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Photographic Assignment by CPL BRAD HANSON (RNZAF):

With the HMNZS TE MANA – (New Zealand ANZAC Class Frigate). Along-side at Jebel Ali (UAE) and on patrol in the central and southern Arabian Gulf. July 2008. Images of the ship and ship’s people.

IMAGE CAPTION:

Scenes from the deployment of Te Mana's RHIBS during boarding operations.

LMT Kurt Menzies prior to heading out on a boarding operation

DEEP CAPTION

HMNZS TE MANA and Coalition Task Force 152 TE MANA and her ships’ company of 173 are in the Central and Southern Arabian Gulf conducting maritime security and support operations as part of Coalition Task Force 152. The ship is operating exclusively within international waters in the Central and Southern Arabian Gulf, a diverse area of around 20,000 square miles stretching from the Straits of Hormuz to a line stretching NE across the Gulf emanating from the border of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The main tasks involve developing a picture inside the Arabian Gulf of what normal patterns of activity are and engaging with the local mariners. This contributes to the CTF 152 aim of denying and disrupting attempts by terrorists to use the region in their activities whilst at the same time ensuring the unhindered use of the region for legitimate maritime uses such as fishing, gas and oil production and general trade. These operations assist in creating a secure environment on the seas, which leads to local and regional stability and prosperity. Because of the high volume of commercial traffic that flows in and out of this region, maritime security has an impact on global economic prosperity as well. The Royal New Zealand Navy has deployed its frigates to the Middle East previously, with TE MANA conducting deployments in 2003 and then again in 2004 following on from the sister ship TE KAHA’s deployment in late 2002/early 2003. Addition Information: The New Zealand Defence Force currently contributes to a wide range of peace support operations.