USS Porter Conducts First SeaRAM Firing from DDG

By Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems Public Affairs 

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Sailors of USS Porter (DDG 78), a guided-missile destroyer stationed in Rota, Spain, successfully completed a live-fire test from a SeaRAM missile system March 4.

 SeaRAM, which replaced Porter's aft Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) mount, is a self-contained detect-to-engage ship self-defense capability that combines the sensor systems of a CIWS with an 11-round Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher.

 "The addition of this advanced weapon system to Porter's arsenal is extremely welcome," said Cmdr. Andria Slough, USS Porter's commanding officer. "It is a culmination of the cooperation of several program offices and agencies, both at sea and ashore, ensuring that out here on the front lines, we receive the capabilities we need, when we need them."

 The SeaRAM installation aboard Porter took place as a response to a formal Urgent Operational Need for forward-deployed naval forces in Europe. Porter is the first of four DDGs to receive the Mk 15 SeaRAM Missile System equipped with enhanced capability RAM Block 2 missiles.

 Additionally, the live-fire Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trial (CSSQT) represented the first cooperative effort between NAVSEA agencies and El Arenosillo Test Range off the coast of Huelva, Spain. The success of this CSSQT concluded a year's worth of ground-breaking effort for the engineering and acquisition professionals at NAVSEA.

 "This team was able to go from white paper concept to live-fire testing in 12 months," said Rear Adm. Jon Hill, of Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS). "Our weapons, ship integration, and testing experts coordinated across a number of commands and organizations to identify assets, execute critical engineering requirements, deliver equipment, complete system installation, and conduct testing on a foreign test range ... all in record time; professionally and with the urgency of meeting a critical warfighting need."

 PEO IWS is an affiliated Program Executive Office of the Naval Sea Systems Command. PEO IWS is responsible for spearheading surface ship and submarine combat technologies and systems, and for implementing Navy enterprise solutions across ship platforms.

USS Porter Enters Gulf of Aden, Joins CTF 151

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alex R. Forster, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) arrived in the Gulf of Aden, April 8, to join with Combined Maritime Forces, Combined Task Force (CTF) 151.

CTF 151, a multi-national, mission-based task force based in Bahrain, conducts counter-piracy operations in the Southern Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.

"This is important work out here," said Cmdr. Martin F. Arriola, USS Porter commanding officer. "The nature of our potential missions here requires Porter to be ready at all times."

Porter will collaborate with the other ships operating under CTF 151 to disrupt and prevent piracy along the shipping lanes, enhancing security and stability in the region.

USS Porter Completes Live-Fire Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jesse L. Gonzalez, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS PORTER, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) successfully completed a live-fire exercise of its entire array of gun weapon systems while underway conducting its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Jan. 17.

Porter fired 47 blank load and powder rounds plus three illumination rounds from the MK-45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun at a moving target that was approximately four nautical miles away, said Ensign Lauren M. Chatmas, the ship's ordnance officer.

Porter also successfully fired 55 rounds from the MK-38 25mm machine gun, 300 rounds from the M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 600 rounds from the M240 machine guns and 200 rounds from the MK-15 20mm close-in weapons system (CIWS), said Chatmas.

"Each station is manned by a number of qualified individuals," said Chatmas. "For the M240 machine guns, .50 caliber machine guns and the MK-38 25mm machine gun, there is at least two Sailors per station."

According to Chatmas, most Sailors assigned to the gun mounts are gunner's mates and fire controlmen, but there are also some other qualified rates, such as sonar technician (surface). The MK-45 5-inch/54 caliber lightweight gun typically requires four gunner's mates to man the gun control computers and other equipment, as well as a crew of Sailors in the projectile magazine to reload the weapon if necessary, said Chatmas.

"There is also a fire controlman stationed in combat at the Mk-46 Optical Sight System to visually lock on a target," said Chatmas. "We currently have six crew-served weapons mounts that have weapons on them, and more mounts that will be armed and manned while on deployment."

Live-fire training events are important to improve crew proficiency at countering smaller sized, asymmetric threats. The maneuverability of the NAVAIR remote-controlled targets and having the ship moving at 15 knots presents a more realistic and challenging training opportunity, said Cmdr. Martin F. Arriola, Porter's commanding officer.

"For the Sailors, the immediate feedback of seeing rounds impact maneuvering targets is immeasurably important and builds tremendous confidence," said Arriola.

Arriola said the importance of well-trained Sailors is critical to the successful completion of any mission. The ability to repeatedly and successfully execute tasking when the call comes is probably the most valuable outcome of any training.

"I am proud to serve with the men and women that make up "Team Porter" because they are professionals of the highest caliber who have proven time and time again that they are ready for any challenge," said Arriola.

USS Porter Sets Sail for the Arctic and the Future

By Bob Freeman, Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- In response to an invitation from the Canadian government, USS Porter (DDG-78) and a Navy P-3 maritime patrol aircraft are headed north to join the Canadian navy in its annual Arctic military exercise, Operation Natsiq.

U.S. Coast Guard and Danish naval assets are also joining the exercise.

"This is a clear indication of the spirit of cooperation that exists between Arctic nations," said Rea Adm. David Titley, Oceanographer of the Navy and director of Task Force Climate Change.

Several high-level policy documents have prompted U.S. Navy interest in the Arctic, including the National Arctic Policy (National Security Presidential Directive-66/Homeland Security Presidential Directive-25), which states that the U.S. has "broad and fundamental national security interests in the Arctic region."
The need for a naval presence in the Arctic is further supported by the nation's Maritime Strategy, the Congressionally-mandated Quadrennial Defense Review, and the Navy's Arctic Roadmap, released last November.

"Some people forget that the Arctic is largely ocean," said Capt. Tim Gallaudet, deputy director of the Task Force. "The Navy has the same responsibilities there as in any other maritime domain."

"After years of record decreases in both ice coverage and ice thickness, it is clear that the Arctic Ocean is becoming more accessible to human activity," said Titley. He mentioned that the two primary sea lanes around the Arctic, the Northwest Passage (along the Canadian and Alaskan coasts) and Northeast Passage (along the Russian coast) were both navigable in 2008 for the first time in recorded history.

Sea routes across the pole can save thousands of miles of transit time with significant fuel savings, and will become an increasingly attractive option for commercial shipping. The open water also allows access to massive oil, gas, and mineral reserves in the sea bed.

"During the second half of this century the Bering Strait could take on strategic significance for oil shipping, like the Strait of Hormuz, as well as for general trade, like the Strait of Malacca," Titley noted.

Despite the melting sea ice, shrinking ice fields, and increased temperatures, the Arctic remains a very challenging environment.

"The Arctic thaws in late summer, but freezes over again every winter, and we think that will continue throughout this century," said Gallaudet. "An increasing number of climate scientists predict that we will likely see the Arctic Ocean basically ice-free for several weeks each year as soon as 20 to 30 years froms now."

This buys the Navy some time to prepare. The Arctic Roadmap recommends increased training missions in the high latitudes to prepare for probable future mission requirements. This will build a cadre of sailors experienced in polar waters, and help determine operational shortfalls.

"The Arctic environment can be very challenging for surface ships," Gallaudet noted. "Aside from the threat of drifting icebergs, surface ships must worry about freezing spray covering exposed weapons and sensors and changing the stability of the ship, proper foul weather gear for the crew, challenged communications, and the lack of logistics, medical support, and search and rescue assets in such a remote part of the world," he said.

Operation Natsiq will give the crew of USS Porter an opportunity to get some experience in the far north, and help mission planners determine what future polar operations will require. It will also help build essential relations with some of our Arctic partners.

"Partnerships will help us prepare for these new challenges more effectively and with less cost," Titley said. "That includes partnerships with federal agencies like the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA, and also with other nations."

"In the Arctic," he added, "harsh environmental conditions are a common enemy."

Joint Warrior Task Force Exercises Air Defense

By Lt. Cmdr. Julie Ann Ripley, Commander Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

SCOTLAND (NNS) -- A coalition-forces task unit including USS Porter (DDG 78) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) continued their participation in exercise Joint Warrior (JW) with an anti-air warfare (AAW) exercise May 18.

"The AAW training received during Joint Warrior is far more realistic than anything encountered during our usual workup cycle," stated Arleigh Burke Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Brian Moum. "The ability to use real aircraft to stimulate radar, generate threat emissions or jamming, and actually respond to radio queries was outstanding training for my watch teams. Since it is all real, my inside-the-lifeline training teams can focus on watch team response instead of having to run our various simulators, allowing much more focused attention and learning."

In a scenario lasting throughout the day, both vessels were attacked by multiple opposing MiG-29 Fulcrum aircraft and missiles. Arleigh Burke had been conducting counterpiracy operations and Porter was in transit. The ships fought in self-defense with Arleigh Burke destroying eight aircraft. Porter, who continued to fall under attack into the afternoon, defeated multiple missiles and one MiG-29. There was no "damage" to any coalition vessel.

