Operation Enduring Freedom

ANZAC day 2003 was commemorated with a dawn service held on the flight deck of the frigate HMNZS TE MANA. Following the service it was business as usual as the ship continued its patrol.

As at 15 April 2003, the crew of the ship had sighted 480 Dhows, investigated 23, had carried out 38 consensual visits to passing ships, and made 53 transits through the straits of Hormuz. The crew had also sighted 582 “go fast” vessels (small craft equipped with powerful outboard/inboard motors that are typically used by smugglers between Iran and the Gulf states). The frigate left the gulf at the end of June. It was not replaced by another NZ ship.

During May 2003, an RNZAF P3K Orion joined the frigate in the Gulf, providing further NZ assistance to the multi-national force patrolling this busy shipping area. The Orion is tasked with the detection, identification and surveillance of surface vessels. Forty RNZAF personnel, including aircrew and support staff, were transported to the region in the Orion and two RNZAF Hercules. The Orion is expected to remain in the area until November 2003.

On 23 June, an Air Force Hercules and 37 Air Force aircrew and support personnel left Whenuapai for a three month spell in the former Soviet territory of Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia). The Hercules will conduct flights into airfields in Afghanistan.

The government has also pledged Army engineer support to the rebuilding programme in Iraq and Afghanistan.