Boxer ARG Operating in Pacific and Central Command AORs

U.S. Navy Sailors with the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group prepare MV-22B Ospreys with Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 166 Reinforced to take off from the USS New Orleans. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be operating in the Pacific and central Commands area of responsibilities during their western pacific deployment 16-1. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tyler C. Gregory/released)

Boxer Amphibious Ready Group to Depart for Deployment

The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) transits San Diego Bay as it gets underway. The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is underway off the coast of Southern California completing a certification exercise (CERTEX). CERTEX is the final evaluation of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (13th MEU) and Boxer ARG prior to deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Valverde/Released)

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) is scheduled to depart Aug. 23 for a deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The BOXARG, which includes USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. BOXARG is fully capable of amphibious assault and Special Forces operations, humanitarian missions and non-combatant operations.

"We've had a very rigorous training cycle to prepare us to execute any mission when called upon," said Capt. Malcolm Potts, commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1 and commander of BOXARG. "I am awed and impressed by the ingenuity, creativity, and industriousness of the 4,200 dedicated Sailors and Marines that serve on our ships."

The ships will embark approximately 2,400 Marines from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The MEU is capable of conducting conventional amphibious operations and selected maritime special operations at night or during adverse weather conditions from the sea, by surface or by air.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.

USS New Orleans Completes CERTEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dominique Pineiro, Amphibious Squadron 5 Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS New Orleans (LPD 18) returned to San Diego Oct. 12, after completing its final pre-deployment exercise in preparation for its upcoming deployment later this year.

New Orleans, alongside amphibious dock-landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) make up the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

Together, the group completed their certification exercise (CERTEX), a comprehensive training designed to test the Navy and Marine Corps' maritime and sea-to-shore capabilities.

During CERTEX, New Orleans was the primary combatant providing air and surface support for counter-piracy training. Using CH-46E helicopters and Navy small boats launched from New Orleans, the 11th MEU's Maritime Raid Force (MRF) simulated seizing a pirated merchant vessel. New Orleans provided communications support and served as a base for firepower from her 30mm cannon, as well as Marine snipers.

In addition to maritime security training, New Orleans also supported long-range helicopter raids and raids on high value targets which saw a continuous launching of four UH-1Y Venom helicopters carrying members of the MRF. A non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) was executed as well, rounding out the mission capabilities of the ARG.

Marines assigned to the 11th MEU's Battalion Landing Team also honed their warfighting skills and launched from New Orleans' well deck in amphibious assault vehicles to conduct a simulated mechanized raid by retaking a town overrun by hostile forces located at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Cmdr. Dennis Jacko, commanding officer of New Orleans, said that with the final certification, New Orleans is ready to deploy as part of the ARG or operate independently in disaggregated operations during their next deployment.

"This certification is the capstone event for both the Marines and the ARG in a robust scenario," he said. "USS New Orleans is more than ready to offer any theater commander a unique 'one stop shopping' in the form of embarked Marine air and ground assets that enable her to provide balanced fighting power, either as part of an Amphibious Ready Group, or as her own Marine Air Ground Task Force."

Commissioned in 2007, New Orleans is the second of the San Antonio-class transport dock ships. Its warfighting capabilities include a state-of-the-art command and control suite, substantially increased vehicle lift capacity, a large flight deck, and advanced ship survivability features that enhance its ability to operate in the littoral environment.

New Orleans Gets Underway

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Gabriel Owens, USS New Orleans Public Affairs

USS NEW ORLEANS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS New Orleans (LPD 18) completed a three-day underway on Dec. 3, its first since returning from deployment in August.

While underway, New Orleans knocked out two major evolutions, including qualifying many of its Sailors for well deck operations and an aviation readiness (AR) qualification.

Additionally, the ship used the underway to do many other smaller certifications, as well as a chance to do work on its propulsion systems, particularly the main machinery and electrical plants.

"It's good to get underway after four months in port," said Cmdr. Darren McClurg, New Orleans executive officer. "It's a great opportunity to shake the kinks out."

