Australia's limited-overs cricketers have been given a taste of life in the Royal Australian Navy with an evening aboard the warship HMAS Toowoomba.

Read: Viewers' guide to the UAE Tour

The Anzac-class frigate is currently docked in Dubai for regular maintenance, with the Australian Embassy in the UAE taking the opportunity to host its official welcome function for the team on board.

The Toowoomba is in the Middle East as the 58th rotation of a Royal Australian Navy warship here since the first Gulf War in 1990. It is the first full deployment under Operation Manitou, Australia's contribution to the international campaign against terrorism and to counter smuggling and piracy in the region.

The squad, led by coach Darren Lehmann and Twenty20 captain Aaron Finch, spent several hours aboard the 118m, 3,600 tonne frigate led by Commander Cath Hayes, the first female to command an Australian warship in the Middle East.

The players were taken to the operations room, where they saw the Toowoomba's crew run simulation exercises for air defence and surface and undersea warfare.

The ship is fitted with an advanced package of air and surface surveillance radars and other equipment linked in to a state-of-the-art combat data system, and the players were invited to try their hand in the hot seat during the simulation.

Steve Smith took the chance to suit up in protective clothing used by the ship's bomb disposal experts, much to the amusement of his teammates.

Other parts of the tour included a look at the Seahawk helicopter and the cramped quarters the junior members of the crew live in before a memorabilia signing and photo session in the ward room.

The players were told how the helicopter can go from being in lockdown to flight ready in 30 minutes, with the flight deck a favoured place for on-board cricket matches while at sea.

"We make sure the helicopter is off the flight deck, we put the flight deck nets up and we play there," said Lieutenant Commander Sam Carman, the ship's operations officer.

"It's a bit small, it's a bit tough, you don't want to go flying for a slips catch or you'll lose all your skin on the flight deck.

"And we generally stick with something that's nice and soft to hit so you don't lose it, because if it goes over the side, it's six and the ball is out."

The crew also have satellite television feeds beamed to the ship where watching sport is a favourite pastime for quiet moments.

"We have good internet coverage so you can log online and check out the results. We get a TV satellite feed and a couple of Australian channels beamed to us," said Lt Com Carman

The cricketers were presented with caps from the ship's crew, which carries the motto 'Fearless'.

Commander Hayes welcomed the players with an explanation of the motto: "It is not that we live without fear, but what we do in the face of fear that makes us great", while Australia's Ambassador to the UAE Pablo Kang was presented with a personalised ODI shirt.

Finch she he and the rest of the Australian cricketers had been left in awe by the visit.

"It's been extraordinary, it was something I didn't expect," Australia's Twenty20 skipper said.

"It's great to see how much work these guys put in to defending our country, and see the tools they have, which are quite cool to be honest.

"All the crew here have been extraordinary – just to meet them and to be able mix with them and see how hard they work to defend our country is unbelievable."