Login
Login

Australia in the Gulf War#Royal Australian Navy

{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox military operation

|name = Australian Contribution to the 1991 Gulf War

|codeword =

|partof = Operation Desert Storm

|image = File:HMAS Sydney 1991.jpg

|image_size = 300x300px

|caption = HMAS Sydney in January 1991

|scope =

|planned =

|commanded_by = Rear Admiral Kenneth Doolan

|location = Middle East, Persian Gulf, Red Sea

|coordinates =

|objective = Providing support to forces engaged in Operation Desert Storm and for the Sanctions against Iraq

|executed = 13 August 1990 – November 2001 (Operation Damask)
(11 years, 2 Months)

|executed_by = Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Air Force
Australian Army

|outcome = Coalition victory

|casualties =

}}

Australia was a member of the international coalition which contributed military forces to the 1991 Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm. More than 1,800 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were deployed to the Persian Gulf from August 1990 to September 1991, while contingents from the Royal Australian Navy circulated through the region in support of the sanctions against Iraq until November 2001. In August 1990, two frigates HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Darwin and the replenishment ship HMAS Success left for the Persian Gulf. HMAS Success had no air defences, so the Army 16th Air Defence Regiment was embarked. On 3 December 1990, HMAS Brisbane and HMAS Sydney (IV) relieved HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Darwin. On 26 January 1991, HMAS Westralia replaced HMAS Success. A Navy clearance diving team was also deployed for explosive ordnance disposal and demolition tasks. Australian ships were in danger of sea mines and possible air attacks. In a number of recorded incidents, HMAS Brisbane encountered free floating mines, on one occasion narrowly avoiding a collision. Both HMA Ships Brisbane and Sydney encountered significant air threat warnings from Iran and Iraq throughout the initial period of the commencement of the Desert Storm Campaign. The detection of land based Silkworm anti-ship missiles from Iran throughout the campaign also added to the challenges for both crews as well as the multi-national Naval Forces.

Although Australia's contribution was primarily naval, a small contingent of Australian service personnel were seconded to British and United States ground troops. However, the government's position was not to deploy ground troops with "no boots in the sand".{{Citation needed|date=April 2017}} The Royal Australian Air Force deployed a unit of photo interpreters who were based in Saudi Arabia. Four medical teams were also deployed. At the end of Desert Storm, 75 ADF personnel were deployed to Northern Iraq to assist in the provision of humanitarian aid to the Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone.

Whilst there were no casualties of ADF personnel during the conflict, a significant number of Australian Gulf War veterans appear to continue to suffer from Gulf War illness.{{Cite book|last=Sim|first=Malcolm|url=http://www.dva.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/consultation%20and%20grants/healthstudies/gulfwar/follow_up2015/aus_gulf_war_follow_up_tech_report2015.pdf|title=Australian Gulf War Veterans' Follow Up Health Study: Technical Report 2015|date=2015|publisher=Monash University|display-authors=etal}} Overall, Australian forces never officially engaged in open combat with hostile forces.

Overview

Australia's contribution to the 1991 Gulf War centred on a Naval Task Group which formed part of the multi-national fleet in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, under Operation Damask. In addition, medical teams were deployed aboard a US hospital ship and a navy Clearance diving team took part in de-mining Kuwait's port facilities at the end of the war. Following the end of the war Australia deployed a medical unit on Operation Habitat to northern Iraq as part of Operation Provide Comfort. While there were proposals to deploy other units (including an apparent US request for RF-111 reconnaissance aircraft) these proposals came to nothing and no Australian Army or Royal Australian Air Force combat units were deployed.

The Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) did not take part in the war.{{cite book|last1=Horner|first1=David|title=In Action with the SAS|date=2009|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Crows Nest, New South Wales|isbn=9781741755527}}{{cite book|last1=Bonner|first1=Stuart|last2=Macklin|first2=Robert|title=Redback One: Explosive Action in East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan: The True Story of an Australian SAS Hero|date=2014|publisher=Hachette Australia|location=Sydney, New South Wales|isbn=9780733630606}} In 1993, a book was published on a British SAS patrol Bravo Two Zero with an Australian member using the pseudonym of Stan.{{cite book|title=Bravo Two Zero|last=McNab|first=Andy|year=1993|publisher=Bantom Press|location=Great Britain|isbn=0-552-14127-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bravotwozero00mcna}} Subsequent media reports stated that SASR soldiers on exchange took part in the war, however, in 2005 it was disclosed that Stan was a former Army Reserve Commando who had joined the British Army.{{cite book|last1=Collins|first1=Peter|title=Strike Swiftly: The Australian Commando Story|date=2005|publisher=Watermark Press|location=Sydney|isbn=094928470X}} As the SASR had long established exchange programmes, a soldier may have served with British or United States special forces units. The total number of personnel deployed between August 1990 and September 1991 was 1,800. In the aftermath of the conflict, Royal Australian Navy warships continued to be deployed to the Persian Gulf periodically to enforce sanctions against Iraq until the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_18.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614011327/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_18.pdf |title=Working Paper No. 18: Database of Royal Australian Navy Operations, 1990–2005 |publisher=Sea Power Centre Australia |archive-date=14 June 2011 |access-date=19 June 2014}}

Royal Australian Navy

All Royal Australian Navy ships were coordinated from the Maritime Headquarters (MHQ) in the Garden Island Naval Precinct in Sydney.{{Cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/royal-australian-navy-records-first-gulf-war|title=Royal Australian Navy records of the First Gulf War {{!}} The Australian War Memorial|website=www.awm.gov.au|access-date=2019-09-12}} Australia's naval contribution to the 1991 Gulf War and the following period of sanctions manifested in ten incarnations of Operation Damask, that spanned from September 1990 until November 2001.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vrb.gov.au/service_eligibility/inst83b.pdf|title=Royal Australian Navy - Gulf service 1990-2002|date=2002|website=Veterans Review Board|access-date=27 September 2019}}

Operation Damask I (6 September 1990 – 3 December 1990)

Task Group 627.4

The first ships to leave port were Adelaide and Darwin on 13 August. The two ships embarked their complement of Fleet Air Arm (RAN) Seahawk and Squirrel helicopters on 14 August.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-darwin-part-two|title=HMAS Darwin Part Two|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-12}} Task Group 627.4 was formed when the Success rendezvoused with Darwin and Adelaide on 15 August, with the commander of the task group being embarked on Success. Upon formation of the group, and during the transit towards HMAS Stirling, a rigorous training exercise was performed. The exercise focused on anti-aircraft warfare, damage control, and Nuclear, Biological, Chemical defence. On one occasion, Darwin and Adelaide boarded Success, which had assumed the role of a non-cooperative merchant ship.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-darwin-part-two|title=HMAS Darwin Part Two|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}} RAAF aircraft and Learjet aircraft operated by Fleet Support Services assisted the task group in their exercises. The exercises were paused when the task group arrived at Stirling for an overnight visit on 21 August, and were resumed once the group departed Stirling to transit the Indian Ocean the next day. After a brief stop in Diego Garcia, the task group entered the Middle East Region on 3 September. While Operation Damask officially started on 6 September, Success commenced her replenishment operations on 7 September. Over the course of Operation Damask, the task group interrogated up to 30 merchant vessels a day, as well as aircraft, questioning their origin, identity destination and cargo, as well as conducting naval boarding operations. Most notably, between 26 and 28 October Darwin combined with US Ships USS Ogden and USS Reasoner, and HMS Brazen to intercept the 150,000 tonne oil tanker Amuriyah, whose shipmaster was uncooperative. This was despite numerous warning shots and even a flypast of aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Independence, which failed to deter the tanker. The tanker adopted a zig-zag course in an apparent attempt to ram Darwin. It was only when a US Marine detachment from Ogden fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship that she was brought to a stop enabling boarding parties from Darwin and Reasoner to conduct a search.

