USS Peleliu and LCU Operations

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
12/08/2014

12/08/2014: A landing craft utility (LCU) from Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 navigates at sunset while returning to the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) after conducting a scheduled beach raid exercise.

Peleliu is the lead ship in the Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group (#PELARG14) seen conducting joint forces exercises along with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and NBU 7 in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Credit:USS Perlieu:9/4/14

  • In the second photo, a landing craft utility (LCU) from Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 navigates along with the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) before conducting a scheduled beach raid exercise.
  • In the third and fourth photos, a Humvee, from Naval beach Unit (NBU) 7, disembarks a landing craft utility (LCU) during a scheduled beach raid exercise.
  • In the fifth photo, sailors from Naval beach Unit (NBU) 7 guide a Humvee down a ramp in reverse during a scheduled beach raid exercise.
  • In the final photo, a landing craft utility (LCU) from Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7 exits the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5).

 

Super Stallion Crews Sharpen Skills

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
12/05/2014

12/052014: Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 26, 2nd Marine Logistics Group prepare to connect a metal beam to a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter during external lift training aboard Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 27, 2014.

Marines with Helicopter Support Team, CLB-26 partnered with Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302, Marine Aircraft Group 29, 2nd Marine Air Wing, to practice single and dual point cargo lifts.

 Credit: II Marine Expeditionary Force:8/27/14

USS Lake Erie Homeports in San Diego for its Missile Defense Mission

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
12/03/2014

12/03/2014:Lake Erie (CG 70) perform morning colors before departing Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled homeport change to San Diego.

Lake Erie is replacing guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) as a rotational Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) destroyer out of San Diego.

 Credit:Navy Public Affairs Support Element West Hawaii:8/29/14

  • In the second photo, Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) man the rails as the ship prepares to depart Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled homeport change to San Diego.
  • In the third photo, a Sailor aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) lowers the “Don’t Tread on Me flag” as the ship departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled homeport change to San Diego.
  • In the fourth through seventh photos, Sailors aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) watch as the ship prepares to depart Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled homeport change to San Diego.

 

USS Mississippi Arrival in Pearl Harbor

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
12/02/2014

12/02/2014: The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Nov. 25, for a change of homeport from Commander, Submarine Squadron 4 in Groton, Conn. to Commander, Submarine Squadron 1.

The arrival of Mississippi makes her the 4th Virginia-class submarine to be home ported in Pearl Harbor.

Credit: Commander Submarine Forces Pacific:11/25/14

According to a story published on 11/26/14 on the USN website by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Khor, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs:

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) — The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Mississippi (SSN 782) was welcomed to the Pearl Harbor waterfront at an aloha ceremony Nov. 25, as the newest submarine permanently assigned to Submarine Squadron 1 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The arrival of Mississippi makes her the 4th Virginia-class submarine to be home ported in Pearl Harbor, and one of 18 fast-attack submarines permanently homeported at the historic base….

The submarine arrived at Pearl Harbor to a crowd of families, fellow submariners, veterans and supporters, having left weeks earlier from Submarine Squadron 4 in Groton, Connecticut. Swanson noted Mississippi and her crew started the transition nearly a year ago with assistance from Naval Submarine Support Command Pearl Harbor, Submarine Squadron 1, and several other organizations in the Pearl Harbor area.

“The chief of the boat and I have done four changes of homeports in our careers, and we were able to take lessons learned from our experiences to help make the transition fairly seamless for the families,” said Swanson.

“Our command philosophy centers on mission first, Sailors always.”

In January, the crew conducted a deployment night for all of the families to introduce Pearl Harbor staff, housing offices and answer questions families had well in advance of their arrival to their permanent homeport.

Additionally, the Family Readiness Group utilized social media to communicate with spouses and family at a moment’s notice to answer any difficult questions that arose. Swanson added this preplanning allowed most all of the families to move to Pearl Harbor seamlessly, and have a great support structure already in place.

Swanson said Mississippi’s ship technology, along with a focused and energetic crew aboard the vessel, will provide a great variety and coverage for missions vital to national security and any tasking from the operational commanders. Mississippi offers the submarine force’s newest technologies, along with accommodation for special operations forces and dry-dock shelter operations.

“We are ready to demonstrate our prowess as WESTPAC (Western Pacific) warriors and bring the great capabilities and stealth of the Virginia-class to the Pacific Fleet,” said Swanson.

“This is the newest submarine in the Pacific Fleet, and we are proud of her material condition and the hard work the crew put into it…..”

