HMAS Toowoomba leaves home for sixth Middle East deployment

According to the announcement of the Royal Australian Navy on 13rd January, The Anzac Class frigate HMAS Toowoomba has departed her homeport of Fleet Base West in Rockingham, Western Australia for a six-month deployment to the Middle East.

Toowoomba has deployed as part of Operation MANITOU, the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security in the Middle East Region.

While deployed, Toowoomba will play an important role in the multi-national Combined Maritime Force (CMF) that operates in the area, and will form an integral part of the 33-nation CMF in its mission to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region.

This deployment is the 68th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy ship to the Gulf region with the ship scheduled to return to Fleet Base West in July 2020.

What’s Operation Manitou?

Operation MANITOU is the current name for the Australian Government’s contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region (MER). An enhanced security environment ensures Australia’s safe and open access to the region while fostering trade and commerce.

Operation MANITOU is under command of Joint Task Force 633 (JTF633), which is the Australian National HQ in the Middle East Region. The Royal Australian Navy routinely sends a Major Fleet Unit (MFU) to the MER for assignment to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).