Following Operation Damask I, the three ships left the combat zone on 3 December after being relieved by the ships assigned to Operation Damask II.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-success-ii-part-two|title=HMAS Success (II) Part Two|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-12}}

Operation Damask II (3 December 1990 – 28 May 1991)

Task Group 627.4

  • {{HMAS|Brisbane|D-41|6}} (until 26 March 1991)
  • {{HMAS|Sydney|FFG 03|6}} (until 26 March 1991)
  • 1 S-70B-2 Seahawk, SITU, 1 AS-350BA Squirrel, 723 Squadron
  • {{HMAS|Westralia|O 195|6}} (26 January 1991 – June 1991)
  • Detachment, 111 Battery (Light), 16th Air Defence Regiment

On 12 November, Brisbane and Sydney departed for the Middle East via Fremantle and Diego Garcia, arriving on 3 December. Westralia arrived later on 2 January 1991.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-westralia-ii|title=HMAS Westralia (II)|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}} On 3 December, the three ships were permitted by Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke to pass through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf. They became part of a multi-national task force consisting of around 90 warships, 100 logistical support ships and 800 aircraft from 15 nations. On the morning of 3 December, Sydney and Brisbane rendezvoused with the ships part of Damask I, and conducted a thorough handover.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-sydney-iv-part-2|title=HMAS Sydney (IV) – Part 2|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}} On 16 December, Sydney and Brisbane entered the Persian Gulf along with the rest of the Naval Task Force, and began to conduct maritime interception duties. On 24 December, Sydney joined 5 other coalition ships to assist in the interception of the Iraqi-crewed Ibn Khaldoon, which was attempting to break the United Nations embargo. After failing to respond, Sydney, as well as some of the other warships, inserted a boarding team to stop the ship, which they later found to have been carrying prohibited cargo. On 27 and 28 December, Brisbane came to the assistance of three separate vessels in distress.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-brisbane-ii-part-2|title=HMAS Brisbane (II) – Part 2|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-23}} Sydney boarded another ship on 30 December. Following the passing of the United Nations deadline on 16 December, Brisbane and Sydney became part of Battle Force Zulu, forming part of an air defence screen providing anti-aircraft cover to the four US Navy aircraft carriers in that force. These duties continued until the end of Damask II. During Westralia's time in the Persian Gulf, she conducted 90 replenishment at sea over a period of 120 days.

Operation Damask III (13 June 1991 – 4 September 1991)

  • {{HMAS|Darwin|FFG 04|6}}
  • 1 S-70B-2 Seahawk, 816 Squadron and 1 AS-350BA Squirrel, 723 Squadron

Darwin arrived in the Persian Gulf on 13 June and immediately commenced escort duties by leading merchant ships to and from Kuwaiti waters. During this time, emphasis was placed on detection of possible mine attacks, with Darwin's helicopters being deployed constantly forward of the vessel in search of mines as well as extra lookouts being posted around the ship. In addition to this, Darwin integrated with the USS Nimitz battle group, and conducted boarding and interception operations.

Operation Damask IV (25 September 1991 – January 1992)

  • {{HMAS|Sydney|FFG 03|6}}

Operation Damask V (22 February 1992 – 16 July 1992)

  • {{HMAS|Darwin|FFG 04|6}}

Operation Damask VI (October 1992 – April 1993)

  • {{HMAS|Canberra|FFG 02|6}}{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/history/feature-histories/ships-named-canberra |title=Ships Named Canberra |author= Perryman, John |publisher=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=29 July 2013}}

Canberra was deployed to the Red Sea in October 1992 to enforce an oil embargo against Iraq in accordance with UN sanctions.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-canberra-ii|title=HMAS Canberra (II)|author=Royal Australian Navy|website=www.navy.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-25}}

Operation Damask VII (20 July 1993 – 9 November 1993)

  • {{HMAS|Sydney|FFG 03|6}}

Operation Damask VIII (7 May 1996 – 15 August 1996)

  • {{HMAS|Melbourne|FFG 05|6}}

Operation Damask IX (29 May 1999 – 13 August 1999)

  • {{HMAS|Melbourne|FFG 05|6}}

Operation Damask X (30 July 2001 – November 2001)

