ON this day in 1993 the guided missile frigate HMAS Canberra (II) (Commander R.W. Gates, RAN) returned to Sydney on completion of her deployment to the Middle East under the auspices of Operation DAMASK VI. During the operation Canberra conducted 256 interrogations, 51 visual indentifications, 168 boardings and three diversions. Canberra was the 10th individual ship deployment to the Middle East since 1990.
ON this day in 1964 HMS Duchess arrived in Sydney in 1964 on loan from the RN in the wake of the HMAS Voyager (II) disaster. She commissioned as HMAS Duchess on 8 May 1964 and remained in service for thirteen years during which time she escorted HMAS Sydney (III) to Vietnam on six occasions. She decommissioned on 23 October 1977.
