Operational History
Warramunga was deployed to Christmas Island as part of Operation Relex II (from 2001 to 2005) in a border protection role, the Southern Ocean as part of Operation Celesta in a successful fisheries protection role (2004), and to Hawaii and the South West Pacific in 2003.
Warramunga was the first Australian warship to fire the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) in 2003.
On 31 July 2006, Warramunga departed Fleet Base West for her first deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst, taking over duties from HMAS Ballarat. While on station in the Gulf, Warramunga conducted 150 boardings and security patrols, 320 flying hours were logged by her embarked Seahawk helicopter, and 450 investigative queries of merchant vessels were made. Warramunga returned to Fremantle on 2 February 2007 after 186 days at sea.
On 29 May 2009, it was announced that Warramunga would be re-tasked with protecting civilian vessels from piracy in Somali waters. The ship was assigned to Combined Task Force 151, which was tasked with preventing pirate attacks on commercial vessels in the shipping lanes off the Horn of Africa and Somalia.
During July and August 2010, Warramunga was one of three RAN ships to participate in the RIMPAC 2010 multinational exercise. During RIMPAC, the frigate participated in the sinking of the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS New Orleans, firing several rounds from her main gun.
Read more about this topic: HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152)
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