NZDF

Arabian Gulf

HMNZS TE MANA in the Persian Gulf, EX Goalkeeper 3 ships in Company. [WN-08-0093-02]
HMNZS TE MANA in the Persian Gulf, EX Goalkeeper 3 ships in Company. [WN-08-0093-02]

HMNZS TE MANA and Coalition Task Force 152

For six months in 2008, HMNZS TE MANA and her ships’ company of 173 were in the Central and Southern Arabian Gulf conducting maritime security and support operations as part of Coalition Task Force 152. 

The ship operated exclusively within international waters in the Central and Southern Arabian Gulf, a diverse area of around 20,000 square miles stretching from the Straits of Hormuz to a line stretching NE across the Gulf emanating from the border of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The main tasks involved developing a picture inside the Arabian Gulf of what normal patterns of activity were and engaging with the local mariners. This contributed to the CTF 152 aim of denying and disrupting attempts by terrorists to use the region in their activities whilst at the same time ensuring the unhindered use of the region for legitimate maritime uses such as fishing, gas and oil production and general trade.

These operations assisted in creating a secure environment on the seas, which led to local and regional stability and prosperity.  Because of the high volume of commercial traffic that flows in and out of this region, maritime security has an impact on global economic prosperity as well.

The Royal New Zealand Navy has deployed its frigates to the Middle East previously, with TE MANA conducting deployments in 2003 and then again in 2004 following on from the sister ship TE KAHA’s deployment in late 2002/early 2003.

Undertaking a replenishment at sea with Japanese tanker JDS Oumi which was being escorted by the destroyer JDS Murasame. (WN-08-0085-02). Undertaking a replenishment at sea with Japanese tanker JDS Oumi which was being escorted by the destroyer JDS Murasame. (WN-08-0085-02).
This page was last reviewed on 24 November 2009, and is current.