MRH 90 in Philippines on first embarked deployment

HMAS Tobruk’s embarked MRH 90 arrives at Ormoc Airport. (Defence)

An MRH 90 embarked on HMAS Tobruk is helping with disaster relief assistance in the Philippines as part of the ADF’s Operation Philippines Assist.

The Tobruk arrived in Ormoc on the morning of November 26 carrying a Recovery Support Force, LCM8 landing craft and Navy 808SQN MRH 90 A40-017. The Recovery Support Force has been tasked with cleaning up local schools in the Ormoc area.

“This is the first embarked operational deployment of the MRH 90 in the Maritime Support Helicopter role,” a Defence spokesperson confirmed to Australian Aviation. “808 Squadron previously supported Operation NSW Bushfire Assist in October 2013.”

HMAS Tobruk’s arrival at Ormoc brought the number of ADF personnel deployed to the Philippines for Operation Philippines Assist to 500. Two RAAF C-130Js are deployed to Cebu providing intra-theatre airlift support of relief efforts, while two RAAF C-17s are available for taskings should they be required.