HMAS Gascoyne Departs Sydney

HMAS Gascoyne recently departed Sydney for a South West Pacific Deployment and the Ship’s company have wasted no time in making the most of their time at sea.

The Huon Class Mine Hunter Coastal has spent the first half of the year conducting a Unit Readiness Work-up and maintenance period and now has the opportunity to put all that hard work to good use. The Ship will be visiting Port Vila in Vanuatu, Nuku’alofa in Tonga and Noumea in New Caledonia during July and August.

Gascoyne’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Aaron Cox says the ship’s company are putting their recent training to good use.

“Gascoyne’s South West Pacific Deployment is an excellent opportunity for the ships company to implement the skills and practices that we have been refining over the past few months.”

“Recently we have conducted a wide range of training, including damage control, small arms and ship handling, to progress the skills of all those on board,” said Lieutenant Commander Cox.

It hasn’t been all hard work for the men and women of Gascoyne. The ship was able to visit Middleton Reef, 300 nautical miles east of the Australian coast. Members of the Ship’s company took to the ships boats for an afternoon of sightseeing, followed by an evening BBQ hosted by the Ship’s officers.

“It’s important for the crew to also have exposure to the fun side of navy life, and these types of activities ensure that we are able to strike the right balance of hard work and down time,” said Lieutenant Commander Cox.

While deployed, Gascoyne will be in associated support to Operation SOLANIA and looks forward to conducting passage exercise opportunities with the maritime forces of the Pacific.  Gascoyne’s next port of call will be Port Vila, where the ship will promote regional engagement and co-operation with Australia’s Pacific neighbours.

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Press Release, July 24, 2013; Image: Australian Navy