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)

Navy to Build $57 Million MV-22 Hangar and Aircraft Staging Area for Marine Corps Base Hawaii

By Catherine Cruz Norton, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific awarded a $57 million firm-fixed-price contract Dec. 17 to Watts Contrack, a Joint Venture of Honolulu, Hawaii for the construction of a Marine Vertical (MV) 22 hangar, supporting utility infrastructure, and an aircraft staging area for Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

This project includes a hangar, apron, and taxiway to support an MV-22 squadron. The project will also consist of an aircraft staging area to accommodate 12 aircraft for the squadron.

"The great teamwork and dedication between our engineers and contract specialists led to the development and award of this critical procurement," said NAVFAC Pacific Capital Improvements Business Line Manager Ralph Luca. "We are elated to commence construction of these significant facilities as we continue to enable operational and mission readiness for the Marine Corps."

The contract also contains one unexercised option, which if exercised would increase cumulative contract value to an estimated $58 million. Work will be performed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, and is expected to be completed by September 2015.

This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with nine proposals received.

Boxer Becomes First West Coast Ship to Deploy with Osprey

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenan O'Connor / Boxer Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) will become the first West Coast crew to deploy with the MV-22 Osprey this fall.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 (Reinforced) is embarked on Boxer as a part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and will deploy with a complement of 12 Ospreys.

The Osprey is intended to replace the CH-46E Sea Knight, the platform the Marine Corps has used since the Vietnam War. The Osprey can carry more combat troops and has a further flight range than the Sea Knight.

"The incorporation of the MV-22 Osprey greatly expands our area of influence, and increases the speed with which the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Commander is able to respond to crises and mass forces on the Objective," said Maj. Frank Garner, 13th MEU air officer. "The unique flight capabilities of the Osprey provides unprecedented advantage to warfighters, allowing Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Mission Essential Tasks (METs) to be accomplished more efficiently, while enhancing Marine Expeditionary Unit/Amphibious Ready Group (MEU/ARG) relevance in Combatant Commander (COCOM) Theaters," he added.

The Osprey is a tilt rotor aircraft flown by the U.S. Marine Corps, which utilizes vertical short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) capabilities. Until recently, the Osprey has seen limited use aboard large deck ships due to its unique design and the modifications required for large deck amphibious ships.

Although Boxer will be the first West Coast ship to deploy with Ospreys, the USS Bataan (LHD 5), stationed in Norfolk, became the first ship overall to deploy with Ospreys in an amphibious environment in 2009.

The crew members aboard Boxer and VMM-166 have trained in several technical areas, such as airframes, hydraulics and avionics, electrical systems, maintenance control to prepare for Boxers upcoming deployment.

"The biggest challenge is the amount of training that we had to accomplish," said Cpl. Neal Helfrey, a flight line mechanic attached to VMM-166. "Half the squadron hasn't deployed before, so the most difficult thing was putting all this training into the timeframe allotted."

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 MEU and Boxer ARG prior to their Fall deployment and is intended to certify their readiness to conduct integrated missions across the full spectrum of military operations.

USMC Presidential Chopper Squadron to Get MV-22s

According to an article on the Defense Tech website, HMX-1, the Marine Corps chopper squadron that operates the fleet of Marine One presidential transport helos is set to receive the first of what will be a fleet of 14 MV-22s, starting in 2013.

The Ospreys will likely be replacing the unit’s VH-43D Sea Stallions which are sometimes used to transport the president’s gear and perform other utility duties for the squadron. The aging VH-53Ds are being pulled out of presidential support duty to return to normal cargo hauling missions until the Corps’ thinning fleet of Sea Stallions is retired in the coming years, said Col. Roger Pridgen, NAVAIR’s H-53 program manager earlier this week.

You can read more about the proposals for replacement of the HMX-1 aircraft assets at this link.

Makin Island Becomes First West Coast Ship to Embark Osprey

An MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166 lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). This is the first landing by an Osprey on a west coast amphibious assault ship since being introduced to the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill/Released)
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill, USS Makin Island Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- USS Makin Island (LHD 8) became the first west coast ship to conduct flight deck operations with the MV-22 Osprey on Mar. 1.

