HMAS Waterhen (naval base)

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HMAS Waterhen is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, located in Sydney. Waterhen is the parent establishment for the RAN's mine countermeasures forces, and forms part of Fleet Base East. First commissioned in 1962, it was used for a variety of minor warfare vessels, including patrol forces, until a reorganisation in the 1990s saw the RAN's patrol vessels moved to establishments in northern Australia. At that time, Waterhen was rebuilt to be home to new MCM forces, at which the commander of Waterhen also became Commander Australian Navy Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group (COMAUSNAVMCDGRP). The Mine Warfare and Clearance Diving Group, Clearance Diving Team One and the RAN's six Huon class minehunters, as well as a number of commercially operated support vessels, are based at Waterhen.