Amphibs Families

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Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on July 26, 2013 at 1:07pm

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 18, 2013) The amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) launches a Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) during a missile exercise. Harper’s Ferry is underway off the coast of Southern California conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX is a scenario-driven exercise aimed at integrating the ships of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group through a series of live training events. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joe Bishop/Released)

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on July 24, 2013 at 11:18am

Seven Injured During Small Boat Training Exercise...

Story Number: NNS130722-13Release Date: 7/22/2013 8:28:00 PM
From U.S. Fleet Forces Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Four Sailors from USS Bataan (LHD 5) and three civilian instructors from the Center for Security Forces were injured July 22 aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat when it collided with USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) during a small boat training exercise near Thimble Shoals Channel, off the coast of Hampton Roads, Va.

The exercise was being conducted in support of the Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG/MEU) Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Boat Crew Course.

Six injured personnel were transported by ambulance to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. One Sailor was treated at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Va. Two of the Sailors have been released from the hospital. One Sailor remains in the hospital for observation. The status of the three civilians is not available at this time. All injuries are considered non-life threatening. All next-of-kin have been notified.

A safety investigation into the incident has been initiated.

Big Horn is underway conducting training operations.

ARG/MEU Boat Crew Course covers small boat operations and tactics for small boat crewmembers.

(RHIB)

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on July 3, 2013 at 6:36pm

USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) Completes Deployment...

Story Number: NNS130703-15Release Date: 7/3/2013 12:11:00 PM
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Allison Pittam, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

MEDITERRENEAN SEA (NNS) -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), returned to its homport in Gaeta, Italy, July 3, following a two-month deployment to participate in community relations events, military exercises and scheduled port visits.

During the deployment, Mount Whitney made port visits to Lisbon, Portugal; Ventspils, Latvia; and Kiel, Germany. The ship participated and played vital roles in exercises including Baltic Operations (BALTOPS), and a synthetic training exercise with embarked Striking and Support Forces NATO.

While in Lisbon, Portugal during its first port stop, Mount Whitney participated in community events and hosted a special celebration to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Striking and Support Forces NATO (SFN). The multinational coalition of SFN, including members from 11 countries embarked with Mount Whitney to participate in BALTOPS 2013.

BALTOPS is a multinational event to improve maritime security in the Baltic Sea through increased interoperability and cooperation.

"Baltops was a great opportunity to exercise our skill sets aboard Mount Whitney and to share this training opportunity with our friends and allies in the 6th Fleet." said Lt. Kevin Leiva.

BALTOPS 2013 concluded in Kiel, Germany for 'Kiel Week' which is a nine-day sailing festival with 200-year history that draws more than 2,000 sail boats and 5,000 participants each year. The port visit included open tours and also gave the ship's crew an opportunity for liberty to experience 'Kiel Week' during Mount Whitney's four days in port.

"Kiel was a very interesting port to visit," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Samantha Banda. "I went to Hamburg and toured a chocolate factory and also tried different foods at the Kiel Week exhibits."

Wrapping up the many exercises, celebrations and community relations events, Mount Whitney, as a command and control ship, hosted a synthetic exercise in its Joint Operations Center for SFN battle-staff. The U.S. Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint 2013/2 exercise led by the Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group certified the carrier's ability to integrate into joint operations and allowed the SFN battle-staff, who were first time participants of the exercise, a synthetic scenario to strengthen their ability to integrate U.S. maritime forces into alliance operations.

"This exercise was a first for the Strike Force NATO Battle-staff and the United States Navy," said Royal Marines Lt. Col. Bruce Foster, SFN training officer. "The multinational battle-staff strengthened its skills to integrate U.S. Naval Forces into a maritime operation throughout the exercise with the Harry Truman Carrier Strike Group."

Following the conclusion of the training exercise aboard Mount Whitney, the SFN members were transported via helicopter to their headquarters in Lisbon by embarked MH-60 helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 28) Det. 1 and the ship headed across the Mediterranean towards its homeport.

Mount Whitney, homeported in Gaeta, Italy, is the U.S. 6th Fleet flagship and operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and MSC civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation; deck engineering and supply service operations while military personnel aboard support communications, weapons systems and security.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on June 28, 2013 at 12:28pm

U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Complete Successful Dawn Blitz...