The MV-22 Osprey is a tilt rotor aircraft flown by the U.S. Marine Corps, which utilizes vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Until recently, the MV-22 has seen limited use aboard large deck ships due to its unique design and the modifications required for large deck amphibious ships.

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain Mate (Handling) Ken Murray, the Air Department flight deck leading chief petty officer, spoke of the challenges encountered and steps the department took to prepare for this evolution.

"We were given just over a week's notice that this was going to happen and had only four personnel who had prior experience directing an Osprey onto a flight deck. Fortunately, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 166, is based out of MCAS Miramar, so we were able to coordinate a hands-on training with all our personnel at the air station and also speak to subject matter experts at Afloat Training Group (ATG)," stated Murray.

Aviation Boatswain Mate Handling (ABH) 2nd Class (SW) Mark Anthony Padrigo, who participated in the training, hadn't directed an Osprey since 2003 while stationed aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). As the first Handler selected to direct the MV-22 Osprey onboard, he spoke of the experience associated with performing this duty with all eyes watching.

"It's a great honor that the department and my chain of command put their faith in me to direct the first Osprey onto USS Makin Island. Being in the spotlight is one element but there is the physical challenge that also plays into it. The environment is so intense because you have downdraft winds created by the aircraft's propellers," Padrigo said.

Following the successful flight deck operation, Murray added, "it was an honor to be selected as the first among the west coast ships to bring the Osprey on deck. Air Department personnel executed flawlessly and displayed true professionalism. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the Marine Corps when we deploy later this year."

Ospreys Launch From Bataan to Support OEF

An MV-22B Osprey from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 (Reinforced), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The aircraft were flown to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, where they will be transferred to VMM-261 and used to support the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade. This is the first time the aircraft will be used in Afghanistan. The 22nd MEU is serving as the theater reserve force for U.S. Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Julio Rivera/Released)

By Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At sea (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) launched 10 MV-22B Ospreys from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to fly into Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The aircraft, part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), will be transferred to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 and serve as part of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Aviation Combat Element.

The 22nd MEU was the first Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct a ship-based deployment with the tiltrotor aircraft. VMM-263 (Rein) attached to the MEU in September, 2008, and was also the first squadron to deploy with the aircraft to Iraq in 2007.

"It is a great honor for us to support 2nd MEB, and we are proud to be the first unit to bring this aircraft into Afghanistan," said Col. Gareth F. Brandl, 22nd MEU commanding officer. "We have spent more than a year working with the MV-22B and know that the added capabilities this aircraft brings will benefit the Marines currently engaged against the enemy."

"This historic mission has been one of the highlights of our deployment," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "We did all we could to make sure they had all the material and logistic support necessary to have a safe and successful fly-off."

The Ospreys launched in three waves making the 510 nautical mile flight in just over two hours. During the aircraft's first amphibious deployment, it flew in support of theater security cooperation events in three countries, including U.S. Central Command's largest exercise, Bright Star 2009 in Egypt.

The Osprey was also used to conduct multiple medical evacuations from ship to shore and was employed to conduct logistics flights to Rota, Spain; Naval Air Station, Sigonella (Sicily); Djibouti, Africa and Bahrain. For more than a month, the squadron supported desert training when the MEU trained ashore in Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

"The men and women of the squadron performed admirably in support of this mission," said Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan, commanding officer of VMM-263. "I am convinced that this weapon system will serve the operating forces well for decades to come."

Ryan added that the MEU has learned a great deal about operating with the Osprey and has captured lessons learned throughout the deployment to support future tiltrotor squadrons as they begin to deploy with other MEUs.

The 22nd MEU, led by Brandl, is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. The unit is composed of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 and its Command Element.

The Bataan ARG is composed of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd MEU embarked, deployed May 13, 2009 to conduct maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

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."

Thunder Chickens

The Marine aircraft MV-22B Osprey (VMF-263/3rd MAW) has the functionality of a helicopter and the speed of a airplane to help the troops transport heavy equipment. Department of Defense. If you prefer a pop up window click on Thunder Chickens