The submarine is 377-feet long, displaces 7,800 tons, and can carry torpedoes as well as Tomahawk missiles and have features including a torpedo room that can be refigured to hold Navy SEALs.

Mississippi is the second submarine to newly arrive at Pearl Harbor this week, with the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Jefferson City (SSN 759) out of San Diego arriving Nov. 24 for a scheduled two-year maintenance overhaul period at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=84648

 

 

USS Comstock at Sea

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
12/01/2014

12/01/2014: A landing craft air cushion (LCAC) prepares to embark the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) during a personnel transfer with the USS Makin Island. Comstock, part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, is on deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

 

Credit: Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs:8/24/14

  • In the second photo, a landing craft air cushion (LCAC) makes its approach to the well deck of the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45
  • In the third photo, Landing Craft Utility 1681 departs the well deck of the dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) to conduct a personnel transfer with the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8).
  • In photos 4-6, a Military Sealift Command contracted SA-330J Puma helicopter delivers supplies on the flight deck of the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) during a vertical replenishment.
  • In the final photo, Gunner’s Mate Rafael T. Lewis, shoots a messenger line from the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45) to the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) during a replenishment-at-sea.

The Comstock (LSD 45) is the 5th Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship and the second U.S. Navy ship to be named after the Comstock Lode, an early American pioneer mining site near Virginia City, Nevada.

The Comstock Lode, founded in 1859, has become indelible in the history of our American West; it produced more than $500,000,000 in gold and silver.

The keel was laid down by the Avondale Industries in New Orleans, La., on October 27, 1986.

The ship was christened and launched on January 16, 1988. Mrs. Jan Gray, the wife of General Alfered M. Gray, Jr., Commandant of the Marine Corps, served as sponsor of the ship.

Cmdr. Robert H. Howe was the prospective commanding officer.

February 3, 1990 USS Comstock was commissioned during a ceremony at Riverwalk Marketplace wharf in downtown New Orleans.

http://www.uscarriers.net/lsd45history.htm

 

 

Aircraft Rescue Firefighters Training

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
11/30/2014

11/30/2014: When Aircraft Rescue Firefighters aren’t responding to emergencies on the flight line, they’re training to be first on the scene.

Credit:American Forces Network, Iwakuni JAPAN:8/25/14

This story published in 2013 discusses the role of ARFF Marines, in this case in MCAS Beaufort, SC:

Marines with Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort conducted live fire training exer­cises, June 28, 2013.

Lance Cpl. Brendan Roethel

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

July 03, 2013

The firefighters trained in the burn pit, which is a tool used for controlled training exercises that simulates aircraft mishaps with 200-gallon JP-5 fuel fires and the propane-fueled training aircraft, which is used to train Marines on how to put out helicopter and larger jet fires. The tool is used to test the personnel knowledge and endurance of the Marines with flames that are uncontrolled, in a controlled environ­ment.

“Our mission is to preserve life and pro­tect property through fire prevention pro­cedures on the airfield and base,” said Staff Sgt. Joseph Neuer, a section leader for ARFF aboard MCAS Beaufort. “That is why we not only train in the burn pit, but we also train on the propane training aircraft and the fake houses used by the Structural Fire Department as well.”

Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting Ma­rines specialize in aircraft fires, but can get called to provide mutual aid for any incident covered by the Structural Fire De­partment, that is why they train every day with aircraft or structural fires in mind.

“We can get anything from fuel spills and engine fires to hydraulic failures and land­ing gear malfunctions,” said Sgt. Nicholas Romanyk, a fire fighting specialist with ARFF aboard the air station. “We always train and prepare because we are always on call and ready to respond to any acci­dent that happens on base, and anything can happen at a moment’s notice.”

Each Marine has a job when facing the heat. Two Marines carry the hose to the fire, the point man controls the nozzle and the direction of the water, while the sec­ond Marine provides support for the point man and stands by to pull the hose out of the fire on a moment’s notice. Each Marine works as a team and is critical to the safety on one another and the completion of the mission.

