Eye on the Fleet - Thunder Chickens Underway in Med

A CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter assigned to the Thunder Chickens of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 launches from the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during preparations for a field exercise. Mesa Verde is deployed as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josue L. Escobosa/Released)

USS Mesa Verde Speeds Through Maiden Deployment

By Lt. j.g. Jennifer Womble, Expeditionary Strike Group 5 Public Affairs

USS MESA VERDE, At Sea (NNS) -- As USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) approaches the halfway point in her maiden deployment, her flexibility continues to enable her to fulfill multiple missions from humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in Haiti to maritime security operations (MSO) in the Arabian Gulf.

"We started off with a very meaningful mission right out the gate, going down and helping folks in Haiti. That was a tremendous opportunity for the ship to really earn its operational stripes," said Cmdr. Larry LeGree, Mesa Verde's commanding officer.

"I have a really solid team, and we're enjoying operating this new ship," said LeGree.

Mesa Verde is forward deployed helping to ensure security and stability in U.S. 5th Fleet's Area of Responsibility (AOR).

As part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group, Mesa Verde is one of three ships that either operate together as a group, or when needed separately to fulfill multiple missions.

Mesa Verde is operating separately, also known as conducting distributed operations, during most of its time in theater, requiring it to move locations frequently.

"If this [distributed operations] is the way the ARG/MEU (amphibious ready group/marine expeditionary unit) teams are going to operate in the future - these big LPDs really are a good platform for that," said LeGree.

Mesa Verde's speed and fuel efficiency has enabled the ship to increase her operating range and flexibility, making Mesa Verde a sought after commodity for mission commanders.

"The ship has a beautiful hull form. It's a very laminar kind of flow to it. And, as a result, it's a fast ship and it is also a very fuel efficient ship. I have no problem covering lots of ground. And that's the reality of distributed operations; we go from one position for one exercise or engagement to another and we make lots of good, sustainable speeds," said LeGree.

Mesa Verde is part of the Nassau Amphibious Ready Group and 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, currently supporting MSO and theater security cooperation operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR, under the command of Expeditionary Strike Group 5.

Mesa Verde Sailors and Marines Team for Expedition Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Hodges Pone III

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Mesa Verde and approximately 375 U.S. Marines completed an Amphibious Squadron and Marine Expeditionary Unit exercise Sept. 4.

The exercise was used to test the capabilities of both entities during joint forces missions as well as prepare each for upcoming assignments.

Sailors and Marines were able to experience working as a single unit to provide support for the various scenarios they may encounter at sea. By doing so, each had to alter some of their routine to accommodate the other as well as learn how tasks were accomplished in their sister branch.

"We want to have a better understanding of what our Navy counterparts are doing," said Staff Sgt. Jesse Andrews of Combat Logistic Battalion. "This has to be a mutually supportive relationship for each service to complete its mission and thus far, this exercise has been exceptional. The Sailors aboard Mesa Verde have been very helpful."

Some of the adjustments included making preparations to bring in a MV-22 Osprey helicopter, which many members of Mesa Verde's flight deck team had never worked with.

Other Marine aircraft were brought onboard and flight deck personnel provided support to the members of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162. Mesa Verde's Aviation Fuels Officer, Lt. Robert Poggio, said that the invaluable experience gained while working with the squadron showed team members some of the different equipment they may see aboard the ship.

"Some of the aircraft used by the Marines are 'skids,' which mean they have no wheels," said Poggio. "To move them, you have to add handling wheels. It was good to have them onboard, because this has expanded the range of opportunities we have had. It's different, but exciting."

Sailors weren't the only service members changing the way things are done. Many of the Marines were receiving their first experience of being aboard a ship as well as doing their day-to-day jobs in a different environment.

"This is my first time on the ship and some of the areas are more confined than what some of us are used to," said Private First Class Antonio Gonzalez of 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, Bravo Company. "The crew was very supportive in getting the vehicles stowed aboard the ship. It has been an overall good experience and I look forward to another opportunity to be on board Mesa Verde."

Mesa Verde Gets First Experience with Osprey

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Hodges Pone III, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Members of USS Mesa Verde's (LPD 19) flight deck team had their first opportunity to provide support for an MV-22 Osprey during helicopter operations Aug. 31.

The aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (VMM 162) made six landings on the flight deck which gave the pilots a chance to train on landing and gave Mesa Verde personnel the experience of bringing an Osprey aboard the ship.

"It was a learning process for everyone because there were a lot of people on our team who hadn't worked with the Osprey before," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuels) 1st Class (SW) Greg Kucharski. "We were able to come together and accomplish bringing the aircraft onboard faster."

Before the Osprey made its first landing, there were measures put in place to ensure the safety of personnel working on the flight deck. Air Department utilized special equipment to make sure this happened in addition to receiving support from the pilot.

"This evolution was a great learning experience for our Flight Deck Team," said Lt. Dee Gordon, Mesa Verde Air Boss. "Through coordination between the V-22 flight crew and the hard work of our own team onboard, we were able to accomplish this first landing of the V-22 onboard Mesa Verde safely and without incident."

