Australia to the rescue in Iraq

[sfc_darrel]

Australia to the rescue in Iraq
By Sharon Mathieson
April 26, 2004


An Australian navy frigate has carried out an emergency mission in the Persian Gulf, rescuing Americans wounded in a suicide bombing which killed two members of the coalition forces.

A Seahawk helicopter and inflatable boat, known as a RHIB, were dispatched from HMAS Stuart to rescue members of a boarding party injured in the bomb attack near an Iraqi oil terminal.

A Defence Department spokesman could not confirm the number of people rescued by the Royal Australian Navy or the nature of their wounds but said all United States personnel were returned to HMAS Stuart for medical treatment.

He said the US boarding party, which did not include any Australians, approached a bomb-rigged dhow yesterday when it exploded.

"The Seahawk helicopter and the RHIB inflatable boat were dispatched to conduct an evacuation of casualties back to HMAS Stuart," the Defence Department spokesman said.

"Crew on HMAS Stuart provided medical assistance."

The Anzac frigate is based in the Persian Gulf as part of the US-led coalition maritime force conducting interception operations in the northern Persian Gulf.

The suicide bombing was one of three coordinated boat attacks on the Basra oil export terminal yesterday.

The nationality of the dead and wounded has not been revealed, pending notification of next of kin, but it was believed they were all American.

A spokeswoman for the US Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said five other coalition members were wounded in the attacks but a Fifth Fleet statement put the number at four.

"The coalition boarding team were killed and wounded as a result of three concurrent waterborne attacks in the Arabian Gulf," the statement said.

It said an eight-man interception team had approached the dhow when it exploded.

Twenty minutes later, two unidentified small boats also blew up.

Prime Minister John Howard had planned to visit the Stuart during his surprise Anzac Day visit to Iraq but cancelled the trip because of the rescue mission.

"I immediately indicated that I didn't want Stuart diverted from that important task just because I wanted to visit the vessel, that would be absurd and the wrong priority," he told ABC radio.

Mr Howard instead called the captain of the ship to pass on his wishes.

"This incident is a reminder of how valuable we are," he said.

"Here is a case of suicide bombings designed to get at the oil terminals and some American coastguard people have been killed and others wounded and our vessel was there to rescue the wounded and to provide the help.

"That is a live example of just how valuable is the presence of our vessel and it gives something for those who think they should come home to think about."

- AAP
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...831484648.html

[sfc_darrel]

Thank you Australian Navy

[SuperScout]

Gotta love them Diggers! Thanks, mates, and have a g'day!

[coachman]

True you got to love them guys from down under, Thank diggers you done good.