Logistics Group Western Pacific News

The U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) began Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Malaysia 2019 marked by an opening ceremony at Lumut Naval Base, Aug. 14.MTA Malaysia 2019 is a continuation of 25 years of maritime engagements between the U.S. Navy and Royal Malaysian Navy serving to enhance mutual capabilities in ensuring maritime security and stability.The Pacific Area commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, Vice Adm. Linda Fagan, said that working alongside the U.S. Navy and international partners in this exercise is an important part of their mission in the Indo-Pacific.

“While replenishments-at-sea are routine, astern refueling is unique and requires precise navigation and coordination,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Ileto, fleet replenishment scheduler for Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific. An astern replenishment-at-sea was conducted by Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship Pioneer and Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4) in waters south of Japan, August 24. During normal replenishment evolutions, ships fueled at sea typically connect to each other alongside.

USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO-199), a Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler, has completed a fueling evolution at-sea with the U.S. flagged tanker Maersk Peary in international waters off the coast of Sasebo, Japan, October 22., the U.S. Navy said. According to the Navy, the four-day training event marked just the second time in the last 15 years that a U.S. Navy tanker has conducted fueling operations at-sea with a commercial vessel. Under a long-term charter to MSC…

Vice Adm. Nora Tyson relieved Vice Adm. Kenny Floyd as commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet during a change of command and retirement ceremony held on Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) while pierside at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego July 24. During the ceremony, Floyd retired from active duty after 35 years of honorable naval service. He assumed command of U.S. 3rd Fleet in May 2013. Under Floyd's strategic vision, 3rd Fleet expanded its influence and contributions across all maritime lines of operations, theater security cooperation, experimentation, disaster relief, and joint operations. At sea, Floyd served in several F-14 Tomcat fighter aircraft squadrons…

The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy completed the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore after 11 days of comprehensive training both at sea and ashore, July 24. CARAT Singapore featured a series of dynamic training engagements including a five-day sea phase involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both countries. "Having arrived in Southeast Asia in 2012, this was my third time participating in CARAT Singapore and each year, the exercise gets better and better," said Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and co-commander of the exercise task group. Building on CARAT's emphasis of increasing the complexity of combined scenarios each year…

The annual Surface Navy Association (SNA) West Coast Symposium was held on the waterfront at Naval Station San Diego on July 16, and provided attendees an update on some key operational and career developments important to the surface warfare community. Capt. Mark Johnson, president of the SNA San Diego Chapter, was the host and master of ceremonies for the symposium. Capt. Warren Buller, commander of LCS Squadron 1, provided a comprehensive update on the LCS program, to include a detailed summary of the status of mission package development.

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus visits the littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Freedom on its maiden SE Asia deployment. Mabus, the 75th SECNAV, delivered remarks on the flight deck of Freedom to more than 200 foreign dignitaries and representatives from 26 countries, U.S. citizens in Singapore, and Sailors. Mabus' remarks focused on the Navy's longstanding presence in Southeast Asia and highlighted the new role of littoral combat ships to work with regional navies and promote shared interests.

The U.S. 7th Fleet Commander expressed regret over the grounding of 'USS Guardian' on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea. "As a protector of the sea and a sailor myself, I greatly regret any damage this incident has caused to the Tubbataha Reef," said Vice Adm. Scott Swift. "We know the significance of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and its importance as a World Heritage Site. Swift also announced that Rear Adm. Thomas Carney, Commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific, will take over on Jan. 21 as the on-scene commander to oversee the Guardian recovery operations.

Navy Capt. Charles Denman speaks during a change of command ceremony March 26 in Singapore. Denman took command of Sealift Logistics Command, Far East from Navy Capt. Jim Romano who will move on to MSC headquarters in Washington, D.C. Military Sealift Command’s leadership in the Far East changed hands March 26 when Navy Capt. Charles C. “Chip” Denman relieved Navy Capt. Jim O. Romano as commander of Singapore-based Sealift Logistics Command, Far East. SEALOGFE, whose mission is to safely and efficiently operate MSC-controlled ships to provide services in support of U.S.

The seventh annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise began in , Aug. 18. Designed to focus information sharing, cooperation and coordination, SEACAT brings six countries together for simultaneous bilateral exercises with the . The multifaceted exercises present participants with realistic situations involving criminal and terrorist threats requiring international coordination, communication and decision-making. SEACAT also provides participants with practical maritime interception training opportunities to enhance the maritime security and interoperability of the participating forces. USS Tortuga (LSD 46) is serving as an information fusion center for the various liaison officers from , , , and . Indonesian observers are also on board. Capt. Michael W.

