HMAS

Jervis Bay

(II)

HMAS Jervis Bay was chartered by the Royal Australian Navy on 14 May 1999 at a cost of $38 million for a period of two years, with an option to purchase, to fill a capability gap in Australia’s amphibious lift capability while the Landing Platform Amphibious ships HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla were undergoing modernisation and the Landing Ship Heavy HMAS Tobruk was in refit.

In addition to providing a military sealift and transport role, the charter period was also used to assess and evaluate the suitability of high-speed, multi-hull technology for future maritime acquisition projects. The use of a high-speed catamaran in an operational role was a first for any Navy in the world and the name Jervis Bay was chosen to commemorate the service of two previous commercial ships that had been similarly taken up from trade for naval use. They were the MV Australian Trader, a Roll-on/Roll-off (RORO) trans-Tasman ferry, commissioned in 1977 as the RAN training ship HMAS Jervis Bay and a passenger cargo vessel commissioned as an armed merchant cruiser by the Royal Navy as HMS Jervis Bay during World War II.

The catamaran was designed by International Catamarans (InCat) Australia, a Tasmanian company pioneering the use of light-weight aluminium catamarans for fast ferry services anywhere in the world. Built at the Hobart facility as the fourth and last of its 86 metre class, InCat 45’s hull was laid down on 22 July 1995 and launched some 35 months later as a progressive and evolutionary build of the design concept.

The futuristic looking catamaran design of HMAS Jervis Bay was synonymous with the advent of a new millenium.

In her role as a fast sealift transport ship, Jervis Bay could embark up to 500 fully equipped troops and a range of supporting Army vehicles. While armoured personnel carriers (APCs), Australian light armoured vehicles (ASLAVs), Bushranger infantry mobility vehicles (IMVs), trucks and land rovers could be embarked, the total load weight determined the combination and number of each vehicle that could be carried. The only modifications made to the vessel for the charter period were the addition of extra fuel tanks to increase range, the inclusion of sleeping arrangements for the crew and improvements to communications for military operations. It was also decided to operate the ship using two separate crews alternately.

Once operational the ship was home ported in Darwin to operate primarily with 1 Brigade. Accumulating 1 year and 11 months of service in the RAN and not originally intended to support an active operation, Jervis Bay supported Operations SPITFIRE, WARDEN, STABILISE and TANAGER by transporting between Darwin and Dili the troops and equipment of the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) and those in support of the ensuing United Nations Transitional Authority East Timor (UNTAET). As such she earnt the nickname the ‘Dili Express’, a reference to her high speed exceeding 48 knots.

HMAS Jervis Bay (II) commissioned at 1100 on 10 June 1999 at No.2 Princes Wharf in Hobart, Tasmania under the joint command of Lieutenant Commander Vaughan Rixon, RAN and Lieutenant Commander Jonathon Dudley, RAN. Later that afternoon the ship took passage to Sydney in just 19.5 hours.

HMAS Jervis Bay departing Sydney Harbour in formation with the Bay class minehunters HMAS Rushcutter (M80) and HMAS Shoalwater (M81).

Following a brief docking at Garden Island, Sydney, for underwater jet modifications, Jervis Bay departed Port Jackson on 24 June to undertake a six day transit to Darwin during which time she called at Gladstone, Townsville, Cairns and Gove. En route, sea checks and a work-up program were conducted and the passage through the Inner Great Barrier Reef was made at an average speed of 42 knots. Most of July was spent alongside in Darwin hosting various VIP visits with two brief day periods spent underway.

In early August Jervis Bay undertook a 28 hour round trip to Ashmore Reef to collect a group of 44 Suspected Unlawful Non-Citizens (SUNCS) and the four Indonesian crew who ferried them there. On returning to Darwin she resumed sea training and vehicle loading trials.

In September 1999 Australia led a peace enforcement operation in East Timor that was to dwarf all previous peacekeeping efforts. In response to post-independence violence in East Timor, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1264 on 15 September 1999, allowing international forces to take all necessary actions to restore peace and security in East Timor following pro-independence elections. The ADF took the lead in this operation, forming a coalition known as International Force East Timor (INTERFET). In this operation Jervis Bay was to become a mission essential units ferrying forces and logistics between Darwin and Dili.

HMAS Jervis Bay became a familiar sight within Dili Harbour during INTERFET. Note the Christo Rei of Dili (Christ the King) statue in the background.

The first of Jervis Bay’s support tasks began with the evacuation of refugees from Dili under the auspices of Operation SPITFIRE.This was followed by the insertion and sustainment of INTERFET elements under the auspices of Operations WARDEN and STABILISE.

