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HMAS Toowoomba Conducts Operational Deployment in NAG

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070312-06
Release Date: 3/12/2007 5:04:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bobby Northnagle, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

OCEAN 6, At Sea (NNS) -- Australian ship HMAS Toowoomba (FFH 156) is underway in the North Persian Gulf and has been performing maritime security operations (MSO) as part of Combined Task Group (CTG) 158.1 since early January.

This is Toowoomba’s first operational deployment since its commissioning in October 2005.

"There's an array of ships operating in the NAG [Persian Gulf] and everybody contributes," said Cmdr. Jaimie Hatcher, Toowoomba commanding officer. "Toowoomba has a helicopter on board for surface surveillance, three rigid-hull inflatable boats to board vessels and to conduct passenger transfers between coalition ships. We've got about 50 personnel within the ship’s company who are trained to participate in the visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team and because Toowoomba is a frigate it has command and control capability, so when we're in station we normally have scene of action command responsibility for KAAOT and ABOT (Khawr Al Amaya and Al Basra oil terminals)."

Being scene of action commander means Toowoomba contributes many of the command assets for CTG 158.1.

"We're in charge of coordinating coalition assets and clearing vessels in and out of crucial zones surrounding the Iraqi oil terminals," said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Savage, Toowoomba's flight commander. "We're also currently CTG 158.1's VBSS commander, sea combat commander, and in the past we've been the information and air warfare commanders, so we've gone through the full sweep in terms of command responsibility."

Hatcher and his crew understand the importance of MSO and a having a cooperative coalition of naval assets in the Gulf.

"The Arabian (Persian) Gulf is fundamental to the economies of many different nations around the world," he said. "The flow of commerce through this area is important for global trade and having multiple countries participate in its safety and stability sends a clear message that we're serious about the mission's success."

MSO help set conditions for security and stability in the Persian Gulf and protect Iraq’s sea-based infrastructure, which provides the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.

Toowoomba, an Australia New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC)-class frigate, left Australia on Jan. 4 to help CTG 158.1 perform MSO and defend KAAOT and ABOT, bringing an important contribution to the mission. The ship has a crew of 183 officers and sailors.