Desert boot

Date2001-2002

Object number00044941

NameBoot

MediumFabric, metal, rubber

DimensionsOverall: 240 x 370 x 130 mm, 1072.23 g

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Sea Power Centre Australia

Terms

DescriptionLieutenant Commander Joe Straczek RANR was deployed for six months on OPERATION SLIPPER which is Australia's commitment to the international coalition against terrorism for Historical Duties. LCDR Straczek's deployment aboard HMAS KANIMBLA (II) during November 2001 and April 2002 was part of his Continuous Full Time Service in the Navy Reserves.HistoryThis uniform was worn by Lieutenant Commander Joe Straczek, Royal Australian Naval Reserve during his deployment to the Persian Gulf during OPERATION SLIPPER on board HMAS KANIMBLA from November 2001 to April 2002. Mr 'Joe' Straczek joined the Royal Australian Navy as a Junior Recruit in January 1971. Following training at HMAS LEEUWIN he was selected to undertake technical training at HMAS NIRIMBA. He was subsequently selected as an Officer Candidate and, after a course at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, was commissioned as a Supply Midshipman in 1977. After specialist training at HMAS CERBERUS he was posted to various supply positions. In late 1990 he transferred to the naval reserve to take up the position of Senior Naval Historian at the Sea Power Centre Australia. Mr Straczek has been deployed on OPERATION SLIPPER for historical duties as well as two months CFTS (see below) as attached RANLO Bahrain and Middle East Area of Operations in March 2007 and again in January 2008. Mr Straczek has had a long-term interest in naval history, writing his first articles in 1974. During his naval service he has been involved in the running of a number of naval museums. Mr Straczek is a graduate of the RAN Staff College and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Defence Studies. He is currently working towards a Doctor of Philosophy on the topic of the History of Signals Intelligence in the RAN. Mr Straczek is presently Access Examiner, Directorate of Classified Archival Records Review within the Department of Defence which he has held since 2004. Continuous Full-Time Service (CFTS) CFTS is undertaken by reserve members after signing a contract to an agreement of no less than 6 months. If a reserve is posted to sea and the ship deploys overseas they then take on a CFTS contract. If the ship remains in Australian waters the member is posted on training days. OPERATION SLIPPER is the name given for Australian Defence Force (ADF) support to Australia's longstanding commitment to the international coalition against terrorism -Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Currently, Australia’s commitment to Op SLIPPER comprises: -the deployment of an Australian Major Fleet Unit (currently HMAS Stuart) jointly under OP SLIPPER and Australia’s contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq (OP CATALYST); -AP-3C Orion aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force's Maritime Patrol Group are in the area of operations, conducting maritime patrol tasks in the Persian Gulf as part of the multinational interception force. OPERATION CATALYST is the ADF's post-conflict contribution to the Australian whole-of-government effort to assist with the rehabilitation of Iraq and its transition to self-government. The operation came into effect on 16 July 2003. HMAS KANIMBLA was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy as HMS KANIMBLA on 6 September 1939 in which the first half of 1940 was spent patrolling off the Chinese and Japanese coasts, then in June was detached to Singapore undertaking patrol and escort duties around Malaya and the East Indies, eventually extending out into the Indian Ocean. On 1 June 1943, the vessel was recommissioned as HMAS KANIMBLA and remained in Brisbane from 22 October 1943 until January 1944 undertaking a voyage to New Guinea. On 22 April 1944, in company with HMAS MANOORA, five other transports, 16 landing craft infantry and seven landing ships tank, KANIMBLA landed her troops at Tanahmerah Bay without incident and was then involved in training and transport duties in New Guinea waters. After participation in the Morotai landings and Task Force 79 during 1944 and 1945, KANIMBLA's next operation was the invasion of Brunei which would be the final amphibious landing of the Pacific War and spend her ramaining time during the war on transport duties around New Guinea, the Phillipines and Borneo. After the war, KANIMBLA was engaged in repatriating Australain servicemen from the Pacific Islands and returning Dutch dependants to the East Indies. After one more voyage to Japan, HMAS KANIMBLA was decommissioned in Sydney on 25 March 1949. HMAS KANIMBLA, which was then based at Fleet Base East, Garden Island, Sydney, was again used during OPERATION SLIPPER farwelling Australia on 8 November 2001 where the vessel intercepted and boarded 16 Dhows which was the largest single interception known to have occurred during MIF operations in the Gulf. HMAS KANIMBLA also completed a total of 27 compliant boardings and 23 non-compliant boardings during deployment. An RBS 70 Surface-To-Air Weapon System Detatchment was embarked on HMAS KANIMBLA to provide the ship with protection against enemy aircraft.