  • {{HMAS|Anzac|FFH 150|6}}

Other Deployments

  • Logistic Support Element (Muscat, Oman)
  • Logistic Support Detachment Bahrain
  • Logistic Support Detachment Dubai

Task Group Medical Support Elements (served aboard USS Comfort)

  • TGMSE 1 (13 September 1990 – 4 January 1991)
  • TGMSE 2 (31 December 1990 – 15 March 1991)
  • TGMSE 3 (13 January 1991 – 15 March 1991)

Clearance Diving Team 3 operated in the theatre from 27 January 1991 to 10 May 1991. It was involved in mine clearing operations in Kuwait from 5 March to 19 April 1991.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}}

Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF C-130 aircraft from No. 36 and No. 37 Squadrons provided a shuttle service between Australia and the Persian Gulf. Boeing 707 aircraft from No. 33 Squadron and VIP aircraft from No. 34 Squadron also flew to the Middle East.{{Citation needed|date=June 2014}} A small team of RAAF photo-interpreters was posted to Saudi Arabia. Intelligence analysts from the RAAF and Defence Intelligence Organisation were also posted to Saudi Arabia.

Australian Army

The only formed Australian Army units to participate in the Persian Gulf War were anti-aircraft missile teams from the 16th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery who, equipped with RBS 70 missiles, provided point defence to HMAS Success and HMAS Westralia. A small number of Australians (mainly Army officers) on exchange to US and British units saw action in the Persian Gulf with those units.

Operation Provide Comfort/Operation Habitat (16 May 1991 – 30 June 1991)

The Australian Army and Air Force provided 75 personnel to Operation Habitat, the Australian contribution to Operation Provide Comfort, the delivery of humanitarian aid to Kurds living in the UN-declared exclusion zone in northern Iraq.{{cite web |publisher=Australian War Memorial |url=http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/gulf.htm |title=Iraq: The First Gulf War 1990–1991 |access-date=19 June 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/history/airforce_history/gulfwar.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704204923/http://www.defence.gov.au/Raaf/history/airforce_history/gulfwar.htm |title=1980s, 90s and Gulf War |work=History |publisher=Department of Defence |archive-date=4 July 2007 |access-date=19 June 2014}}

  • Australian Medical Unit (Gir-I-Pit, Northern Iraq)
  • Headquarters and Administrative Support Group
  • Four Medical Teams
  • Dental Team
  • Preventative Medical Section
  • Engineer Section

Notes

{{portal|Military history of Australia}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

References

  • {{cite book |editor-first=Commander J.P. |editor-last=Hodgman |year=1991 |title=Australia's Navy 1991–92 |publisher=Australian Department of Defence|location= Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}}
  • {{cite journal |first=Tony |last=Holmes |title=Tiger Squadron |journal=Australian Aviation |issue=July 2005/No. 218 |publisher= Phantom Media |location= Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}}
  • {{cite book |first=David |last=Horner |author-link=David Horner |year=1992 |title=The Gulf Commitment: The Australian Defence Force's First War |publisher=Melbourne University Press |location=Melbourne, Victoria}}
  • {{cite book |first=David |last=Horner |year=1995 |title=The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location= Sydney, New South Wales}}
  • {{cite book|last=Horner|first=David|title=Australia and the New World Order: From Peacekeeping to Peace Enforcement: 1988–1991|year=2011|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Port Melbourne, Victoria|isbn=978-0-521-76587-9|series=The Official History of Australian Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Post-Cold War Operations}}
  • {{cite book |first=Peter |last=Londey |year=2004 |title=Other People's Wars: A History of Australian Peacekeeping |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location= Sydney, New South Wales}}
  • {{cite book |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs |year=2003 |url=http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2003/gulfwarhs/html/contents.htm |title=Australian Gulf War Veterans' Health Study 2003 |chapter=Chapter 2: Australian involvement in the Gulf War |access-date=30 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820233531/http://www.dva.gov.au/media/publicat/2003/gulfwarhs/html/contents.htm |archive-date=20 August 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

{{Gulf War}}

{{Australian Military History}}

Category:Gulf War

Gulf War