New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Monday April 6, 2004

Navy Frigate Te Mana Back To The Middle East

Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS TE MANA will sail tomorrow for its second deployment to the Middle East to support OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM.

HMNZS TE MANA will sail from Fremantle tomorrow, Wednesday April 7, 2004 for the Gulf of Oman. She will patrol for approximately four months returning to New Zealand in September 2004.”

Commanding Officer, Commander Andy Watt says, “we are looking forward to completing the task and building on the success achieved last year.”

“NZ and the Navy’s reputation are held in high regard by our coalition forces,” says Commander Watt.

Commander Joint Forces New Zealand, Major General Martyn Dunne says, “It demonstrates the Navy’s interoperability with multinational coalition forces and highlights the Navy’s ability to play an appropriate role in New Zealand’s commitment to security and international relations.”

Te Mana will take part in Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman as part of an International Coalition Task Group. Maritime Interdiction Operations are directed at stopping the movement by sea of Al Qa’eda and Taliban elements between Afghanistan/Pakistan, the Middle East and other areas. The task group will monitor shipping activity, gather information, intercept and board shipping, and if necessary identify and detain Al Qa’eda and Taliban personnel.

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HMNZS Te Mana Fact Sheet
Built by: Transfield Defence Systems, Williamstown, Melbourne
Launched: 10 May 1997
Commissioned: 10 Dec 1999
Displacement: 3600 tonnes
Length: 118 m
Beam: 14.8 m
Draught: 4.4 m
Complement: 194 Officers & Ratings
Helicopter: Kaman Seasprite SH-2G
Armament:
• 1 x 127mm Mk 45 Gun
• NATO Seasparrow Mk41 8 cell vertical launch air defence missile system
• 2 x Triple Mk 32 Torpedo tubes
• Phalanx Close in Weapons System
• .50 cal heavy machine guns

Previous RNZN Deployments to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM
TE KAHA 27 November 2002 to 27 March 2003 Gulf of Oman

TE MANA 28 January 2003 to 4 August 2003 Gulf of Oman

Navy Frigate Deployment to Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman
A Royal New Zealand Navy ANZAC frigate, HMNZS TE MANA, with 194 Officers and Ratings onboard, will depart for the Arabian Sea on Wednesday 7 April 2004 from Fremantle, Western Australia. TE MANA will be away from NZ for approx six months.

Background
TE MANA will be deployed in support of the multinational campaign against trans-national terrorism, know as Operation Enduring Freedom. TE MANA will undertake Maritime Interdiction Operations in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. TE MANA’s operations are firmly based in international law, chiefly:

a. Article 51 of the UN Charter; and
b. UN Security Council Resolutions 1368, 1373 and 1378.

Operations are directed at stopping the movement by sea of Al Qa’eda and Taliban elements between Afghanistan/Pakistan, the Middle East and other areas.

General Activities
Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Andrew Lincoln, RNZN said, TE MANA’s activities will include the monitoring of shipping, the querying of suspicious vessels and the boarding of suspect vessels.

Aim
TE MANA is supporting the Government of New Zealand’s public declarations and diplomatic efforts concerning the RNZN participation in Operation Enduring Freedom. It demonstrates the Navy’s interoperability with multinational coalition forces and highlights the Navy’s ability to play an appropriate role in New Zealand’s commitment to security and international relations.

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Key Points
a. TE MANA is deploying in support of Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’ (the multinational campaign against trans-national terrorism);
b. The RNZN is dedicated to joint operations and overseas operations that enhance the Defence Force’s interoperability with key allies and partners; and
c. TE MANA is operationally ready for her mission.

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