McInerney Sets Sail for Final Deployment

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sunday E. Williams, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast

MAYPORT, Fla (NNS) -- Family, friends and military gathered aboard Naval Station Mayport Oct. 5 to bid safe farewell to USS McInerney (FFG 8) as they set sail for their final deployment.

The McInerney will be the first gas turbine propelled ship to complete 30 years of service during their six-month deployment. All other ships of this kind have decommissioned prior to accomplishing this significant milestone.

According to McInerney's Command Master Chief, CMDCM (SW/AW/SCW) John T. Lawry this milestone pleases more than just the ship's current crew and the Navy.

"The pride I feel to have served on a warship with the history that McInerney possesses is indescribable. This ship was commissioned before anyone currently serving on her was in the Navy, and before many of her Sailors were even born. This accomplishment is a great testament to all who have sailed on her that this ship has performed at high levels for this long," said Lawry.

People not serving aboard McInerney felt that same pride about the ship's many years of success.

"I have watched this ship pull in and out of this harbor for years," said Neptune Beach local, "Buzz" Wilks. "I never get tired of watching ships leave full of Sailors, full of our country's angels setting out to serve, but nothing makes me happier than seeing them return home, and this one is going to come back having served this great country for 30 years. Now that's really something."

Lawry said the ship and its crew have many accomplishments, but he does have one that stands out.

"The accomplishments of any warship, let alone one with 30 years of service are so numerous and lengthy that I would do injustice trying to name them all. The accomplishment that stands out most to me during my tour would be the first capture of a SPSS (Drug Sub) by the crew while on deployment in 2008. Our combined efforts resulted in legislation being created to help stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States and its allies," said Lawry.

The SPSS or self-propelled semi-submersible vessel Lawry referred to was carrying an estimated $107 million worth of cocaine that never hit the streets of the United States. Lawry said it is always great to take part in something so significant but the goal of every deployment is always bigger, it's always about safety.

"If you asked me what the goal of the deployment is I would answer that it is to bring back everyone we left with to their families and loved ones. Everything else that we accomplish as a team just makes my job that much more satisfying – but our primary goal whether it's for deployment, or just for a day, is to bring everyone home safely in the same condition or better than when we left."

Lawry's pride goes beyond the accomplishments of the ship and of its future milestone; his pride is in the crew.

"It is hard to describe my feelings for this crew and the growth they have shown as a whole during my tour aboard. We have been faced with so many challenges in such a short time it's seriously mind boggling. Watching these young men work together and put aside differences to accomplish something that was a huge undertaking is especially gratifying. I am proud to serve as the command master chief of such a hard working and professional group of individuals all who strive to improve and grow on a daily basis."

As McInerney sets out to unknown obstacles and achievements, people walk away already awaiting their return.

USS McInerney Returns Home After Six-Month Counter-Drug Deployment

By Lt. Kelly Chufo, USS McInerney Public Affairs Officer



USS McInerney (FFG 8) and attached Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44 Detachment 8 returned home Oct. 5 after six-month counter-illicit trafficking deployment in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The highlight of the deployment came on Sept. 13, when the crew and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 404 captured a Self Propelled Semi-Submersible (SPSS) vessel containing seven tons of cocaine and four suspected illicit-traffickers. Throughout their deployment, McInerney intercepted 22 tons of cocaine.

McInerney left Mayport April 4 en route to the U.S. Southern Command area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America, and surrounding waters.

McInerney made its first port visit at the island of Roatan, Honduras. While in Honduras, crew members conducted a community relations project that brought fresh water to over 30 homes in La Colonia, Honduras. Sailors also donated two pallets of Project Handclasp materials to a local clinic. Through Project Handclasp, a worldwide humanitarian and goodwill program, the U.S> Navyt collects donations from various private-sector organizations and companies and delivers them to people in need.

While in Central and South America, McInerney made stops in Vasco Nunez de Balboa, Panama; Manta, Ecuador; Salaverry, Peru; Golfito, Costa Rica; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The ship's last port visit was in Cartagena, Colombia. In preparation for the stop, McInerney assembled an entire bridge watch team of Spanish speakers who navigated the ship into Cartagena giving commands only in Spanish.

