Navy's First Mobile Landing Platform Departs San Diego

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USNS Montford Point (MLP 1) departed San Diego July 12 for Naval Station Everett, Wash.

Montford Point is the Navy's first mobile landing platform, delivered to the Navy in San Diego May 14, and is expected to be fully operational in fiscal year 2015.

The ship, crewed by 33 contract mariners working for a company under charter to Military Sealift Command, will perform system tests during the voyage to its temporary layberth. Montford Point is scheduled for final contract trials in September, with its core capability set installed later this year.

The Navy's second MLP, John Glenn, had its keel laid in December, with completion and delivery expected in March 2014.

The MLP class of modular, flexible ships belongs to MSC's Maritime Prepositioning Force as a mobile sea-base option that provides our Navy fleet with critical afloat capability, supporting the flexible deployment of forces and supplies. Contract mariners will operate and navigate the MLP ships on behalf of the Navy and Marine Corps.

"Montford Point will provide the key link - 'the pier in the ocean' - that will permit the military to engage in true seabasing sustainment of equipment and supplies to our troops ashore, from beyond the horizon," said Mike Touma, assistant engineering officer in MSC's Prepositioning Program.

Designed to increase inter-theater agility, the MLP is ready to support our warfighters wherever and whenever needed. MLP is a highly flexible ship class that provides logistics movement from sea to shore supporting a broad range of military operations.

Leveraging float-on/float-off technology and a reconfigurable mission deck to maximize capability, the MLP provides a seagoing pier when access to on-shore bases and support are unavailable. The platform includes add-on modules that support a vehicle staging area, vehicle transfer ramp, large mooring fenders and up to three Landing Craft, Air Cushioned vessel lanes to enhance its core requirements.

Notably, the MLP can operate up to 25 miles from shore and transfer equipment at sea with 1.25-meter waves and when its mission deck is removed, it can serve as a semi-submersible platform, offering salvage and point-to-point capabilities as well.

Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, U.S. Navy civilian-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.

USS Freedom Readies for Maiden Deployment

By Lt. Ed Early, USS Freedom Public Affairs

USS FREEDOM, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Freedom (LCS 1), the Navy's first littoral combat ship, is underway off the coast of Florida for final training and certification prior to its maiden deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) region.

Counter-illicit trafficking (CIT), damage control, and systems training began soon after Freedom's arrival at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., on Jan. 25.

"This training is extremely important for Freedom and will help us prepare for the CIT mission we expect to perform while in the 4th Fleet area of operations," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark West of Imperial Beach, Calif., operations officer for the Gold Crew, one of Freedom's two rotational crews. "Freedom can be an extremely formidable weapon in the war on drugs."

Freedom's crew is part of an innovative manning construct that reduces crew size, demanding each Sailor maintain high levels of proficiency in multiple fields, and optimizes ship operability with multiple crews. The ship is manned by two rotational crews, "Blue" and "Gold", of 40 Sailors each. Prior to deployment, each crew member must prove his or her competency across a wide range of skills.

Sailors attended counter-illicit trafficking/airborne use of force (CIT/AUF) instruction ashore, led by Afloat Training Group (ATG) Mayport, Destroyer Squadron 14 and Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 407. LEDET 407 will embark the ship during deployment.

Freedom welcomed the Coast Guard detachment aboard for nearly three days of CIT/AUF exercises at sea. LEDET 407 worked with Freedom's core crew and its aviation detachment to certify the ship for CIT operations.

"The Coast Guard was extremely professional and knowledgeable, and I look forward to working with them in the future," West said.

While Coast Guard observers evaluated the aviation detachment – Norfolk, Va.-based Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Detachment 2 – in tracking go-fast boats, a Coast Guard coxswain was learning how to operate Freedom's 11-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs).

"The Coast Guard does not operate our 11-meter RHIB, so this was important training for them as well," said Gold Crew navigator Lt. John Hill, a native of Auckland, New Zealand.

The LEDET soon gave way to an integrated training team from the San Diego-based Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron, which put Freedom's crew through its paces in a series of damage control and firefighting drills. The exercises tested the crew's response to a variety of shipboard emergencies, from a simulated helicopter crash landing to casualty triage.

"The training provided a good refresher for us – it's a good opportunity to keep our skills up," said Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/FMF) Joseph Dennis of Bridgeport, Texas, the Gold Crew's independent duty corpsman (IDC). "As an IDC, exercises like this give me confidence in my crew's ability to operate in any emergency."

Freedom's crew also engaged in combat systems testing, running through a series of live-fire and tracking tests using the ship's Mk 110 57mm gun, as well as the 30mm guns of the ship's tailored Surface Warfare Mission Package.

While the testing schedule has been a rigorous one, Freedom's Sailors are confident that the ship will be ready for its upcoming journey.

"I really believe the training provided will make our senior crew ready for the challenges ahead and pay dividends while Freedom is on deployment," said West.

Freedom is the first ship of the revolutionary Littoral Combat Ship program, a fast, agile, mission-focused ship that demonstrates the latest in naval warfighting technology. The ship is specifically designed to defeat "anti-access" threats in shallow, coastal water regions, including fast surface craft, quiet diesel submarines, and mines.

Freedom's deployment will conclude later this year with a transit to her new homeport of San Diego.

USS Wayne E. Meyer Arrives in San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Martin

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, arrived at its new homeport in San Diego Dec. 4, where the ship will be stationed after transiting from the Bath Iron Works Shipyard in Bath, Maine.

"From Bath, Maine to here it took us about two months," said Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class (SW) Matthew Luke Willis. "We left Bath, Maine, on Sept. 25 and arrived here today."

During its transit, the ship stopped in Philadelphia, Rodman, Panama, and Manzanillo, Mexico.

"I am ecstatic right now!" said Kimberly Davis, wife of Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class Brackshea Davis. "I missed him so much and I am so glad they are here!"

Wayne E. Meyer is the 58th destroyer in her class and is named after Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer.

The ship also carries the 100th Aegis combat system; an advanced command and control, weapons control system which powerful computers and radars use to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

Meyer will provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the seas and humanitarian /disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the nation's maritime strategy when forward deployed.

USS Wayne E. Meyer to Homeport in San Diego

Crew members man-the-rails during the commissioning ceremony of the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst/Released)

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, will arrive in San Diego Dec. 4 where the ship will be homeported after transiting from the Bath Iron Works Shipyard in Bath, Maine.

The new destroyer, under the command of Cmdr. Nick A. Sarap, was commissioned in Philadelphia and placed into active service on the Delaware River Oct. 10. The ship is the 58th destroyer in its class carrying the 100th Aegis combat system; an advanced command and control, and weapon control system that uses powerful computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets.

Meyer honors retired Navy Rear Adm. Wayne E. Meyer who led the development of the Aegis combat system for the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers.

In 1963, the secretary of the Navy chose Meyer to lead a special Navy Task Force for Surface Missile Systems. Meyer turned down a destroyer command to continue his work with missile, radar and fire control systems, and became the founding chief engineer at the Naval Ship Missile System Engineering Station, Port Hueneme, Calif. In this position, Meyer was promoted to rear admiral in January 1975.

In January 1977, he assumed duties as the founding project manager of the Aegis Shipbuilding Project. This project was ultimately responsible for the construction of all of the Navy's current cruisers and destroyers – with 89 ships built or in construction, and more in planning. This is one of the longest and largest naval shipbuilding programs in history. He retired from active duty in 1985.

Meyer will provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the nation's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

USS Sentry Moves to San Diego

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Mike Leporati, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Sentry (MCM 3) arrived at its new homeport, Naval Base San Diego Sept. 9, as part of a homeport change from Naval Station (NS) Ingleside, Texas.

Sentry is the last of eight mine countermeasure ships (MCM) to arrive from NS Ingleside. The movement of the MCM's are in accordance with the Defense Base Relocation and Closure Commission's directed closure of the base by April 2010. The departure continues the consolidation of mine warfare surface assets in one location to align resources, consolidate expertise and increase cost-savings in maintenance, training and operations.

"It's really great to be in San Diego," said Lt. Cmdr. Hans E. Lynch, Sentry commanding officer, Crew Swerve.

Sentry's 76-man crew left NS Ingleside on May 20 and spent four months traveling through the southern United States and Central America.

"It was a long trip for the crew," said Lynch. "We traveled through the Panama Canal and we trained with the Canadian navy off the coast of Mazatlan. So this is great to get back together with their families."

Brandie Sievers waited with her two children for her husband Engineman 1st Class Casey Sievers in a mass of woman and children.

As Sentry approached the pier Sievers turned to her children and said, "Look there's you're daddy's ship."

"We are very close-knit because we're part of a smaller command. We're like a family and we communicate better than if we were on a bigger ship," Sievers explained.

Sentry belongs to Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron (COMCMRON) 2, with seven other mine sweepers which include USS Warrior (MCM 10) and USS Chief (MCM 14) who arrived in April and May.

"Moving to San Diego is going to be a benefit because the weather is more conducive to our training and we'll have much greater access to repair facilities and technical assists," said Lynch.

MCM ships possess the ability to effectively control, shape and dominate the littoral operational area which includes locating and neutralizing mines. The merger between naval mine warfare and anit-submarine warfare is the latest step towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these warfare capabilities, resources and technology functions.

Sentry helps provide deterrence, promote peace and security, and preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50 million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.

Final Mine Countermeasure Ship To Arrive in San Diego

Sentry (front) and USS Kingfisher (MHC-56)

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Sentry (MCM 3), the final of eight mine countermeasure ships (MCM), is scheduled to arrive to its new homeport at Naval Base San Diego the second week of September after transiting from Ingleside, Texas.

Sentry is part of Commander, Mine Countermeasures Squadron (COMCMRON) 2. USS Champion (MCM 4), USS Devastator (MCM 6), USS Pioneer (MCM 9), USS Warrior (MCM 10) and USS Chief (MCM 14) arrived in San Diego in April and May. USS Defender (MCM 2) and USS Avenger (MCM 1) were heavy lifted to Japan for deployments in the western Pacific in June.

COMCMRON 2 is the squadron commander for all mine countermeasure ships in San Diego. The relocation of mine warfare surface assets from Ingleside, Texas, to San Diego is in accordance with the Defense Base Relocation and Closure Commission's (BRAC) directed closure of Naval Station Ingleside and is part of the consolidation to align resources, consolidate expertise and increase cost savings in maintenance, training and operations.

Naval Mine and Anti-submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC) based in San Diego will oversee the mission of the MCMs. NMAWC focuses efforts across numerous resource sponsors, systems commands, research laboratories, training organizations and operational commands to ensure Navy-wide competency in the naval mine warfare (MIW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission areas.

MCM ships possess the ability to effectively control, shape and dominate the littoral operational area which includes locating and neutralizing mines. The merger between naval MIW and ASW is the latest step towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these warfare capabilities, resources and technology functions.

Sentry helps provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50 million square mile area of responsibility in the eastern Pacific as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.