Hope floats
 |
|
A
Sea King Helicopter from 817 Squadron RAN sits on the stern of
HMAS Kanimbla, which is at anchor off Banda Aceh. The two Sea
Kings on Kanimbla have worked long hours moving troops and equipment
ashore and conducting humanitarian aid flights.
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Two
crew members of an Army landing craft stand ready to carry out
a stern docking with HMAS Kanimbla, off the coast of Banda Aceh.
Two landing craft were transported to Aceh on the forward deck
of HMAS Kanimbla.
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
HMAS
Kanimbla stands ready to receive landing craft LCM8 1059 via its
stern ramp, off the coast of Banda Aceh.
|
|
|
By
Corporal Cameron Jamieson - filed 1 February 2005
New Years
Eve should be a time of rejoicing.
For the families of the crew of HMAS Kanimbla it was a mixture of sadness
and pride.
Sadness, because the ship had been pressed into operational service
at short notice, but there was also pride in the fact that the ships
company would be playing a part in bringing aid and hope to the earthquake
and tsunami-ravaged regions of Aceh in Indonesia.
HMAS Kanimbla's Commanding Officer, Commander Steve Woodall, is pleased
with how quickly the ship swung into action.
"I think it came together really well," he said.
"We sailed within 48 hours of being told to sail from Sydney.
"We then had 26 hours in Darwin, during which time we loaded 1Combat
Engineers Regiment's personnel, their vehicles and equipment, picked
up the remainder of the Primary Casualty Reception Facility, fuelled
the ship and got all the food onboard.
"We then integrated the embarked units on the passage up to Sumatra
and when we got here we hit the ground running."
The first challenge on arrival off Banda Aceh was to get the Army engineers
and their earth-moving equipment ashore.
The tsunami had destroyed the shoreline and port facilities, making
it nearly impossible to find a beach landing site for the embarked Army
landing craft (LCM8s).
But the persistence of the Navy hydrographers and the Army amphibious
beach team paid off.
A site was found and the crew got busy.
"Initially we were very busy as we focused on getting 1CER and
their equipment ashore," CMDR Woodall said.
"Now that we've done that the tempo has reduced to a steady pace.
"We need to spend some time underway each day to make fresh water,
and we're continuing to provide support to the forces ashore - 150 hotbox
meals go ashore each day, we provide laundry facilities for personnel
on the ground, and we are bringing up to 30 people each day onboard
for a 36-hour respite so they can shower, relax and unwind.
"We are also flying the two Sea King helicopters for some humanitarian
missions, and they remain on standby for aeromedical evacuation (AME)
missions.
"And we retain the surgical capability of the medical facility
should we need it."
Operation Sumatra Assist has again proven the versatility of the Navy's
amphibious landing ships (LPAs).
The breadth of its resources, coupled with the ease of changing mission
focus, means HMAS Kanimbla is an important asset to the task force commander.
"The great thing about amphibious ships is that they can be used
in a wide variety of roles," CMDR Woodall said.
"Although we may take a while to get here, when we do arrive all
our facilities are ready to go because they are integral to the ship.
"We can just mix and match the actual capabilities we are providing
on the day.
Also on board is an Indonesian Navy liaison officer, a key interface
with the Indonesian military.
"I was keen to have an Indonesian liaison officer onboard,"
CMDR Woodall said.
"He's been giving us guidance as we go, and it's allowed us to
show we are completely open in what we are doing.
"It has also allowed me access through him into the Indonesian
military to make sure they understand what we are doing and that we
are doing what the Indonesians want us to do."
Unfortunately for CMDR Woodall, his posting as ship's CO has come to
an end.
"I'm going into Maritime Development to take over as the Staff
Officer - Amphibious and Afloat Support," he said.
"That area looks specifically at the replacement for the LPAs,
an I'm hoping to take the experience I've gained as CO of this ship
to make sure we get the best use out of the new vessels."
He is also taking many memories with him, one of which is the ship's
departure from Sydney on New Years Eve.
"We sailed from Sydney Harbour on New Years Eve at 6 pm, amongst
the great flotilla of Australians that were gathering for New Years
Eve," he recalled.
"As we approached Bradley's Head we sounded the ship's siren and
almost everyone on the shore waved and cheered, and people in boats
sounded their sirens.
"The support of the people of Sydney was really quite significant."
