3 September 2008
Navy Warship HMNZS TE MANA will return home at 10:00 am Sunday 7 September, 2008 after spending the last five months at sea.
Departing Auckland on 7 April 2008, TE MANA made her way up to the Persian Gulf where she spent three months carrying out Approach and Assist visits in support of maritime support and security operations for Coalition Task Force (CTF) 152 in the Central and Southern Persian Gulf.
During her three month deployment in the Arabian Gulf the frigate and her 173 strong ship’s company reported more than 1700 vessels in the area, and carried out 228 approach and assist visits
The waters of the Persian Gulf are very complex and no more so than around the Straits of Hormuz where TE MANA operated for the majority of her time on patrol. The commitment of the ship along side those of the other 19 nations in the Combined Maritime Force is a significant and unmistakable commitment from a small country like New Zealand to the ongoing international effort to create a more secure and stable Middle East.
Commanding Officer of TE MANA, Commander Blair Gerritsen said:
“Ever since leaving the Middle East, five weeks and more than 8000 nautical miles ago, everyone onboard has been looking forward to the day we would eventually arrive home - and what better day to do so than Fathers Day? But at the same time that we are all looking forward to our arrival everyone onboard can also look back with a good deal of pride on what we have achieved over this five month deployment, particularly during the three months we spent conducting Maritime Security Operations in the Central and Southern Persian Gulf as part of the Combined Maritime Force.
Despite the challenges of operating during the height of the Middle East summer and in some of the busiest waters in the world, both the ship and the crew performed superbly. The praise received as we departed the operational area is testament to the value placed on our maritime contribution as another element of New Zealand’s ongoing contribution to efforts in the region," he said.
The Commanding Officer and his crew of 173 men and women are looking forward to some time at home with their loved ones after spending most of the year away.
Something we couldn’t do without the support we receive from them all and indeed the rest of the Navy”, concludes Commander Gerritsen.
HMNZS TE MANA – F111
Commanding Officer – Commander Blair Gerritsen (Nelson)
Executive Officer – Lieutenant Commander Wiremu Leef (Kawakawa)
Complement – 173 Officers and Sailors
Interesting statistics of HMNZS TE MANA’s five month deployment
33 770 nautical miles travelled (62 542 kilometres) – for the entire deployment (enough to go around the world 1.56 times)
81 725 meals served
60 000 eggs consumed
3825 loaves of bread consumed
4.5 tonnes of potatoes consumed
4344 rolls of toilet paper used
3 536 664 rotations of the helicopters main rotor
800 kg of Spaghetti and Baked Beans
150 jars of marmite/vegemite
240 litres of tomato sauce
4.5 tonnes of potatoes
3825 loaves of bread
500 cans of L & P
ENDS
MediaOpportunites:
There will be opportunities to interview the Commanding Officer and Crew about their experiences working in the Persian Gulf areas and the ports they have visited, as well as meeting the excited families waiting on the wharf on the homecoming day, which is Fathers Day.
There is limited space to embark onboard the ship for the arrival home on either Saturday 6 September (Paihia) or Sunday 7 September (Gulf Harbour) as well as wharf coverage of the homecoming.
Registrations of interest are to be sent to Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin, Navy Public Relations Manager, 021 244 0638.
Photographic ID is required for entry to the Naval Base.