24 March 2006
Maritime support operations for 2006 Commonwealth Games

HMAS Manoora is one of several Royal Australian Navy vessels providing maritime support to the 2006 Commonwealth Games under Operation Acolyte. Her main task is to act as an operating platform should Special Forces troops and their supporting Black Hawk helicopters from 171 Squadron (Army) become involved in a ship underway recovery operation. HMAS Manoora is an amphibious transport ship capable of carrying up to 450 troops, their vehicles and equipment. It has operations and planning rooms, and has a 40-bed hospital with full surgical and recovery facilities.

Joint Task Force 636 is the task force responsible for bringing together the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and assets assigned Operation Acolyte, Defence’s contribution to the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. Operation Acolyte involves 2,600 personnel from across the three services, performing a range of specialist roles such as security, ceremonial and general support.

20060321adf8185016_0069 Shark Two Zero, the Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora, is waved off from the aft flight deck during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0099 HMAS Warramunga manoeuvres astern of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0118 HMAS Warramunga overtakes HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0147 The engines of Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora, are brought to flight speed moments before take-off during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0150 Aircraft marshallers on HMAS Manoora wait for approval of the ships Aviation Officer to launch Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora, during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0175 Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora, manoeuvres towards the ship’s aft flight deck following a task over Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0194 A soldier deployed on Operation Acolyte watches a Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron as it sits on the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0207 A Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron flies past another Black Hawk that has been lashed to the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0218 A Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron lands on the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0220 A Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron hovers alongside the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0259 A Loadmaster on a Black Hawk helicopter from the Australian Army’s 171 Squadron keeps a watch for other aircraft operating in the vicinity of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0276 An aircraft handler (left) watches his co-workers hot refuel an Army Black Hawk helicopter on the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0283 A trainee aircraft marshaller (right) motions for a Black Hawk helicopter to continue to climb away from the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora while the Aircraft Marshaller (left) supervises, during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 16 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0295 A trainee aircraft marshaller (right) motions for aircraft handlers to move away from a Black Hawk helicopter while the Aircraft Marshaller (left) supervises, during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0311 A Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron at the moment of take off from the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0312 A Black Hawk helicopter from Army’s 171 Squadron prepares to land on the aft flight deck of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne, in support of the 2006 Commonwealth Games. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res