The Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Darwin was deployed to the Middle East in November 2002, in the lead up to the 2003 war in Iraq. As part of Operation Falconer, Australia’s commitment to Iraq, Darwin participated in boarding and searching vessels departing the area, and later patrolled the approaches to the Khawr Abd Allah estuary, protecting coalition vessels in Kuwaiti waters. HMAS Darwin continued these patrol duties until withdrawn on 19 April 2003.
While deployed to the Middle East, Darwin operated a S-70B Seahawk of No. 816 Squadron, RAN. The crew of the Seahawk put a Fosters beer mat and this Agro doll in front of the instrument panel.
A puppet from the popular children’s television show Agro’s Cartoon Connection, the helicopter became known by this moniker, and the crew stencilled “AGRO” above the windscreen.