Story Number: NNS130628-04Release Date: 6/28/2013 9:21:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Molly Evans, Commander, U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs and

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenan O'Connor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- U.S. 3rd Fleet's Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG 3) and I Marine Expeditionary Force's (IMEF) 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st MEB) along with coalition partners from Canada, New Zealand and Japan completed the multilateral amphibious exercise Dawn Blitz (DB13), June 28.

The two-week exercise, held off the coast of Southern California, provided a vigorous training environment for U.S. Sailors and Marines to increase core amphibious capabilities while strengthening international partnerships.

The culminating training event of Dawn Blitz occurred June 24, when U.S. Navy's Assault Craft Unit 5, Beach Master Unit 1, U.S. Marine Corps' 2nd Battalion 5th Marines and foreign military counterparts led an assault on Camp Pendelton's Red Beach where nearly 70 amphibious assault vehicles (AAV) and six landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicles landed on the beach and moved inland for additional training ashore.

"This was important training for our Navy-Marine Corps team as the capability to conduct amphibious operations is essential to our warfighting and disaster response core functions," said Adm. Cecil D. Haney, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander."Working together in multi-lateral exercises like Dawn Blitz not only provides great training to collectively respond to crises, but it also preserves peace and enhances regional stability in the vital Indo-Asia-Pacific."

During Dawn Blitz, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps team was also able to accomplish the first MV-22 Osprey landing on a Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ship and a Maritime Prepositioning Force event that enabled the movement of U.S. Marine Corps equipment from the Military Sealift Command ships, USNS Lummus and USNS Curtiss, to train for disaster response/humanitarian assistance.

"The U.S. Navy has six ships, about 25 aircraft and 2,500 personnel participating in a variety of operations that are wrapped under the umbrella of Dawn Blitz," said Rear Adm. Gerard P. Hueber, commander, ESG 3. "It is an opportunity for the U.S. Navy to work with coalition partners and exercise on these training regions in Southern California to our operational readiness."

Australia, Chile, Colombia, Israel, Mexico, Peru and Singapore sent operational observers who were able to witness firsthand realistic, relevant training practices that were executed during DB13 and share them with their militaries.

"We live in a world today where we need our coalition partners operating in a joint environment, and that's what this training is all about," said Rear Adm. John E. Jolliffe, deputy commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet.

Joint interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on June 21, 2013 at 5:12pm

Lummus Concludes Active Support of Dawn Blitz 2013...
Story Number: NNS130621-01Release Date: 6/21/2013 12:10:00 AM

By Sarah E. Burford, Military Sealift Command Pacific Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USNS 1ST LT Jack Lummus (T-AK 3011) wrapped up active support for exercise Dawn Blitz 2013 off the coast of San Diego June 20.

The ship operated as a training platform for the Marine Combat Logistics Regiment-17, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and U.S. Navy Sailors with Naval Beach Group 1, Expeditionary Strike Group 3.

Lummus, anchored offshore, gave Dawn Blitz participants the ability to test and train with the improved Navy Lighterage System, which enables transportation of equipment and vehicles from ship to shore.

Over seven days, Sailors and Marines transported rolling stock equipment, and shipping containers, staging it on Lummus and then off-loading the equipment for transportation to shore. The training is designed to simulate operations that would take place during real-world scenarios such as humanitarian assistance and combat missions.

"Beach Group One has always enjoyed a close working relationship with Military Sealift Command (MSC)," said Cmdr. Ray Franklin, MSC Pacific operations officer. "Being able to use Lummus as a training platform during this exercise is a great way for us to continue to foster that relationship and to continue to provide a variety of support to our Navy and Marine Corps forces. Present requirements and future necessity to project power ashore will mean more exercises like Dawn Blitz and more opportunities for MSC to provide our special brand of support."

USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) is also providing logistics support at sea to the U.S. Navy foreign navy ships participating in the Dawn Blitz exercise through underway replenishments.

Dawn Blitz 2013 includes seven ships just off the coast and simulates an air and ground task force assaulting an enemy beach or delivering large numbers of troops along with food and supplies from ship to shore in a disaster relief operation. The exercise is the last event in a series of training designed to test the Navy and Marine Corps' abilities in the planning and execution of complex amphibious operations from ship-to-shore.

