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.

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."