2 August 1990
On 2 August 1990, Iraq annexed neighbouring Kuwait. In response, the United Nations Security Council placed an embargo on Iraq. They banned all trade with Iraq and occupied Kuwait in an attempt to force Iraq’s withdrawal.
Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke launched Operation Damask on 10 August. He announced his government’s intention to commit 2 Royal Australian Navy (RAN) frigates and a supply ship to the Multinational Naval Force (MNF). The MNF was assembling to enforce sanctions in the Middle East.
When the MNF assembled, it was one of the largest groupings of warships since the Second World War. It was comprised of:
- 6 aircraft carriers
- 2 battleships
- 15 cruisers
- 67 destroyers and frigates
- over 100 logistic, amphibious and smaller craft.
With 72 hours of notice, HMA Ships Adelaide, Darwin and Success departed Australia. Upon arrival in the Gulf of Oman, began integrating into the wider coalition of warships, led by the United States Navy. They began interception operations almost immediately, preventing Iraqi ships from running the blockade.
HMA Ships Brisbane and Sydney sailed from Sydney in November 1990 to relieve Adelaide and Darwin. Upon arrival, Brisbane assumed responsibility for the Australian naval task group. HMAS Westralia arrived in the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) on 26 January 1991, completing the RAN’s seaborne commitment.
In an operational first, 7 women served in a front line capacity on Westralia. Westralia and Success carried Australian Army RBS-70 missile teams, and RAN divers from Clearance Diving Team 3 (CDT3) gathered in Bahrain.
On 16 December, RAN ships entered the Persian Gulf to commence the next phase of the operation. A month later, when the UN deadline for Iraq’s withdrawal from Kuwait (Resolution 678) had passed without compliance, Coalition forces commenced Operation Desert Storm.
Brisbane and Sydney were part of the air defence screen around Battle Force Zulu – the group of ships that included 4 US Navy aircraft carriers. Success and Westralia were integrated into the US Combat Logistics Force. CDT3 cleared almost 235,000 pieces of ordnance in conditions worsened by Iraq’s dumping of millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf.