After months of preparation, HMAS Success departed Garden Island in Sydney today for a six-month deployment to the Middle East Region to provide logistic support for coalition forces as part of Operation MANITOU.
Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, representing the Minister for Defence, and Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Stuart Mayer, CSC and Bar, RAN, joined family and friends on the wharf to farewell the ship, which will spend Christmas on operations.
Commanding Officer Success, Captain Justin Jones, RAN, said while the auxiliary oiler’s focus will be different to frigates previously deployed on MANITOU, their contribution to global security will be just as important.
“Over the next few months, Success will conduct essential maritime support, underway and vertical replenishment operations as part of the Australian Defence Force contribution to maritime security in the region,” Captain Jones said.
“As part of a broader taskforce, we will deliver fuel and stores to various units, enabling them to remain at sea on the job.
“The ship’s company of 235 has worked hard to prepare for this mission and is looking forward to Success once again supporting operations in the Middle East Region.
“The ship has already had a big year supporting Operation Southern Indian Ocean and Exercise Rim of the Pacific. Our family and friends’ support has been important in keeping us focused on the tasks for which we have trained. We will miss them dearly while we are away and look forward to celebrating with them once our job is done.”
This is Success’ second deployment and the 59th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy fleet unit to the region since the first Gulf War in 1990. Success will relieve Anzac class frigate HMAS Toowoomba, which will return shortly before Christmas.