HMAS Newcastle Deploys for Operation MANITOU

Australian Navy’s Adelaide class frigate HMAS Newcastle was farewelled from Garden Island, Sydney on 1 April, setting course for the Middle East region where she will spend six months deployed as part of Operation MANITOU.

Commanding Officer Newcastle Commander Dominic MacNamara said this specific ship had contributed significantly to security in the region.

Our departure is the start of the 60th rotation and marks the fifth time this ship has deployed.

Operating as part of the multi-national Combined Maritime Forces we will support efforts to counter and deter terrorism and the trade of narcotics on the seas.

Newcastle deployed with a ship’s company of 230. The warship will replace HMAS Success as the Royal Australian Navy’s ship working as part of the Combined Maritime Forces. HMAS Success deployed shortly before Christmas 2014 and has been providing maritime support, and replenishment to Combined Maritime Forces units.

Operation MANITOU is the maritime security operation in the Middle East region, and is Australia’s contribution to counter terrorism, counter piracy, narcotics interdiction and improves overall stability to that region, the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean.

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Image: Australian Navy