24 March 2006
Maritime support to Operation Acolyte

HMAS Manoora is one of several Navy vessels providing maritime support to 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 brining 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_0003 Able Seaman Nino Libiran powers the ships engines from the bridge of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0004 Able Seaman Nino Libiran watches over the bridge of HMAS Manoora during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. (Date taken: 21 March 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0009 Midshipman Mark Skinner applies a fix to the navigation charts for Port Phillip Bay during operations on HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0018 Acting Sub Lieutenant Samuel Andrew plots the course for HMAS Manoora’s next manoeuvre during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0020 At the helm of HMAS Manoora, Able Seaman Matthew Evans keeps the ship on course during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0028 Able Seaman Kristal Robertson (left) and Able Seaman Sarah Drewery read Morse lamp signals from HMAS Warramunga during operations in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne. Both sailors are assigned to HMAS Manoora, which is conducting maritime support duties for Operation Acolyte. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0093 Able Seaman Kristal Robertson stows a signal flag on HMAS Mannora during operations with HMAS Warramunga in Port Phillip Bay. The two ships are assigned to maritime support duties for Operation Acolyte. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0114 Able Seaman Kent Hanson conducts pre-flight maintenance on Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0115 Able Seaman Andrew Wilkinson conducts pre-flight maintenance on Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0121 Able Seaman Andrew Wilkinson conducts pre-flight maintenance on Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res
20060321adf8185016_0130 Avionics Technician Able Seaman Andrew Hepplewhite walks towards HMAS Manoora’s hangar. Behind him sits Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res	20060321adf8185016_0139 Able Seaman Andrew Hepplewhite leads a team of sailors hauling out the power cable to Shark Two Zero, the Navy Sea King helicopter assigned to HMAS Manoora. (Date taken: 21 March 06) Low-Res | Hi-Res