“We are a team first and foremost, and without proper training we wouldn’t know how to effectively work as one,” said Ro­manyk. “We always sit and discuss how the training went at the end, and figure out what we can do to become more effective and efficient firefighters. Everything we do is made to prime us for the fight so we are always ready for that alarm to go off.”

http://www.beaufort.marines.mil/News/NewsView/tabid/14981/Article/145552/arff-always-ready-always-on-call.aspx

 

 

INSURV inspection aboard USS Germantown

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
11/26/2014

11/26/2014: Sailors man the rails aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) as the ship departs Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo for an inspection from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

INSURV inspections occur every five years to ensure mission readiness. Germantown is forward-deployed and currently underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

Credit:USS Germantown:8/26/14

  • In the second photo, Electrician’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Jomarwayne Ta’a, from Santa Clara, Calif., performs a circuit resistance test aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an inspection from the Navy,ƒÙs Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
  • In the third photo, a member assigned to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) inspects the material condition of inflatable life preservers aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). INSURV inspections occur every five years to insure mission readiness.
  • In the fourth photo, Damage Controlman Fireman Apprentice Brett Calkins, from Muskegon, Mich., displays fire fighting equipment aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an inspection from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) while moored at Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo.
  • In the fifth photo, Engineman 2nd Class Jonathan Nelson, from Ideal, Ga., tests an engine lube oil sample in the oil lab aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an inspection from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) while moored at Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo.
  • In the sixth photo, Fireman Joseph Mansell, from Woodland, Calif., tests a fuel sample in the oil lab aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) during an inspection from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) while moored at Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo. INSURV inspections occur every five years to ensure mission readiness.
  • In the final photo, Chief Warrant Officer Glen Spitinale, from Toledo, Ohio, assigned to the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), right, inspects Sailors donning self-contained breathing apparatus face masks aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42).

From the INSURV website:

Welcome to the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).   INSURV was established by Congress 130 years ago to inspect our Navy ships and to report on their readiness. It is a thorough inspection that examines navy standards to determine your readiness in myriad areas. The inspection is designed to be taken “in stride,” and it is an open-book test in that the standards are well-known beforehand.

While preparing for this inspection, you will have access to all details regarding the inspection events, the systems and gear that will be inspected, and what will be expected of your ship during this event.  This website is designed to provide you with all the information you will need to ensure your ship is ready for the inspection.  To begin preparations for your upcoming inspection, visit our “Inspection Resources” link located in the left navigation.

If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact our office.  We are here to help you maintain and demonstrate your readiness.  Bless you for your service to our navy and our great nation. 

Very Respectfully,

RDML Jeff Harley, USN

http://www.public.navy.mil/fltfor/insurv/Pages/default.aspx

 

 

Planes Operated by the EAG Air Forces

Posted on | by Caroline Teames

11/26/2014: As a multinational organization thinking through the evolution of airpower, a key challenge and opportunity is to shape interoperability and convergent concepts of operations among a fleet of different types of aircraft.

In this slideshow, some of these aircraft are highlighted.

  • In the first photo, Royal Netherlands Air Force Lt. Col. Marten “Jimi” Hendriksma, of Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands, commander, Air Task Force-17, based out of Volkel of Airbase, the Netherlands, taxis down the flight line in an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet before conducting a mission from Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Dutch air force conduced reconnaissance missions and provides close-air support to assist International Security Assistance Force elements throughout Afghanistan. 7/11/11
  • In the second photo, two German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons wait to launch from the runway June 4, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. This was the first time the Typhoons have participated in RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2. The GAF arrived early to become familiarized with the airspace and prepare for RF-A. 6/4/12
  • In the third photo, a Russian Bear ‘H’ aircraft was photographed from an intercepting RAF Typhoon with another Typhoon tailing it on 29 October. The number of Eurofighter intercepts has gone up by a factor of three over the past few months. Credit: The Independent. A Spanish Typhoon is seen in flight in the fourth photo. Credit. Spanish MOD.
  • A French A400m is seen at its Orleans base in the fifth photo. Credit: Murielle Delaporte.
  • A French Air Force C-135FR is seen refueling a RAAF A330 MRTT (KC-30A) in the sixth photo. Credit: Airbus Defence and Space.
  • In the seventh photo, an Italian tanker is seen in a refueling operation. Credit: Italian Air Force.
  • In the eighth photo, two C-130 Hercules from the Belgium air force’s 20 Squadron taxi on the flightline Feb. 2 after completing a mission in Red Flag 11-2. The C-130s deployed from Melsbroek Air Base, Belgium, to participate in the combined exercise that provides a realistic combat training environment to the U.S. and its allies. 2/2/11
  • In the ninth photo, a French Rafale fighter is seen in flight. Credit: FAF.
  • The 10th and 11th photos show UK F-35s in operation. Credit: Lockheed Martin.
  • And the 12th and 13th show the first two Dutch F-35s.  Credit: Lockheed Martin.
  • And the final photo shows an Italian Air Force Tornado taking off from Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, during the Blue Flag exercise Nov. 26, 2013. 11/26/13