The AR qualification was completed ahead of schedule due to the ship's superior ability to maintain material, personnel, and management readiness requirements, according to Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Aircraft Handling) (AW/SW) James Edmond, New Orleans' Air Department leading chief petty officer.

"When [Afloat Training Group] came on board for this underway, they saw how well we performed all our tasks, such as landing, refueling, 'chock and chain' and how we ran fuel samples," said Edmond. "We performed 84 landings and four refuelings.

"We were one of three out of 74 ships on the waterfront, and the only LPD class to get our certification done early."

Additionally, the ship performed many well deck evolutions to certify and recertify the ship's crew in amphibious warfare operations.

"You're not an amphib unless you're taking things in and out of the well deck," said McClurg. "So it was very gratifying to get the amphibious warfare qualification done, for the crew and for the battle-readiness of the ship."

While the ship's evolutions were not without its hiccups, McClurg was impressed with the crew's ability to shake off the "ring rust" and accomplish the overall mission of recertification and the start of preparing the ship to once again become an active warfighting vessel.

"Overall it was an impressive effort by the ship's crew, and I'm very proud of their accomplishments," said McClurg.

The ship will continue to perform workups after the holidays to get ready for its next deployment in 2010.

New Orleans is a San Antonio-class ship designed and built to fight. Its warfighting capabilities include a state-of-the-art command and control suite, substantially increased vehicle lift capacity, a large flight deck, and advanced ship survivability features that enhance its ability to operate in the unforgiving littoral environment.

New Orleans provides each naval expeditionary force with greatly enhanced operational flexibility. The ship normally operates as part of an Amphibious Task Force - the "workhorse" of a three-ship Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) - organized to accomplish a broad range of military objectives; or as an element of a "Split-ARG" that has the ship detached and operating as a single ship, supporting lower-risk operations. This ship's mission flexibility fully expands the ARGs area of influence by providing an improved capability to cover multiple areas of responsibility, while responding to several crises simultaneously.

13th MEU Completes ARG/MEU Exercise

By Cpl. Robert C. Medina, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs

DJIBOUTI (NNS) -- The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed the weeklong ARG/ MEU Exercise near Camp Lemonier Djibouti May 26.

The exercise was a ship-to-shore training evolution designed to strengthen Navy and Marine Corps amphibious capabilities and involved service members from the USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45) and 13th MEU.

"As the MEU, we are the floating reserve for U.S. Central Command," said Lt. Col. Tye R. Wallace, commanding officer, Battalion Landing Team 1/1. "In that capacity, we have to be ready to go anywhere in the area of operations and perform any of our standard MEU missions."

Marines were joined by the French Foreign Legion throughout the exercise, giving both military forces a chance to learn from each other.

"We mainly paired the French Foreign Legion with Alpha Company to do combined exercises," said Wallace. "They did some small unit infantry training and practiced room search operations to help train French forces."

Wallace said Alpha Company conducted other training with amphibious assault vehicles and tanks to familiarize the French with U.S. Marine Corps operations.

"We also brought some of the French officers and Legionnaires aboard the ship to give them a tour," said Wallace. "This was to build relationships between the two companies and to show them how we live out [at] sea."

Wallace said he hopes this exercise will be a stepping stone for follow-on MEUs to do something similar and continue to build working relationships.

"I think we came out of the exercise stronger than when we came in," he said. "We have identified any issues and taken corrective action to bring ourselves back up to our full capabilities."

Weapons Company, BLT 1/1, also tested some of their equipment ashore while conducting field operations.

Staff Sgt. Steven E. Williams, platoon sergeant for Weapons Company, said they wanted to put some rounds down range to keep up to date on marksmanship skills.

This gave Weapons Company an opportunity to get some time out in the field to build unit cohesion.

"I know it was really hot out here, but both new Marines and those who have been with us for awhile learned something," he said. "It was good to get off the ship and get some training in. I think the Marines really enjoyed themselves; I know the French did as well."

The 13th MEU and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group are currently on a deployment in support of regional and maritime security operations.

