Warship slips into Darwin after South China Sea deployment

THE Royal Australian Navy helicopter frigate HMAS Parramatta with 177 crew slipped quietly into Darwin at the weekend after completing a three-month international deployment.

The Royal Australian Navy helicopter frigate HMAS Parramatta with 177 crew slipped quietly into Darwin at the weekend after completing a three-month international deployment. Picture Supplied

THE Royal Australian Navy helicopter frigate HMAS Parramatta with 177 crew slipped quietly into Darwin at the weekend after completing a three-month international deployment.

The Anzac Class Frigate spent February and early March, prior to COVID-19 restrictions, visiting Phuket, Thailand and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

In April, Parramatta took part in contentious exercises with the United States navy USS America Expeditionary Strike Group in the volatile South China Sea during the deployment.

Parramatta is a long-range frigate capable of air defence, surface and undersea warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction.

HMAS Parramatta in Darwin Harbour. Picture Supplied

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The Commanding Officer of HMAS Parramatta, Commander Anita Nemarich, said the opportunity to work alongside US navy warships in the South China Sea earlier this month was invaluable.

“Maintaining security and safety at sea requires navies to be able to co-operate seamlessly,” Commander Nemarich said.

“The combined activity between our two navies demonstrated our capability and a high degree of interoperability.”

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The navy is adhering to the whole-of-government guidelines from the Department of Health in relation to COVID-19, as is the rest of the Defence organisation.

The ship left Darwin today bound for its home port of Sydney.