HMAS Toowoomba's embarked MH-60R Seahawk, known as 'Nightmare', provided a valuable contribution to the International Maritime Security Construct in the Middle East.
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That includes the likes of Albania, Bahrain, Lithuania, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Toowoomba and Nightmare, which is based at 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross, are on their way home after a six-month deployment in the Middle East.
Leading Seaman Aircrewman Ian Gollop says Nightmare contributed to surface surveillance which enhanced the tactical picture beyond the visual horizon by compiling data from active and passive sensors for the IMSC and the ship.
"The surveillance serves to locate, identify, track and investigate potential threats to maritime security," LS Gollop said.
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"We regularly provide the link between the Combined Maritime Forces' assets, such as the United States Navy fighter jets, maritime patrol aircraft and HMAS Toowoomba."
Flight 1, 816 Squadron Flight Commander and pilot, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hudson, says Nightmare's ability to cohesively work alongside coalition assets demonstrates the Australian Defence Force's close alliance with the other partners of the IMSC.
"We continue to be an integral capability within the construct and have proven our interoperability with other nations," LCDR Hudson said.
"Our maintenance team worked tirelessly to ensure that we have a serviceable asset to compliment Toowoomba's arsenal."
While in the Middle East, Toowoomba intercepted an illegal shipment of 3000 kiloggrams of hashish and heroin hidden inside a suspect vessel on March 19.
Toowoomba provided support to the IMSC and the Combined Maritime Force's Combined Task Force 150 in the Middle East as part of its six-month deployment on Operation Manitou.
The ship's company's support to the IMSC and the CMF is part of the Australian Defence Force's contribution to international efforts to promote security, stability and prosperity in the region.
This is the 68th rotation of a RAN unit to the Middle East since 1990, Toowoomba's sixth, and her second as part of Operation Manitou.