USS ANTIETAM, accepted by the Commanding Officer, CAPT Ed Quinn aboard USS Antietam on June 3, 2005. (Date taken: 03 August 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_KHayden_20050606 Aussie BBQ in the NAG. On watch chefs are LCDR Andrew Hawke, LCDR Roger Knights, ABCSO Anthony Wessling and ABCSO Clint Baird aboard USS Normandy. (Date taken: 06 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_KHayden_20050619 CTF 58 staff at work in USS NORMANDY- L-R is LSCSO Mickael Renda, LCDR Nick Tate and ABCSO Clint Baird aboard USS Normandy. (Date taken: 19 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_KHayden_20050620 The Ops Room on USS Normandy - CPO Sid Habens, AB Anthony Wessling, LCDR Roger Knights and LCDR Milliken, USN. (Date taken: 20 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_USNavy_20050515 CTF 58 Flagship - USS ANTIETAM onstation at the Al Basrah Oil Terminal and flying the broad pennant of CDRE Gilmore. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_USNavy_20050524 Team 58 Photo Antietam. Back Row:- L to R- ABCSO Clint Baird, LSCSO Mickael Renda, CPOEWASM C.J. Pitman, LCDR Andrew Hawke, LEUT Corrine Van Beek, LCDR Kirk Hayden, LCDR Rod Newbold. Front Row:- L to R- LCDR Bob Davies, LCDR Roger Knights, LCDR Nick Tate, CMDR Sean O'Dwyer, CDRE Steve Gilmore, CAPT Stuart Mayer, CPOCSM Sid Habens, CPOCIS Merv Beergah, ABCSO Anthony Wessling. (Date taken: 24 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_USNavy_20050530 Signing the ITWG Terms of Reference are - CDRE Gilmore, CAPT Adel, IqN and CAPT Keble, RN aboard USS Antietam. (Date taken: 30 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_USNavy_20050601 CDRE Steve Gilmore presenting CTF 58 Commendations to USCGC Maui aboard USS Antietam. (Date taken: 01 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| CTF58-1_USNavy_20050606 ABCSO Anthony Wessling in the D Day Commemoration Colour Party aboard USS Normandy, June 6 2005. (Date taken: 06 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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