"This was my first time seeing an Osprey which is a very large aircraft," said Hull Technician 3rd Class Derek Bunch of the ship's repair division and flight deck team member. "With it being a bigger aircraft, there was a strong downwash. We did all we could to make sure all of the members of the team were safe and this was an overall safe evolution."

During one of the landings, the crew of the Osprey picked up members of Combat Logistics Battalion 24. Members of VMM 162 were impressed by how the Air Department was able to get the helicopter onboard as efficiently as they did.

"The flight deck crew handled bringing the helicopter aboard well," said Sgt. Zachary Brown of VMM 162. "They were fast in getting the Osprey on deck as well as off."

"I'm especially proud of the ship's flight deck crew," said Gordon. "They are the best in the Navy."

USS Mesa Verda Participating in Unitas 50 in Atlantic

Landing craft air-cushioned vehicles disembark from the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) for an amphibious landing demonstration near Mayport, Fla. Mesa Verde is participating in the 50th annual UNITAS multinational exercise. The two-week exercise includes realistic scenario-driven training opportunities such as live-fire exercises, shipboard operations, maritime interdiction operations and special warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick Grieco/Released)

USS Mesa Verde Completes Shock Trials

A 10,000-pound underwater explosion rocks the amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a shock test off the Florida coast. The test is part of Navy trials for the San Antonio-class ship, which was commissioned last December. U.S. Navy photo (Released)

USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) completed its third and final shock trial event off the coast of Mayport, Fla., Sept. 13. The ship performed well and is currently returning to Norfolk for post-trial inspection.

Mesa Verde's shock trials are part of the congressionally mandated Live Fire Test and Evaluation Program that requires realistic survivability testing on each new class of Navy ships. Mesa Verde is the third of the new San Antonio-class of amphibious transport dock ships.

The test results from a shock trial provide important information that is applied to follow-on ships and is used to improve the initial ship design and enhance the effectiveness and overall survivability of the ship and crew.

"I am truly excited about the performance of this crew and this ship to bring these shock trials to successful completion," said Capt. Shawn Lobree, Mesa Verde's commanding officer. "We were faced with some challenges, but the diligent efforts of Mesa Verde's crew and the test community, along with a little break in this season's very active hurricane season, allowed us to complete this important testing for this new class."

The first shot of Mesa Verde's shock trial was successfully conducted Aug.16. The second shot was delayed due to Tropical Storm Fay but was successfully executed Aug. 26. Concerns with other hurricane threats and sea conditions delayed the third shot until Sept. 13.

During shock trials, ships experience the effects of 10,000-pound explosive charge detonations which occur successively closer to the ship. These trials are critical to the ship and crew's survivability and provide the best means to assess the shock response of a manned ship and the interaction of the ship's systems and components.

Prior to conducting the shock trials, an environmental impact statement was issued to address the proposed event, the impact on air and water quality, marine life (including marine mammals and endangered and threatened species), commercial fishing and shipping, recreation, and economic and commercial resources. The Navy identified a preferred location offshore Mayport for the shock trials that met the project's purpose and need, satisfied operational requirements and minimized environmental impacts. The Navy incorporated protective measures to minimize potential adverse effects to the environment during and after the shock trials.

Mesa Verde was commissioned in December 2007 and is homeported in Norfolk.

Mesa Verde Commissioned Newest Navy Ship

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gino Flores, Fleet Public Affairs Center Southeast

More than 300 Sailors and a platoon of Marines manned the rails of USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), the newest San Antonio class ship, bringing her to life during the commissioning ceremony held at Port Panama City, Fla., Dec. 15.

The ship is named in honor of the Mesa Verde National Park in southwestern Colorado. In 1906, Congress established Mesa Verde as the first cultural park in the National Parks System. This is the first U.S. Navy ship to be named Mesa Verde.

Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, addressed ship's company, family members, and several thousand guests reflecting on the tradition of Native Americans building a strong bond with the military.

"The relationship between our native people and the U.S. Military indeed has become stronger and stronger with each passing decade", said Campbell . "We have the highest per capita rate of enlisted of any ethnic minority."

Campbell's wife, Linda Price Campbell, who is the ship's sponsor, gave the order to "man our ship and bring her to life."

Cmdr. Shawn W. Lobree of Miami, Fla., became the first commanding officer of the ship and will lead a crew of approximately 360 officers and enlisted personnel and three Marines.

"With this ship the United States will take the fight to the enemy forward from the sea with capabilities never seen before," said Lobree. "The crew before you today-they are aggressive, dedicated, salty, engaged, educated, physically and mentally fit, and most of all, ready to go to sea."

The ship is scheduled to get underway Dec. 17, and will ultimately join the fleet in its home port of Norfolk, Va.

Mesa Verde is the third amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. As a critical element in future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support the Marine Corps mobility triad, which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22).

The ship will support amphibious, special operations, and expeditionary warfare missions in keeping with the new maritime strategy that postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world.

Built by Northrop Grumman Ships Systems, Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss., Mesa Verde is 684-feet long, has an overall beam of 105 feet, a navigational draft of 23 feet, displaces approximately 24,900 tons and is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines. Four turbo-charged diesel engines power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.