Australian naval ship pays a goodwill visit to Da Nang

The guided missile frigate HMAS Ballarat arrived in Da Nang with a crew of 29 officers and 159 sailors. The Commander and crew will meet with officers and sailors from the Vietnam People’s Navy to engage in a range of goodwill activities and to conduct a professional exchange on ship operations. The crew will also participate in a friendly sporting activity with the personnel of Brigade 172 of the Vietnam People’s Navy as well as take advantage of the opportunity to explore Vietnam’s rich culture and to meet the people of Vietnam.

Commanding Officer of HMAS Ballarat, Commander David Landon (first from right) welcomed to Vietnam by naval Captain Vo Van Tuyen, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 3

Present at the reception, Colonel Nerolie McDonald, Australian Defense Attaché to Vietnam, stated, “This visit is an excellent opportunity to build upon the Australia-Vietnam defense cooperation relationship that commenced in 1999 and has grown in size and complexity since that time. Since 1999, the Australian Defense Force has trained over 1,500 Vietnam People’s Army officers in Vietnam and Australia and is now assisting the Vietnam People’s Army to prepare for United Nations peacekeeping operations. I know that the officers and crew of HMAS Ballarat are looking forward to their visit to Da Nang as one of the highlights of their deployment.”

Delegates in a joint photo at the welcoming ceremony

HMAS Ballarat is commanded by Commander David Landon, CSM, Royal Australian Navy (RAN). HMAS Ballarat is an ANZAC Class guided missile frigate with roles including air defense, anti-submarine and surface warfare, surveillance, interdiction and reconnaissance. Weighing 3,600 tons and 118 meters in length, HMAS Ballarat is armed with Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles, Harpoon Block 2 Anti-ship missiles, a Mk 45 127 millimeter gun and six Mk 32 torpedo tubes. HMAS Ballarat is also fitted with a flight deck and a hangar for a multi-role S-70B-2 Sea Hawk helicopter and has a top speed of 27 knots.

Lieutenant Commander Kirstie Butcher, Maritime Logistics Officer for HMAS Ballarat, Royal Australian Navy, received at the welcoming party at the arrival ceremony in Tien Sa Port 

HMAS Ballarat is the 23^rd Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warship making a goodwill visit to Vietnam since the Vietnam-Australian bilateral defense relations were established.

Reported by Trung Thanh and Linh Chi