Cup honour for Rankin

HMAS Rankin was awarded one of the Royal Australian Navy’s highest honours, the Gloucester Cup, last Friday during a special ceremony at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island.

The Collins class submarine took out the prestigious award, with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove presenting the cup to commanding officer of HMAS Rankin Cdr Micheal Jacobson.

Crew from HMAS Rankin, HMAS Sheean and HMAS Stirling were on parade for the event, which marked the third occasion HMAS Rankin won the cup after success in 2004 and 2007.

First instituted in 1947 by the then Governor-General, the Duke of Gloucester, the cup acknowledges proficiency against a wide range of criteria including operational efficiency, seamanship, resourcefulness, morale and discipline.

Cdr Jacobson accepted the cup on behalf HMAS Rankin’s former commanding officer Doug Theobald.

While he was not commanding officer at the time, Cdr Jacobson said he had experienced the exemplary professionalism and attitude of the crew.

“The award represents a considerable effort over a sustained period and is well deserved,” he said. In what was a busy year for HMAS Rankin, 2016 included a nine-month deployment with visits to north-east Asia as well as an extended period operating out of Fleet Base East.

HMAS Rankin also collected the Platypus Cup for being the highest performing submarine; the Combat Systems Proficiency Shield for the unit which achieved the highest standards in combat systems and weapon efficiency and serviceability; as well as the Voyager Trophy for the highest standard in Anti-Submarine Warfare.

HMAS Stirling was presented with the Fleet Environmental Award while HMAS Sheean took out the Action Information Organisation Shield and Submarine Silver Platter.