Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
22 October 2007
Old mates reunite
HMAS ANZAC on patrol in the Northern Persian Gulf, has found herself in the company of an old friend, HMS RICHMOND. Both vessels were involved in the Naval Gunfire Support action on the Al Faw Peninsula of Southern Iraq on 21 March 2003.
At 0050 on 21 March 2003, ANZAC (then CO, CAPT PG Lockwood, RAN) was instructed to rendezvous with HMS MARLBOROUGH, CHATHAM and RICHMOND for a transit to the KAA fire support area. At 0558 on that morning ANZAC was the first of the Naval Units to receive a call for fire, and at 0604 ANZAC engaged their target with advice that coalition ground forces were close to the south of it. ANZAC fired eleven salvoes and the engagement completed successfully at 0618. ANZAC then successfully engaged a second target at 0656. ANZAC and RICHMOND remained on station with the other two units overnight, and ANZAC conducted a further three successful fire missions on the following day.
These days ANZAC and RICHMOND’s OP CATALYST mission is much less dramatic than that of 2003, but no less important. The oil platforms that ships like ANZAC and RICHMOND guard hold the key to the reconstruction of Iraq’s fledgling new democracy. Equally importantly, the Iraqi’s themselves stand among, not opposed to, their coalition partners and increasingly look to shoulder this burden that is so critical to their future.
HMAS ANZAC under the command of Captain Ian Middleton, RAN, is deployed to the Persian Gulf where she assists in the detection, deterring and intercepting of vessels within Iraqi waters suspected of undertaking illegal activity.
| 20070904adf8161441_001 HMS RICHMOND reunites with HMAS ANZAC near the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal in the Northern Persian Gulf. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20070904adf8161441_002 HMS RICHMOND reunites with HMAS ANZAC near the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) in the Northern Persian Gulf. (Date taken: 04 October 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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