Phillip Henry News

Twelve former Commanding Officers have sailed onboard Royal Australian Navy frigate, HMAS Darwin, today as she transited through Sydney Heads into her home port for the last time. Darwin was escorted through Sydney Heads by Navy’s newest ship HMAS Hobart for a traditional “cheer ship” as she passed the fleet before being welcomed alongside Garden Island by former sailors, officers and support staff. The Adelaide Class frigate is scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of the year to make way for the Navy’s new fleet of Hobart Class Guided Missile Destroyers. Darwin’s Commanding Officer, Commander Phillip Henry, said the significance of the final passage was not lost on the ship’s company.

HMAS Darwin has completed her final port visit to Darwin, farewelling the city by exercising the right to Freedom of Entry and showcasing her capability to thousands of locals. The six-day port visit included a ceremonial gun salute on arrival, the Freedom of Entry parade, an open day and various public performances by the Royal Australian Navy Band. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry, said the ship’s company were overwhelmed and deeply grateful to the community for the support they had received. “We are very proud to sail Darwin and we do so with respect for the officers and sailors who have served in this vessel before us,” Commander Henry said. “The support we saw from the Darwin community is a reminder to all of us why we work so hard to serve this country.

HMAS Darwin and her younger sister HMAS Melbourne have shared their last moments together, showing the rest of the Navy that the guided missile frigates are still an impressive capability. The Adelaide class frigates have deployed concurrently with a number of other Australian Navy ships to the Asian region, however, Darwin’s program will see her decommission before Melbourne returns home from the deployment in December. Seizing the opportunity, Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry, invited Melbourne, led by Commander Charles Bourne, to join them for some challenging Navy manoeuvres. The ships conducted close quarters manoeuvring before sailing together side-by-side at 24 knots. Despite her age, the 33-year-old Darwin easily kept up with her 25-year-old sister.

As the activities of Exercise TALISMAN SABRE 17 started to draw to a conclusion in July, the crew of HMAS Darwin, took the chance of a brief time out to celebrate the final seagoing birthday of the Fleet veteran. Darwin’s cooks pooled their talents together to create a cake in the shape of ‘33’, with enough to go around to her crew of approximately 190. With most of the crew gathered in the Junior Sailors’ Café, Commanding Officer, Commander Phillip Henry took the opportunity to reflect on the team’s recent achievements and contribution to her rich history. “Darwin has spent over ten years continuously at sea,” Commander Henry said.

In the middle an intense training and systems check period, HMAS Darwin slipped into the Brisbane River and berthed across from Navy’s home in southern Queensland, HMAS Moreton. The frigate’s arrival in Brisbane coincided with the first anniversary since the local base was re-commissioned. On arrival, Commanding Officer Darwin Commander Phillip Henry was met by the Commanding Officer Moreton, Commander Mark McConnell, who welcomed the ship to the city. After taking care of all the necessary ship-keeping duties, the crew, who had a surprising number of family connections in the area, ventured ashore for some well-earned rest and relaxation.

HMA Ships Darwin, Melbourne and Parramatta have escorted the Spanish Armada's Cristobal Colon into Sydney Harbour as part of her role in providing platform and familiarisation training to Australian personnel. Over the next three months the ship will assist in enabling Australian Navy people to have advance training for Australia's first Aegis Guided Missile Destroyer, Hobart. Commanding Officer Hobart Captain John Stavridis said the opportunity to embark in Cristobal Colon presented an opportunity for the Royal Australian Navy to prepare Hobart and the Navy for the swift effective operation of the destroyers. “Being able to train with…

Warships from Australia, Italy, New Zealand and Spain are currently exercising off the Western Australian coast honing war-fighting skills and enhancing joint operating procedures. The multi-national maritime task group, consisting of more than 17 ships and aircraft, is encountering fictitious threats from the air, on the surface and underwater to train personnel with skills they need in battle. Amphibious giant, HMAS Adelaide is the Command and Control platform and is the floating office for the Officer Conducting the Exercise and Commander of the Task Group, Commodore Mal Wise. He said that the exercise was an opportunity to take the…

HMAS Darwin has completed her mission in earthquake ravaged Kaikoura, New Zealand. In the space of 36 hours, Darwin evacuated more than 60 civilians by sea boat to local ship, HMNZS Canterbury, and delivered approximately 13,500 kilograms of food, water and emergency supplies by helicopter. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said working in a humanitarian and disaster relief effort as part of an international naval task group was breath-taking. “Our teams have made a real difference on the ground restoring essential services and encouraging the community,” he said. Darwin's embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter performed the bulk of the load lifting.

After helping to deliver 216 tonnes of disaster relief, HMAS Darwin has completed support to residents of the Kaikoura area following the earthquake that struck the South Island of New Zealand on Monday. The disaster relief stores flown by Australian and Coalition helicopters included 13,000 kilograms of food, 2780kg of fruit and vegetables, 6000kg of rice, pasta and flour, four generators, two portable pumps and 10,000kg of pet food. “HMAS Darwin was diverted from her planned participation in the International Naval Review in Auckland and steamed to Kaikoura in response to a request from the New Zealand Government following the earthquake,” said the Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne. “The ship arrived in Kaikoura on Wednesday (16 Nov) evening.

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin has sailed to Kaikoura to provide humanitarian and disaster relief support at the request of the New Zealand government. Darwin is using her embarked S-70B-2 Seahawk helicopter for the evacuation of civilians and the distribution of emergency supplies. Commanding Officer, HMAS Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said the ship and its 200 personnel will remain flexible to any tasks that may be required. “We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to help our close friends and neighbours in their time of need,” he said. Darwin, together with warships from the United States, Canada, Japan and Singapore, was scheduled to participate in the country's International Naval Review, in celebration of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s 75th Anniversary.

Family and friends joined Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett on the wharf at Garden Island, Sydney to welcome HMAS Darwin home from a successful Middle East deployment. During her Operation MANITOU rotation, Darwin and her Ship’s Company seized a large cache of illicit weapons and narcotics. Vice Admiral Barrett  praised Darwin’s Ship’s Company on their accomplishments. “By removing weapons and drugs from circulation, you made a tangible difference, limiting terrorist organisations’ ability to raise money,” Vice Admiral Barrett said. Commanding Officer Darwin, Commander Phillip Henry said the men and women serving in the guided missile frigate worked hard to accomplish their mission. “Every family here today can be justifiably proud of their loved one.