USS Ingraham Returns from Deployment

By Ens. Todd B. Chen, USS Ingraham Public Affairs

USS INGRAHAM, At sea (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) will return to Everett, Wash., April 10 following an independent seven-month deployment in the U.S. 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AOR).

In addition to the more than 180 Sailors on board, Ingraham will arrive with nearly 30 Tigers, friends and family of the crew who embarked Ingraham during her last deployment stop in Pearl Harbor.

"As we return home we can look back with a great deal of pride upon a very diverse and successfully-completed set of missions." said Ingraham's Commanding Officer Cmdr. Adam J. Welter. "It's a real testament to the quality of training and professionalism of the crew that we could jump from disaster relief in Samoa to security operations in the Red Sea to engagements with foreign navies and heads of state and excel at each task. The continued support of our friends and families from home is a huge factor in our deployed success. Their support allows us to focus on our mission and go forward with confidence. It also makes the return home something special; we're all looking forward to being with our families again."

The Easy Riders of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 37 Det. Two from Hawaii, served as Ingraham's air component.

While deployed to 5th fleet AOR, Ingraham deterred smuggling and piracy as well as provided aid to local fisherman in the Red Sea by conducting Approach and Assist Visits in direct support of Commander Task Force 51 Struggle Against Violent Extremists and Pulse Of Life operations. Additionally, Ingraham conducted a critical and high visibility operation involving the escort of two newly built Iraqi patrol ships from the Suez Canal to Iraqi territorial waters.

"One of our primary missions during this deployment was to maintain a presence in the Red Sea," said Lt. Austin Duff, Ingraham's operations officer. "Our mission showed our commitment to maintain stability and protect the economic livelihood of our friends and allies in the region. The interaction with local fishermen was great; they appreciate and understand how our presence contributes to security in the region."

While in 3rd and 7th Fleet AORs, Ingraham engaged in Theater Security Cooperation by conducting numerous port visits, which included stops in countries of Tahiti, Maldives, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Singapore. In addition to participating in community relations events, Ingraham's crew engaged in military-to-military exchanges with foreign navy Sailors and executed joint exercises at sea.

"My challenge to the crew was to exceed our commanders' expectations in every task we were assigned and our Sailors ran with that concept," said Welter. "Based upon the feedback from each of the fleet and task force commanders to which we were assigned, Ingraham met my challenge. I am very proud of the way our crew performed as professional Sailors, technical experts, trainers, and ambassadors around the world."

Although proud of accomplishing their missions, the crew is looking forward to the homecoming.

"Just knowing that we made it through seven months of deployment and left it all out there on the field makes homecoming that much sweeter," said Navy Career Counselor 1st Class (SW) John Oliveira. "I can't wait to see my family on the pier and words can't describe how much I miss them."

Ingraham 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 nation's maritime strategy when forward deployed.

United States Navy Ship Ingraham Arriving in Bangladesh

By Ensign Todd B. Chen, USS Ingraham Public Affairs

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG-61) will conduct a port call in Chittagong, Bangladesh March 1-3. This is the first time Ingraham has visited Bangladesh.

During the port call, the crew will participate in various local cultural activities, professional military-to-military exchanges with the Bangladesh Navy and community service projects as coordinated by the U.S. Embassy.

"Bangladesh is preparing to launch its ship-based helicopter program, and USS Ingraham will have the opportunity to train with the Bangladesh Navy Sailors and pilots who will be responsible for operating helicopters on their ships," said Cmdr. Adam J. Welter, Ingraham's commanding officer. "One of the best aspects of what we do is working along side our international counterparts, getting to know Sailors from around the world and seeing where they live and how they operate and sharing with them how we operate. The whole crew is looking forward to this visit and the valuable opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the U.S. Navy and the Bangladeshi military."

This visit is the latest in a series of port calls by U.S. Navy ships and demonstrates the United States Government's commitment to Bangladesh and to regional security by relationships throughout Asia and the Pacific.

USS Ingraham Successfully Concludes SRA with Sea Trials

By Ensign Todd B. Chen, USS Ingraham Public Affairs


EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- USS Ingraham (FFG 61) and her crew completed sea trials Sept. 11 as part of the last stage of the ship's three-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) period.

Ingraham went to sea to assess the ship's material readiness and to check equipment serviced during SRA. The purpose of sea trials is to ensure that ships have the capacity to rejoin the fleet as a fully operational unit.

"Sea trials are an opportunity to take the ship out for some fresh air and get a feel for her again," said Chief Warrant Officer Michael Sparling, Ingraham's SRA coordinator. "It gives the crew the chance to get reacquainted with the ship and check out equipment and systems which haven't been used since the last underway."

Among the major equipment tested during sea trials were the gas turbine engines and the ship's service diesel generators, which went through various repairs and tunings during the previous months.

"Our mission is to complete SRA and sea trials as expeditiously and as safe as possible", said Chief Petty Officer Michael Moran.

The ship's crew also performed other important evolutions, such as testing the anchor and the small boat davit, that helped Ingraham Sailors regain proficiency lost during the extended time in port.

"Sailors want to be at sea. No one truly enjoys the yard period," said Lt. Brian Hamel, Ingraham's chief engineer. "We look forward to getting back to business."

Cmdr. Matthew Ovios, commanding officer of Ingraham, was pleased with the overall results from the SRA period.

"An industrial maintenance period is crucial to keeping our ships ready for tasking, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Todd Shipyard, and their sub-contractors did a good job of refurbishing and repairing a number of vital systems and ensuring that all jobs were completed on schedule. But I am extremely happy to be underway again, and I think the crew feels the same way."