White Ensign : Steaming Party 'A', HMAS Kanimbla

White ensign ensign with a printed Union Jack in the upper left canton and printed dark blue stars, representing the Southern Cross and Federation star. The synthetic bunting flag has a white nylon hoist stiffened to a depth of 200mm at the top. A length of white nylon webbing is threaded through the length of the hoist and extends for a further 440mm. There are white metal fittings attached to the top of the hoist and the end of the webbing to allow for attachment to a pole. The hoist bears a printed manufacturer's label which is also printed with 'RAN' and a broad arrow within a triangle. The label has also been marked in ink '8345 660 259 504 Made 2002'. In the lower centre of the flag, in large black texta lettering is 'STEAMING PARTY "A" HMAS KANIMBLA SAILED CAPTURED IRAQI MINE LAYERS AL-RAYIAH & JO HORIA 65nm TO KUWAIT - 24 & 25 MARCH '03'. The flag also bears the signatures, with printed names beneath each one, of the members of the party, 'W. VAN BOHEEMEN CMDR RAN/ J.PAPALKAR LEUT, RAN/ S. BELL LEUT. RAN/ LSSN W. REID/ M.S. MILLAR CPOEWT/ ERICH (MEZZ) MESSMER POMT/ T.K. HENDERSON WOMT'.

White ensign flown by the RAN steaming party from HMAS Kanimbla, placed aboard the captured Iraqi minelayers 'Al-Rayiah' and 'Jumariya' (also known as 'Jamahoria') for movement to Kuwait on 24-25 March 2003. The amphibious transport HMAS Kanimbla (LPA-51) was acquired by the Royal Australian Navy from the US Navy in 1994 for use as a helicopter support and sea training vessel. During 2003, while participating in Maritime Interception Operations in the Persian Gulf and in the war on Iraq, Kanimbla served as command and control platform for the Australian Task Group. Coalition boarding operations were coordinated from Kanimbla. At one point the ship hosted boarding teams and inflatable boats from three different countries, and a total of 88 sea mines were intercepted.