The helicopter and its crew are on board the Royal Australian Navy’s Anzac Class Frigate HMAS Parramatta.

The Minister for Defence Joel Fitzgibbon recently farewelled the Parramatta, as she departed for a six-month deployment to the Middle East Area of Operation.

Parramatta’s ship’s company of 185 men and women were farewelled in a traditional ceremony at Fleet Base East in Sydney.

Mr Fitzgibbon congratulated Commanding Officer Jonathan Sadleir for his crew’s comprehensive and rigorous training program in preparation for the task.

“Parramatta is well prepared and mission ready for the important job before them,” he said.

“I congratulate the ship’s company for their commitment in building upon the outstanding reputation of the Australian Defence Force in the Middle East.”

“I would like to thank the families and friends of the personnel deploying to the Gulf for their ongoing support and wish those deployed on Operation Catalyst continued success and ongoing safety,” he said.

Parramatta will be stationed in the Gulf as part of Operation Catalyst, contributing to the protection of Iraqi oil platforms and training the Iraqi Navy, all of which are essential to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

This will be the second time HMAS Parramatta has been deployed to the gulf, with the frigate’s departure marking the Navy’s 19th rotation since September 2001.

HMAS Parramatta will replace HMAS Stuart, which will return home in late September.