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HMAS TOOWOOMBA Year Book 2009

Publisher Vivid Publishing

Editor CMDR Ivan M Ingham AM, RAN

Date2011

Object number00050686

NameYear book

MediumColoured Ink on paper

DimensionsOverall (closed): 238 x 288 x 20 mm
Overall (open): 238 x 580 x 20 mm

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Commander I M Ingham AM RAN

Terms

DescriptionThe 2009 year book is a pictorial record of the deployment history of HMAS TOOWOOMBA and its crew for 2009, accompanied by concise written descriptions. It was edited and compiled by the 2009 commander, CMDR Ivan Ingham and the on board Chaplain Stephen Gunther. The frigate was deployed on its second mission to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). Deployed for Operation Slipper, its role was to contribute to the international campaign against terrorism, assist in efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and support maritime security in the MEAO. HMAS TOOWOOMBA was the first RAN ship to join Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) for counter piracy operations and was also the first RAN ship to intercept a pirate threat during Operation Slipper. HistoryHMAS TOOWOOMBA is the seventh Anzac class frigate in the RAN, built by Tenix Defence Systems. It is the second vessel to be named after the inland city in Queensland. The naval badge reflects the city's coat of arms, using the same colours of violet and gold and features a horse that is also represented as one of the charges on the shield of the city's crest. The vessel's motto is 'Fearless'. It was laid down on 26 July 2002, launched on 16 May 2003 and commissioned on 8 October 2005. In 2009, under the command of CMDR Ivan Ingham, the frigate was deployed on its second mission to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO). After a significant refit and workup, on 9 June 2009 HMAS TOOWOOMBA departed from Fleet Base West, Garden Island, Western Australia for the MEAO. The 2009 year book is a pictorial record of the deployment history, accompanied by concise written descriptions. It was edited and compiled by CMDR Ivan Ingham and the on board Chaplain Stephen Gunther. Deployed for Operation Slipper, their role was to contribute to the international campaign against terrorism, assist in efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and support maritime security in the MEAO. On 22 June 2009 HMAS TOOWOOMBA assumed responsibility for the RAN operations within Operation Slipper. The vessel and crew conducted counter-terrorism operations in support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) by patrolling sections of the Arabian Sea adjacent to Iran and Pakistan, providing plane guard duties to United States Navy aircraft carriers, USS RONALD REAGAN and later super-carrier USS NIMITZ, and working to build closer ties with other navies. HMAS TOOWOOMBA was the first RAN ship to join Combined Task Force 151 (CTF 151) for counter piracy operations. They patrolled the internationally recognised transit corridor (IRTC) in the Gulf of Aden, the Somali basin and in the waters off the Horn of Africa, a commercially strategic route. On 20 September 2009 HMAS TOOWOOMBA responded to an emergency call from the merchant vessel BBC PORTUGAL and intercepted a pirate attack 50 miles off the coast of Yemen. The boarding team, code named Poseidon, searched the small skiff, investigated the crew, confiscated an arms cache and confirmed the small vessel had sufficient supplies to return to Somalia. HMAS TOOWOOMBA also provided surveillance, presence, deterrence and escort operations as part of CTF 151. The vessel returned to Australia on 7 December 2009, having completed the Navy's 21st rotation to the MEAO since September 2001. Production company Prospero was the first civilian TV documentary team provided access to a RAN warship on a real-world operation. They produced a documentary called 'Pirate Patrol' about the 2009 deployment. On board HMAS TOOWOOMBA were approximately 161 men and 32 women. On 19 May 2011 HMAS TOOWOOMBA departed for its third deployment to the MEAO under the command of CMDR Andrew Quinn. It return to Fleet Base East in November 2011.SignificanceThis yearbook was compiled by two of the senior officers and records the deployment history of HMAS TOOWOOMBA in the Middle East Area of Operations in 2009.