Operation Morris Dance
| Operation Morris Dance | |
|---|---|
 HMAS Tobruk during an exercise in 1987 | |
| Planned | May 1987 |
| Planned by | Australian Defence Force |
| Objective | To evacuate Australian citizens from Fiji |
| Date | 14 May |
| Executed by | HMAS Sydney, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Success, HMAS Tobruk, B Company, 1 RAR |
| Outcome | Evacuation was not required and the units involved returned to Australia on 29 May |
Operation Morris Dance was an Australian military operation conducted in May 1987 in response to the first of the 1987 Fijian coups d'état.
On the morning of 14 May 1987 the Military of Fiji took control of the country in a bloodless coup d'état. In response to the coup the Australian Defence Force began preparations to evacuate Australian citizens from Fiji. Four Australian warships (HMAS Sydney, HMAS Parramatta, HMAS Success and HMAS Tobruk) were deployed to patrol south-west of Fiji. 'B' Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment was added to this force on 23 May, with the soldiers being flown from Townsville to Norfolk Island and transferred by helicopter to Tobruk and Success. The Australian task force remained off Fiji until 29 May when the situation in the country had stabilised.
References
- David Horner (2001). Making the Australian Defence Force. Oxford University Press, Melbourne. Pages 226-227.