Royal Australian Navy – Combined Maritime Forces (CMF)

December 13, 2015 by Combined Maritime Forces 0

Pakistan handover to Australia at CTF 150 Change of Command Ceremony

The Royal Australian Navy has taken command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) after conducting a handover ceremony with the Pakistan Navy. CTF 150’s principal mission is to suppress the exploitation of the maritime environment by those with terrorist links.

151208-N-CZ945-007 — Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces Vice Adm. Kevin Donegan, centre, witnesses Royal Australian Navy Commodore Jaimie Hatcher, right, assume command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 from Pakistan Navy Rear Admiral Muhammad Moazzam Ilyas.

July 20, 2015 by Combined Maritime Forces 0

CMF, Counter-Terrorism, CTF 150

French and Australian units from CTF-150 meet at sea in the Arabian Sea

In mid-July, while patrolling off the coast of Oman, Her Majesty Australian Ship (HMAS) Newcastle and French Ship (FS) Var met at sea to lead several interactions. Both units were operating in the frame of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150) missions, to fight against terrorism and related illicit activities inside the Indian Ocean. The ships Commanding Officer’s organised a cross deck and a tour between the two platforms to foster coalition relations. Newcastle’s Commanding Officer, CMDR Dominic MacNamara, along with eight members of ship’s company visited Surcouf while Newcastle hosted Surcouf’s Executive Officer and eight French officers and sailors.

Commanding Officer HMAS Newcastle, Commander Dominic MacNamara, RAN, presents the ship's plaque to Commanding Officer of the FS Sarcouf, Commander Guillaume Garnoix (left), as part of a visit to the French Frigate in the Gulf of Oman. HMAS Newcastle is tasked to carry out maritime security patrols in the Indian Ocean in support of Operation MANITOU. *** Local Caption *** HMAS Newcastle is deployed in the Middle East Region on Operation MANITOU, Australia’s contribution to the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The CMF undertakes patrols in the broader northwest Indian Ocean to both combat piracy and to intercept the trafficking of drugs that help fund international terrorism. The CMF also encourages regional cooperation to create a safer maritime environment. HMAS Newcastle is on her fifth deployment to the Middle East Region as is the 60th rotation of a RAN vessel since the first Gulf War in 1990. — Commanding Officer HMAS Newcastle, Commander Dominic MacNamara, RAN, presents the ship’s plaque to Commanding Officer of the FS Sarcouf, Commander Guillaume Garnoix (left), as part of a visit to the French Frigate in the Gulf of Oman.

July 14, 2015 by Combined Maritime Forces 0

CMF, Counter-Narcotics, Counter-Terrorism, CTF150

CTF150’s HMAS Newcastle seizes 138 kg heroin off east African cost

Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Newcastle has seized 138kg of high purity heroin on 3 July 2015 likley bound for Tanzania, with an estimated street value of approximately $US 85 million.

HMAS Newcastle tracks a dhow on 03 July 2014 off the East Coast of Africa and from which it siezed 138 kg of heroin worth an estimated street value of around $108 million. *** Local Caption *** HMAS Newcastle is deployed in the Middle East Region on Operation MANITOU, Australias contribution to the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). The CMF undertakes patrols in the broader northwest Indian Ocean to both combat piracy and to intercept the trafficking of drugs that help fund international terrorism. The CMF also encourages regional cooperation to create a safer maritime environment. HMAS Newcastle is on her fifth deployment to the Middle East Region as is the 60th rotation of a RAN vessel since the first Gulf War in 1990. — HMAS Newcastle tracks a dhow on 03 July 2014 off the East Coast of Africa and from which it siezed 138 kg of heroin worth an estimated street value of around $108 million. HMAS Newcastle is deployed in the Middle East Region on Operation MANITOU, Australias contribution to the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). This is Newcastle’s sixth successful heroin haul since being assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, at the end of April, for Maritime Security Operations in the Indian Ocean.

April 28, 2015 by Combined Maritime Forces 0

CTF 150

HMAS SUCCESS CONTRIBUTING TO CTF 150 OPERATIONS

In early April, Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Success again joined the Combined Maritime Force 150 (CTF150) organisation to help the fight against terrorism in the Arabian Sea.

En-route through to the CTF150 are or Operations — HMAS Success sails through rough seas as she sails to the Arabian Sea to be on patrol for the Combined Task Force 150.

June 24, 2013 by Combined Maritime Forces 0

CMF HQ, CTF 150

CMF Task Force provides assistance to merchant shipping community

Two Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) warships assigned to Combined Task Force 150 recently helped members of the merchant marine in distress on the high seas. In two separate incidents HMCS Toronto and HMAS Newcastle responded to calls for help from merchant vessels in need of medical aid. <!–more–> HMAS Newcastle was on patrol in the Southern Indian Ocean when she received word of a fire aboard MT Perla. Despite bad weather, Newcastle and the EUNAVFOR warship SPS Numancia raced to provide aid, with Newcastle’s doctor transferring to the Perla to treat two badly-burned crew members. They were then winched aboard Newcastle before being transferred to Numancia, which whisked them to hospital in the Seychelles. The next day HMCS Toronto, this time on patrol in the northern Indian Ocean, responded to a request for a casualty evacuation from the merchantman BBC Iceland. Within moments a medical team from Toronto was in…