HMAS Parramatta welcomed home
Herald Sun ^ | 13 April 2006

HUNDREDS of families and friends are welcoming back the crew of HMAS Parramatta [FFH-154] to Sydney after a six-month tour of the Persian Gulf.

The Parramatta's 187 personnel were deployed to the Gulf in October last year as part of the Australian Defence Forces' reconstruction efforts in Iraq.

During the tour, the Parramatta was responsible for the protection of Iraq's offshore oil platforms from the threat of terrorism and for the implementation of a security plan in the north Persian Gulf.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson greeted the sailors and their families today at the Garden Island naval base.

HMAS Parramatta has been replaced by Anzac class frigate HMAS Ballarat [FFH-155] in the 13th rotation of Royal Australian Naval ships to the Middle East since September 11, 2001.

[MG comment:  A well-deserved "Bravo Zulu" -- Well Done -- to the officers and crew of HMAS Parramatta.  Thank you for your service in the war against radical Islam.]