Philip Smart | Adelaide
Australian frigate HMAS Anzacand the ship’s company of 192 have departed Sydney to support the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli.
Anzacput to sea on Sunday to spend Anzac Day at Gallipoli with warships from Turkey, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada and France, and the Australian Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour.
“As the Navy’s namesake ship, we will reflect on the strong and enduring legacy of those who fought on that shore, the Western Front and throughout the world’s oceans and helped forge our national identity,” said Commanding Officer HMAS Anzac, Commander Belinda Wood.
“We will also commemorate more than a century of service by Australian servicemen and women.”
The visit to Turkey will be part of a five month deployment visiting ports in Turkey, Italy, Malta, the UK, France, Spain, Morocco, South Africa and Mauritius before returning to Sydney in August.
This will be HMAS Anzac’s second visit to Gallipoli. In 2005 the ship supported commemorations for the 90th anniversary.
Anzac is one of eight Anzac Class Frigates operated by the Royal Australian Navy and in 2014 was the third to complete the Anti-Ship Missile Defence upgrade program, which provides an enhanced sensor and weapons systems capability.