In addition to BLT 1/1, the MEU is composed of its Command Element, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 163 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 13.

USS New Orleans Underway from Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) returned to sea the evening of May 12, fully mission capable after completing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) Shipyard dry dock in Manama, Bahrain.

While underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility, New Orleans is scheduled to conduct maritime security operations. The ship was damaged in a collision with USS Hartford (SSN 768) March 20 in the Strait of Hormuz.

At the ASRY Shipyard, dry dock repairs were made to the ship's damaged hull, ruptured fuel tank and ballast tanks.

Although New Orleans was repaired in Bahrain, U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command engineers determined that Hartford will be repaired in the United States. The submarine completed sea trials April 24 and is making a surface transit back to its homeport of Groton, Conn.

Two formal investigations have been completed -- a safety investigation and a Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigation. Both are currently undergoing endorsement reviews, which are expected to take several months to complete.

USS Hartford and USS New Orleans Arrive In Port Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, arrived in port Bahrain March 21.

USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18) arrived at Mina Salman pier to further assess and evaluate the damage that resulted from their collision at sea.

The incident remains under investigation.

Overall damage to both ships is being evaluated. The propulsion plant of the submarine was unaffected by this collision. New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank, which resulted in a fuel spill of approximately 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine in the Strait of Hormuz.

Aerial searches of the area where the fuel spill occurred were conducted yesterday, and revealed no indication of any remaining fuel on the ocean's surface.

The U.S. 5th Fleet has been working in coordination with the Navy Oceanographic Office to determine refined search areas, based on currents and winds. Additional searches were flown by U.S. Navy aircraft today and found no remaining fuel on the surface.

The quick dissipation of the fuel is likely due to the type of fuel, and various environmental factors to include air and water temperatures, winds and seas.

Both Hartford and New Orleans are currently on regularly scheduled deployments to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations conducting maritime security operations (MSO).

MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material

Navy Vessels Collide in Strait of Hormuz

MANAMA, Bahrain, March 20, 2009 - A U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship collided in the Strait of Hormuz early this morning, Navy officials reported today. The collision between the USS Hartford and USS New Orleans occurred at about 1 a.m. local time.

Fifteen sailors aboard the Hartford were slightly injured and returned to duty. No personnel aboard the New Orleans were injured.

Overall damage to both ships is being evaluated. The propulsion plant of the submarine was unaffected by this collision. A fuel tank ruptured on the New Orleans, which resulted in an oil spill of about 25,000 gallons of fuel. Both ships are currently operating under their own power.

The incident is under investigation.

Both the submarine and the ship are on regularly scheduled deployments to the U.S. Navy Central Command area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations.

Unfit Warship

Military officials are saying the USS New Orleans is 'an unfit warship that is not combat ready.'

USS New Orleans Commissioned in Namesake City

NEW ORLEANS (March 10, 2007) – Operations Specialist 2nd Class Israel Flores and Quartermaster 3rd Class August Sorvillo assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), prepare to raise the ship's commissioning pennant during the ship's commissioning ceremony. New Orleans is the second ship in the Navy’s new 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 LCAC (landing craft air cushion), the expeditionary fighting vehicle, and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft (MV-22). The ship also provides improved warfighting capabilities including an advanced command-and-control suite, increased lift-capacity in vehicle and cargo-carrying capability and advanced ship-survivability features. The ship holds the distinction of being the only ship in recent naval history built and commissioned in its namesake city. USS New Orleans got underway yesterday (March 12) and will be homeported in San Diego, Calif. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jay Cope.

PCU NOLA on the Mighty Mississippi

Pre-Commissioning Unit New Orleans (LPD 18) transits under the Crescent City Connection Bridge on the Mississippi River toward her namesake city. The ship will be commissioned in a ceremony March 10, 2007. Throughout the week, Sailors and Marines will provide New Orleans residents and visitors with a unique look at the second San Antonio-class ship. The San Antonio-class will functionally replace over 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113 and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships) providing the Navy and Marine Corps with modern sea-based platforms. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kurt Eischen.