HMAS Balikpapan transfers internally displaced Timorese from HMAS Jervis Bay to Suai in 1999.

Jervis Bay soon fell into a regular pattern of ferrying vital stores, equipment and personnel between Australia and East Timor, completing eight return trips in October, twelve in November and eleven in December. Each round-trip took three days with a 10.5 to 12 hour transit time each way. During December 1999 the routine was punctuated prior to Christmas when Jervis Bay hosted orphans from Laga on board during a day visit to Dili. Christmas also saw Jervis Bay deliver large amounts of mail and care packages for distribution to INTERFET personnel.

A visit from Santa Claus in December 1999, courtesy of the Dili Express, provided a source of goodwill for ADF members and East Timorese nationals, during a difficult time in arduous conditions.

With the advent of the new millennium, the then well-established Darwin-Dili run resumed on 6 January 2000 with the ship completing 10 trips before the end of the month. The busy schedule continued into February when eight voyages were undertaken in the lead up to INTERFET transitioning to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) which took place on Wednesday 23 February 2000. The conclusion of the INTERFET operations saw Jervis Bay embark the outgoing INTERFET Commander Major General Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, and his headquarters staff for the return trip to Darwin. On departure from Dili Harbour Jervis Bay acted as the review ship for the General of assembled multi-national naval and air forces.

INTERFET Commander Major General Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, and his staff review the assembled multi-national naval and air forces at the conclusion of Operation INTERFET while embarked in HMAS Jervis Bay, February 2000. (Perryman collection)

Under the auspices of Operation TANAGER the new UNTAET mandate was to change the operational tempo and support requirements. As such, only five return trips were conducted by Jervis Bay in March, six in April and three in May.

On 20 May Jervis Bay's ship's company participated as one of the lead units in an INTERFET welcome home parade hosted by the City of Darwin. On 24 May the ship left Darwin on a 12 day passage to Sydney calling at Weipa (fuel only), Townsville, Mackay and Bundaberg en route. On 6 June Jervis Bay commenced a 16 day docking period in the Forgacs’ floating dock at Newcastle followed by six days maintenance alongside before proceeding to Sydney on completion.

In the first part of July various trials were conducted in the East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA) before Jervis Bay returned to Darwin calling at Brisbane, Cairns and Weipa (fuel only) during the passage north. On arrival in Darwin the ship resumed the Dili run completing three return trips that month. In August five trips to Dili were undertaken before participating in a trial in the Northern Australia Exercise Area (NAXA) during Fleet Concentration Period 2/2000. During that time the tactical benefits of a fast multi-hulled vessel underwent further assessment. With the diminished frequency of runs, command of both Jervis Bay's Port and Starboard crews was assumed by Lieutenant Commander Dudley on Friday 11 August 2000. Only three return trips were achieved in September as well as trials with a visiting US Navy Amphibious Ready Group to Darwin. For the remainder of the year seven trips were completed in October, four in November and three in December. Ongoing Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) trials were also conducted during the latter two months.

HMAS Jervis Bay was the fastest ship to have served in the RAN, being capable of achieving in excess of 48 knots.

Jervis Bay was underway again in early January 2001 completing four return trips to Dili and another four in February. Five trips were achieved in March before a decision was made to not renew the charter or exercise the purchase option for the vessel. Four return trips to Dili followed in April with Jervis Bay berthing alongside Darwin for the last time on Anzac Day 2001.

In the brief period spent alongside, items not fitted as part of the original charter were removed and on 27 April 2001 Jervis Bay departed Darwin for Hobart arriving there on 9 May. During the transit south a refuelling stop in Weipa and port visits to Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney were made. Following a final hull survey, Jervis Bay formally decommissioned on 11 May 2001 at approximately 11:00am alongside Macquarie No 3 berth and the vessel was returned to the InCat owners.

During the bare-boat charter period Jervis Bay, in support of INTERFET and UNTAET, completed 107 return trips between Darwin and Dili ferrying 21,040 personnel, 1717 Internally Displaced Persons, 430 vehicles, and 5482 tonnes of logistic stores. She had also undergone various trials and assessment to determine whether the fast catamaran sea lift concept suited Navy and ADF operational concepts. While Jervis Bay did have mechanical and general defects occur during service, the InCat support contract managed to minimise or negate any impact on operations. For her support to INTERFET operations, Jervis Bay personnel were recognised with the award of a Deployable Joint Force Headquarters Unit Commendation.

HMAS Jervis Bay alongside HMAS Success being refuelled in Dili harbour before her return to Darwin, circa 1999.

Commanding Officers of HMAS Jervis Bay (II)