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An Anzac Class frigate and an auxiliary oiler replenishment vessel have returned to homeport following months of deployment in the Indo-Pacific.
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Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships HMAS Anzac and HMAS Stalwart recently returned to Fleet Base West, carrying approximately 300 personnel.
HMAS Stalwart docked on 8 December following more than three months of deployment, which included engagements with Japan, the United States, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, and Singapore as part of a regional presence deployment and Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2022 (IPE22).
HMAs ships Stalwart and Anzac were two of five RAN ships that participated in the IPE22 contingent, which visited 14 countries, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
The Commanding Officer of HMAS Anzac, Commander David McPherson, noted the importance of participating in IPE22 in deepening cooperation with regional partners.
“The crew enjoyed exercising and spending time with our regional partners in the Indo-Pacific,” CMDR McPherson said.
“It’s difficult to beat the connections that are made through face-to-face engagement.”
The Commanding Officer of HMAS Stalwart, Commander Steve McCracken, was pleased to lead the vessel on its first overseas deployment.
“The busy deployment has been packed with memorable experiences, such as replenishing the US forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan after taking part in Exercise Keen Sword with the US and Japan,” he said.
“Without support from home, our personnel would not have been able to do these deployments. Coming home to our loved ones is always special.”
The return of HMA ships Stalwart and Anzac preceded the arrival of HMA Ships Arunta, Adelaide, Hobart, and Brisbane — due to return to Fleet Base East later this month.
Over the past few months, the vessels also engaged in a number of key activities, including Exercise Kakadu off the coast of Darwin, NT, and Exercise Rim of the Pacific 22 based out of Hawaii, USA.
[Related: HMAS Wollongong decommissioned]