"The myriad of live threats and targets executed in a robust and complex scenario provided a degree of realism far exceeding our expectations," said Moum.
"For example, we have conducted defense against small boat attacks numerous times, but never with the fidelity provided by JTEPS and the boat crews we met here. This event allowed my watchteams to execute real responses against real threats, all in a training environment. As a result, we are more than prepared to execute tasking in the real world throughout our deployment."

Lt. John Cycyk was on watch in the Combat Information Center (CIC) when the aircraft came into Arleigh Burke's radar picture.

"We immediately contacted them and repeatedly queried before taking any defensive action," said Cycyk. "The last course of action we wanted to take was the use of deadly force. It was only after they fired on us that we were forced to defend ourselves."

The realistic training provided during JW exercises changes the usual playing field.

"The air defense training helped us refine our responses and work on our battle rhythm and our cadence," said Lt. Cmdr. Ty Biggs, operations officer aboard Porter. "Orders were issued and the right people followed them. There was excellent teamwork training between the bridge and combat, and we matched real world electronic pictures in combat with visuals from the bridge. Air defense tactics have to be developed and mastered, so we can be ready for national tasking when we deploy.

"Working with NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) gives us a different mindset. NATO operates differently from what we're used to. Rules and regulations are different, but the basic safety is the same. We are training in [geographic] areas that most of the crew is unfamiliar with. This training helps us improve our process," Biggs added.

Exercise Joint Warrior is a two-week evolution incorporating four U.S. Navy ships and a host of allied nations. While all aspects of warfare training were utilized during JW, the evolution focused more heavily on Fleet Irregular Warfare Training (FIWT) in non-traditional warfare areas, such as counter piracy and theater security.

Porter Participates in Low, Slow Flyer Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Tyler J. Wilson, Commander Destroyer Squadron 24 Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Crew members aboard USS Porter (DDG 78) participated in a low, slow flyer exercise March 12, during a Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24 Group Sail in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Group Sail's primary function is to augment the strike group's abilities to execute U.S. Navy maritime strategy. It is a precursor to the upcoming joint warrior exercise that will encompass thorough training in less traditional areas, like counter-piracy and theater security.

"This exercise gives us a chance to check our procedures when it comes to battling nontraditional threats," said Chief Fire Controlman (SW) Chris Hutter. "It also gives the new guys on board the ability to learn how we handle the low, slow flyer incidents."

On the weather decks, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Jordan Simmons, a member of the ship's Small Caliber Attack Team (SCAT), prepared the .50-caliber guns to simulate attacking the slow, low flyer, in case the 5-inch gun failed or missed.

"When it comes to the .50-caliber guns we're the ship's last line of defense," said Simmons. "The SCAT has only minutes to suit up with a phone-talker and a gunner at each station and prepare to engage the aircraft if necessary."

Before the SCAT was even called, Simmons ensured that the ship's weapons were clean, loaded, and ready for anything.

"It's my job to make sure the weapons are ready for action at any time," said Simmons. "Whether we're dealing with low, slow fliers, helicopters, or small boats, we need our close-quarters weapons to be ready to fight."

During the exercise, the 5-inch gun, mounted on the bow of the ship, succeeded in hitting the target. Crew members participating in the evolution received praise for their precision and proper execution.

"The training was very positive to all involved," said Hutter. "As we prepare to deploy in an area where non-traditional threats exist, we'll rely on our training."

USS Porter Visits Mombassa

The guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) stands watch in the Indian Ocean. Porter is conducting Maritime Operations (MO) in the 5th Fleet area of operations with the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser)

By Lt. Jim Hoeft, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MOMBASSA, Kenya (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) departed Mombassa Oct. 19 after a port visit that aimed to continue developing a bilateral partnership.

Porter's port call to Mombasa is the first visit of a U.S. Navy ship to the port city since guided-missile destroyer USS Gonzalez (DDG 66) in 2005 and only the third ship visit since 1999.

“I couldn’t be more pleased over the visit to the port of Mombassa,” said Porter’s Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Robert Hall. “I spent several days meeting key leadership and discussed our ongoing cooperation to improve stability in the region. Our entire crew enjoyed Mombasa’s rich culture.”

Based in Norfolk, Porter has been supporting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the region since arriving in early September. Coalition maritime forces operate throughout international waters in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely.