12 November 2020
HMAS Arunta took time out to commemorate Remembrance Day during a visit to Sasebo Naval Base, Japan.
To mark the signing of the armistice, which ended World War I, and to commemorate those who have served and died in all wars and armed conflicts, the ship’s company observed a minute's silence on the flight deck at 11am on November 11.
Navy Chaplain Graham Swan said it was a little known fact that the Japanese Navy had sailed from Sasebo to escort the Australian ships transporting our soldiers to fight in the Great War.
“Japanese ships were also tasked with the defence of parts of the Australian coast during World War I when the bulk of the RAN ships were deployed to Europe,” Chaplain Swan said.
Commanding Officer Arunta Troy Duggan also laid a wreath created by Chief Petty Officer Maritime Personnel Manager Tanya Lee and other members of the ship’s craft club.
The ship and its crew have conducted numerous exercises with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force over the past five months.
Arunta sailed from the Port of Darwin on October 11 for a six-week regional deployment throughout east Asia.
The ADF is committed to strengthening the longstanding security partnerships across South-East Asia.
The relationships are based on mutual respect, trust and a shared vision for a secure, open, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific.
Arunta will return to her home port of Fleet Base West, Western Australia, later this year after an absence of 164 days.
