Australian frigate HMAS Arunta completes first phase of Indo Pacific deployment.

According to information published by the Australian DoD on November 3, 2022, HMAS Arunta has been enhancing partnerships at sea and ashore during the first phase of her Indo-Pacific regional presence deployment.
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Royal Australian Navy's Anzac class frigate HMAS Arunta. (Picture source: Australian DoD)

After departing her homeport of Fleet Base East, Sydney, in mid-September, Arunta undertook independent training in Australian waters before transiting through the Indonesian archipelago into the South China Sea.

The 118-metre-long frigate, with her crew of about 200 officers and sailors, began the work of building regional partnerships by operating with the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg.

While in company, the ships conducted anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine training activities.

Throughout the passage, Arunta’s flight deck team, aircraft maintainers, pilots, and aircrew were kept busy operating the ship’s MH-60R Seahawk Athena for training, including deck-landing practice on Higgins.

Below deck in Arunta, the training continued, with damage-control exercises preparing the crew to respond to every type of emergency including floods, fires or toxic hazards. Arunta sailed from Sattahip on October 11 to continue her regional presence deployment.

About the frigate

HMAS Arunta (FFH 151) is an Anzac-class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The ship, named for the Arrernte people, was laid down in 1995 and commissioned in 1998.

The Anzacs are based on Blohm + Voss' MEKO 200 PN (or Vasco da Gama class) frigates, modified to meet Australian and New Zealand specifications and maximise the use of locally built equipment.

Each frigate has a 3,600-tonne (3,500-long-ton; 4,000-short-ton) full load displacement. The ships are 109 metres (358 ft) long at the waterline, and 118 metres (387 ft) long overall, with a beam of 14.8 metres (49 ft), and a full load draught of 4.35 metres (14.3 ft).