HMAS Toowoomba is making her way home to Australia after handing over maritime security and interception operations in the Middle East to HMAS Newcastle.
The ship’s company of 191 completed a six-month deployment conducting counter piracy, counter narcotics and counter terrorism operations on May 28.
They can hold their heads high for a job well done to both deter illegal activity in the maritime domain and also build relationships with other nations
They will arrive at Fleet Base West at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia to reunite with family and friends in just over a fortnight.
The Commanding Officer, Commander Brendon Zilko, said the ship’s company could be proud of the role they have played in the Middle East after patrolling waters from the Somali Basin and Arabian Sea to the Gulfs of Aden and Oman, and the Straits of Hormuz and Bab-Al-Mandeb.
“Our mission in the Middle East was to secure the maritime environment for legitimate trade and my ship’s company has done this with aplomb.
“They can hold their heads high for a job well done to both deter illegal activity in the maritime domain and also build relationships with other nations.”
Under the Australian-led Combined Task Force 150, HMAS Toowoomba was part of the focused operation that resulted in a record heroin haul. Half a tonne of heroin worth AUD$100 million was seized from a drug-trafficking vessel on March 29.
HMAS Newcastle takes over operations with the Combined Maritime Forces and will hand over to HMAS Melbourne later this year.
Via: http://www.thechronicle.com.au/