Military Sealift Command dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS Richard E. Byrd entered the waters of the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, marking the first Lewis and Clark-class multi-product combat logistics support ship in service to the 52 million-square-mile region. Byrd replaces MSC combat stores ship USNS Niagara Falls, which has been forward deployed supporting 7th Fleet since 1994. Though the entry into the fleet’s territorial waters was unceremonious, it signals a significant change for Logistics Group Western Pacific, also know as Commander Task Force 73, which will operationally control the ship while in theater. The 689-ft.-long underway replenishment vessel…

USNS Amelia Earhart, the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships owned and operated by Military Sealift Command (MSC), was launched April 6 during a nighttime ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego. The 689-ft. ship, designated T-AKE 6, slid into the water for the first time with red, white and blue streamers flowing from its bow and fireworks lighting the sky overhead. Among the nearly 1,000 people present at the event were U.S. Rep. Susan Davis of , MSC Commander Rear Adm. Robert Reilly Jr. and Logistics Group Western Pacific Commander Rear Adm. Nora Tyson. "Being able to refuel at sea is essential to our Navy's ability to be forward deployed and remain strong in our global endeavors," said .

Military Sealift Command's Singapore-based Sealift Logistics Command Far East changed leadership as Navy Capt. Jim Romano relieved Navy Capt. Susan Dunlap. The change of command ceremony, held near SEALOGFE's headquarters office at Sembawang Wharves, was the command's first since it moved to its current location from Japan in July 2006. Dunlap, SEALOGFE's first Singapore-based commodore, led the charge to establish a permanent MSC footprint on the city-state island nation. SEALOGFE operates an average of 50 ships in the eastern Pacific and Indian oceans, delivering fuel and supplies to U.S. Navy forces at sea, transporting military cargo between ports, responding to humanitarian crises and conducting other special operations.

Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn relieved Rear Adm. D.C. Curtis as Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, (SURFLANT) Feb. 22, during a ceremony aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) at Naval Station Norfolk. The ceremony marked the end of a successful tour for Curtis, a native of Chicago, who made priorities of warfighting readiness, the Navy of the future, and personnel readiness. During his tour, he oversaw the continued development of the Surface Warfare Enterprise. As the Enterprise's chief readiness officer, Curtis led the establishment of eight Surface Force Class Squadrons (CLASSRONs) responsible for manning, training, equipping, maintaining, and sustaining ships by class for the entire force.

U.S. aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk docked at Singapore's new deep-draft naval pier on Thursday, the first giant American warship to use the facility. The pier, at Singapore's Changi Naval Base, is one of only two in the region large enough to berth a carrier. The other is at Port Klang in Malaysia. The pier will help speed up re-supply of large warships and improve mission turnarounds, said Rear-Admiral Mark J. Edwards, who heads the Logistics Group, Western Pacific. "This is very important as our deployment schedules are ever-changing," Edwards said. Singapore, at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, was also a strategic location for the U.S. Navy, he said. Admiral Vern Clark, chief of U.S.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Sailors from Mobile Security Squadron (MSS) 7, Det. 72, demonstrated U.S. Navy small boat tactics to the Indonesian Navy’s Kopaska Pasukan Katak (Frogman Force) here July 22 as part of a series of events for MSS 7 and their counterparts prior to the Indonesia phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). The small boat tactics demonstration consisted of classroom lectures followed by hands-on demonstrations in two rigid hulled inflatable boats (RHIB). Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SW) Nathan Ryan and Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Christopher White opened the classroom session with a brief on boat maneuvers, which included techniques for clearing choke points and setting security zones with small boats.

A crew member of the Royal Thai Navy Ship HTMS Similan (187) renders a bugle salute to the guided-missile frigate USS Jarrett (FFG 33) as it arrives in port for the Thailand phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asia nations designed to enhance interoperability of the respective sea services. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Thomas J. By Lt. When Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen put forth the bold concept of a '1,000-ship navy,' he envisioned the U.S. and other navies worldwide joining in regional partnerships to improve maritime security and the sharing of information.

Amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) leads a formation of ships during a photo exercise near Guam. Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group consists of Amphibious Squadron 7, USS Bonhomme Richard, amphibious transport dock USS Denver (LPD 9), dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47), guided missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69), guided missile destroyer USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), guided missile cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), and 2,200 combat ready Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. U.S. USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR), USS Denver (LPD 9), and USS Rushmore (LSD 47) departed Singapore on May 12 after a three-day port visit.