HMAS Darwin Back Home from Middle East Deployment

After 211 days away from home, HMAS Darwin has returned to Garden Island, Sydney after a successful deployment to the Middle East Region.

Under the Command of Commander Terry Morrison, Darwin intercepted and destroyed over $2.1 billion of narcotics and helped rescue 13 fishermen found adrift off the coast of Pakistan.

Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer flew to the ship via Seahawk helicopter and joined the Darwin for an overnight sea ride as she steamed to her home-port.

Rear Admiral Mayer said the ship had made a tangible contribution to global security.

“By removing these drugs from circulation, Darwin denied extremist and terrorist organizations a key funding stream and promoted a secure maritime environment for the benefit of legitimate mariners,” Rear Admiral Mayer said.

Darwin deployed on Operation Slipper on 19 January 2014 and on 1 July 2014 was assigned to Operation Manitou to continue the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the international effort to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.

This was Darwin’s sixth deployment and the fifty-seventh rotation of a Royal Australian Navy Fleet Unit to the region since the first Gulf War in 1990. Darwin was recently relieved by the Anzac class frigate HMAS Toowoomba.