"This was McInerney's final tribute to all the amazing people we met throughout Central and South America over the past six months and also a demonstration of our commitment to strong maritime ties with allies in the region," said Commanding Officer, Cmdr. C. K. Wheeler.

In addition to the community project in Honduras, McInerney's crew dedicated their liberty time to two other projects. While in Salaverry, Peru, McInerney painted two large dormitory buildings for a local orphanage, which serve as home and school for over 45 children. McInerney Sailors also gave their time, working in conjunction with Colombian Navy Sailors to paint and rehabilitate a local school in Cartagena, Colombia, and donated much needed school supplies to the school that teaches over 220 students daily.

McInerney Sailors achieved success on all levels, as a unit and individually. During the deployment, 78 Sailors earned their Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists (ESWS) pins.

While deployed, McInerney was under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) and U.S. 4th Fleet conducting counter illicit trafficking operations for Joint Interagency Task Force-South in the SOUTHCOM area of focus. Once the ship returned to Mayport, U.S. 2nd Fleet took over operational control.

NAVSO, the Naval Component Command of SOUTHCOM, directs U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interacts with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

USS McInerney, Coast Guard Bust Submarine Loaded With Cocaine

By Lt. Kelly Chufo, USS McInerney Public Affairs Officer
(US Navy Photo)

USS McInerney (FFG 8) and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 404 seized a submarine vessel carrying seven tons of cocaine off the coast of Guatemala Sept. 13.

In the early morning hours, McInerney and LEDET 404, in collaboration with Patrol Squadron (VP) 26's Combat Air Crew 12, successfully interdicted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel carrying an estimated $107 million worth of cocaine 350 miles east of Guatemala.

The 59-foot-long steel and fiberglass-hulled SPSS was detected by VP 26's P-3C Orion aircraft. The air crew vectored McInerney to a position near the illicit vessel. McInerney launched two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) with members of both McInerney's and LEDET 404's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams.

The suspects attempted to evade capture and drown any evidence of the operation but eventually complied to the boarding teams' instructions, allowing USS McInerney to capture the SPSS before it was scuttled.

After a full day of inventory and information gathering, four suspected illicit-traffickers and more than seven metric tons of cocaine were removed from the SPSS.

Information gathered during McInerney's interdiction, and other similar drug busts, help complete the mission of U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) to prevent trafficking of illicit drugs throughout the SOUTHCOM area of focus, which encompasses Central and South America, the Caribbean and surrounding waters.

McInerney, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is currently deployed under the operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO)/U.S. Fourth Fleet, conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations for Joint Interagency Task Force-South in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

As the naval component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.

USN/USCG Capture Drug-Running Semi-Submersible

The guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8) tows a self-propelled, semi-submersible craft seized Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 by Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404. The Coast Guard law enforcement officers, embarked aboard the McInerney, seized seven tons of cocaine during a night raid about 350 miles west of Guatemala. The seized vessel has the capability to travel from Ecuador to San Diego, Calif. McInerney, homeported in Mayport, Fla., is deployed in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Justin Cooper/Released)


Sailors from USS McInerney (FFG 8) and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404 (LEDET) intercepted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying seven tons of cocaine Sept. 13.

Sailors intercepted the 59-foot SPSS in a nighttime interdiction 350 miles off the coast of Guatemala, capturing four suspected narcotics smugglers from Colombia and the large cargo of cocaine before the SPSS could be scuttled.

An SPSS is capable of carrying 3-5 metric tons of cocaine and has no maritime use other than the covert transport of narcotics or other illegal goods. An SPSS is between 25-65 feet long, travel at speeds up to 13 knots, carry 4-5 crew members, and can travel up to 2,500 nautical miles without refueling. An SPSS is dangerous to capture since it is designed with valves that smugglers can use to quickly flood and sink the vessel, posing a risk to boarding teams attempting to capture it.

McInerney, homeported in Mayport, Fla., and the embarked LEDET 404 are currently deployed under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (NAVSO/4th FLT) conducting counter illicit trafficking operations for Joint Interagency Task Force-South in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of focus.

As the Naval Component Command of USSOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval Forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.

Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus.