HMAS Arunta (FFH 151)

HMAS "Arunta" (FFH 151) is an "Anzac" class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy.

Construction

"Arunta" was laid down by Tenix Defence Systems Proprietary Limited at Williamstown, Victoria on 22 July 1995. She was launched on 28 June 1996 by Mrs Dulce Morrow, wife of the late Commodore J. C. Morrow, RAN CBE DSO DSC, Commanding Officer of the first "Arunta" on commissioning in 1942. The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1998.

Prior to the official naming of the ship, various spellings of the name were considered, as the spelling used by the Arrernte people, after whom the previous ship was named, did not match that used by the ship. Sailor's cap tallys were prepared for several of the proposed spellings, before the RAN decided to continue the spelling used by the previous ship.

Operational history

In September 2001, "Arunta" deployed to northern Australian waters in the wake of the MV Tampa incident. The ship participated in Operation Gaberdine and Operation Relex in two separate deployments. During the second deployment "Arunta" was involved in the interception and/or return of Suspected Illegal Entry Vessels (SIEV) 6, 7, and 9. Details of "Arunta's" role in this Operation can be found in the transcript of the "Senate Select Inquiry Into A Certain Maritime Incident" [CMI Inquiry Evidence [http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/maritime_incident_ctte/index.htm] ]

In 2002, "Arunta" saw active service for the first time when she participated as part of the third rotation of RAN ships to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Slipper. The ship was involved in the enforcement of United Nations sanctions against Iraq and at the time operated closer to the Iraqi coast than any other ship of the multi-national force. The ship's boarding parties effected 377 boardings during her four months on station, the largest number of boardings conducted by a single ship in the 17-year history of Maritime Interception Operations in the Persian Gulf. [Ministerial media release [http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Baileytpl.cfm?CurrentId=2128] ]

In November 2007, "Arunta" deployed for her second tour of active service in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst. The ship's role was to contribute to the protection of Iraqi oil platforms, security boardings of all vessels proceeding to the platforms and training of the Iraqi Navy. [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7249] .] The ship returned from this deployment in May 2008 [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/media/DepartmentalTpl.cfm?CurrentId=7672 ADF :: Online Media Room ] ] .

References