Weber, Jeffrey (Jeff) Russell (Leading Seaman Aircrewman, b.1976)

Collection relating to the Iraq War service of Leading Seaman Aircrewman Jeffrey (Jeff) Russell Weber, HMAS Kanimbla, 2003. Collection consists of a digital scan of a written diary kept by Leading Seaman Weber between January and June 2003, while serving on HMAS Kanimbla in Iraq.

The diary contains information on day to day activities and was initially written by Weber for his wife, to give her an insight on his personal experience and thoughts whilst in an operational area.

HMAS Kanimbla sailed from Sydney in January 2003 for her second deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operations BASTILLE and, later, FALCONER, entering the Middle East Area of Operations on 15 February. There she again served as the platform for the Australian Task Group Commander as well as playing a significant role in the lead up to, and during, the 2003 Gulf War. Kanimbla was central to the clearance of the Khawr Abd Allah waterway, the body of water lying between Iraq and Kuwait leading to Umm Qasr, and was tasked with controlling the exodus of local shipping and coordinating the Coalition forces’ small boat effort. In early March, Kanimbla embarked eight rigid hull inflatable boats and nearly 130 British and American boarding party and support element personnel.

From 17 to 19 March, Kanimbla also supported Sea King, early warning helicopters operating from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal. When hostilities began on the evening of 19-20 March 2003, Kanimbla played a pivotal part in intercepting Iraqi vessels and was the controlling and coordination vessel for the hundreds of patrols conducted in the Khawr Abd Allah waterway. Kanimbla also provided round-the-clock support for Coalition helicopters while her own Sea King helicopter provided logistic support to other Coalition vessels and Australian Clearance Diving Team Three ashore in Iraq. Later, Kanimbla became the first Coalition vessel to supply urgently needed medical supplies to civilian hospitals in Baghdad.

On 14 June 2003 Kanimbla departed the MEAO after 117 days in theatre, for which she was awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation.