Description
Title: HMAS Kanimbla at War: Iraq 2003
Author: McKenzie, D W
Condition: Near Mint +
Edition: 1st Edition
Publication Date: 2005
ISBN: 0646460862
Cover: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket – 93 pages
Comments: The history of HMAS Kanimbla during it’s Gulf War cruise – 2003. Limited Edition of 400.
HMAS Kanimbla (L 51) (formerly USS Saginaw (LST-1188)) is the lead ship of the Kanimbla class Landing Platform Amphibious. Laid down in 1969 for the United States Navy (USN) as Newport class tank landing ship USS Saginaw, the ship was acquired by the Royal Australian Navy in 1994 for conversion into a amphibious warfare transport ship.
Since entering RAN service, Kanimbla has participated in numerous worldwide deployments, and has lost two helicopters in crashes.
Kanimbla was deployed to the Persian Gulf from February to May 2003 as part of Operation Falconer, the Australian contribution to the invasion of Iraq. Kanimbla’s role was to provide a command and control platform to the Australian Navy Task Group and specialised capabilities to the greater multinational fleet in the invasion of Iraq. Kanimbla also carried 12 extra boarding parties from the Royal Navy and United States Navy, enabling her to carry out round the clock boardings and patrols within the K.A.A.
On the morning of 19 March 2003, two RHIBs from Kanimbla intercepted and boarded two Iraqi minelaying vessels attempting to block Coalition access to Iraqi waters. The vessels were carrying 26 luggam World War One-era drift mines and 60 Italian Manta state-of-the-art acoustic mines.
Kanimbla was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation on 27 November 2003 for her service during this deployment.
Includes Nominal Roll