Featured training includes more than 5,000 U.S. Marines, Sailors and coalition forces from Canada, Japan and New Zealand; as well as military observers from seven countries watching the exercise, including large-scale amphibious assaults, sea-basing operations, mine warfare operations, live-fire opportunities, and Maritime Prepositioning of Forces. The exercise also includes battle-space shaping operations, force-on-force training, special operations forces, operational planning, live-fire opportunities, infantry immersion training, shipboard driver qualification, MV-22 Osprey take-offs and landings aboard a Japanese ship and the largest multilateral amphibious landing on Camp Pendleton's Red Beach, scheduled for June 24.

MSC operates approximately 110 non-combatant, merchant mariner-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on June 19, 2013 at 11:56am

Dawn Blitz 2013 is a scenario-driven, simulation-supported amphibious exercise designed to train Expeditionary Strike Group 3 (ESG 3) and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st MEB). The initial, synthetic scenario occurred Jan. 28-31, 2013 and the final live phase will be conducted June 11-28. Dawn Blitz provides a robust training environment where forces plan and execute an amphibious assault from a seabase in a land-and- maritime threat environment to improve naval amphibious core competencies.

Dawn Blitz 2010 was the first MEB-level amphibious assault exercise the Marine Corps conducted since 2001. The core capability of MEB-level amphibious operations is essential to national defense. Dawn Blitz 2013 builds on Dawn Blitz 2001 and affords the Navy/Marine Corps team the opportunity to capture lessons learned, gain experience at the most junior ranks, develop Navy-Marine Corps amphibious staff expertise and test new capabilities and equipment.

Participating from the 1st MEB: Regimental Landing Team-1 from the 1st Marine Division, Combat Logistics Regiment-17 from the 1st Marine Logistics Group and Marine Aircraft Group-16 from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on June 15, 2013 at 11:16am

The first MV-22 Osprey to be embarked with a ship in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility lands on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), June 14...

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on June 1, 2013 at 10:21am

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on May 16, 2013 at 2:18am

Pearl Harbor Sets Sail for Pacific Partnership 2013...

Story Number: NNS130515-10Release Date: 5/15/2013 1:06:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Samantha Webb, USS Pearl Harbor Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) departed its homeport of Naval Station San Diego, May 14, as the command platform for Pacific Partnership 2013.

This year's mission will partner the U.S. Navy with non-governmental organizations and regional partners including Australia, Canada, France, Japan and New Zealand to improve maritime security, conduct humanitarian assistance and strengthen regional disaster response preparedness.

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet said missions such as Pacific Partnership strengthen international relationships, build trust and open the kind of dialogue between leaders that are necessary to deter conflict and address some of the most urgent and complex issues of our time.

"The U.S. Pacific Fleet is always prepared for battle, but we also operate to preserve the peace," said Haney. He added that multilateral missions like Pacific Partnership provide a huge benefit to the maritime security of all participating nations by increasing regional stability leading to peace and prosperity.

This year's mission commander is U.S. Navy Capt. Wallace Lovely, commodore of Hawaii-based Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 31. Lovely said this year's mission is unique in that it is the first to share mission leadership with partner nations.

"Australia will lead in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand will lead in both Kiribati and Solomon Islands, and the United States will lead in Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands," said Lovely.

According to Lovely, sharing the lead responsibilities, and logistical resourcing among partner nations, will help the mission remain sustainable across of a range of future fiscal challenges. "I could not be more proud of the multilateral planning effort that has gone into this year's mission," Lovely said, "It has been a true team effort."

According to a U.S. Pacific Fleet release, Pacific Partnership, and missions like it, is a clear demonstration of the U.S. Navy's commitment to enhanced regional security and long-term stability throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacensandiego/.

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on May 10, 2013 at 1:26am

Senators: Amphib Somerset commissioning to be in Philly

May. 9, 2013 - 08:14PM
The Associated Press


PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey say the Navy has agreed to commission the USS Somerset in Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania senators say the USS Somerset is the Navy’s newest amphibious transport dock ship. It was christened the Somerset in remembrance of the western Pennsylvania county where hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The USS New York and USS Arlington commemorate the other sites attacked that day, the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.

The USS Somerset was christened, or named, in July. A ship is commissioned when it is formally put into active service.

Gordon Felt, president of the Families of Flight 93 organization, says heartfelt thanks go out to the members Congress and Navy officials who made the arrangements.

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