Southern Persian Gulf News

1944 - Task Force 58 begins bombing of Japanese airfields, shipping, fleet servicing facilities, and other installations at Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai in the Carolines. 1944 - USS Darter (SS 227) sinks a Japanese army cargo ship near New Guinea, despite the presence of an escort vessel. Also on this date, USS Picuda (SS 382) attacks a Japanese convoy and sinks a transport ship near Guam while USS Stingray (SS 186) sinks a transport ship near Saipan. 1953 - During the Korean War, five enemy guns in the Wonsan area fire about 20 rounds at USS Prichett (DD 561), falling about 150 yards short.

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Heather Weaver, USS Harry S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead visited the crew of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) April 15 to address Sailors deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO). Roughead is visiting the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) AOO to strengthen international maritime partnerships as part of the Navy's Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower and meet with regional leaders in an effort to increase dialogue and cooperation. During his visit to Harry S. Truman, Roughead took time to award three commendation medals as well as reenlist 38 Sailors. He also held an all-hands call for the crew.

Senior naval commanders, hailing from Bahrain, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, met at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) headquarters in Bahrain April 1 to review operations and exercises, as well as future opportunities to build the coalition. Hosted by CMF Commander, Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, and Deputy Commander, Royal Navy Commodore Keith Winstanley, the one-day conference included discussion of efforts to build a lawful maritime order and provide a safe environment for legitimate mariners to keep the flow of commerce in international waters open. "Coalition efforts build a lawful maritime order for regional security," said Winstanley. Opening the conference, Winstanley recognized three new liaison officers joining the coalition staff.

The guided missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) provided medical assistance to a Liberian cargo vessel while conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the southern Persian Gulf, March 30. Hawes received a distress call that morning from MV Harmony, a Liberian merchant cargo vessel. A crew member was having chest pains and shortness of breath, so Hawes changed course and increased speed to close the distance. Once Hawes was alongside the Harmony, the ship’s visit, board, search and seizure team boarded the vessel to render aid. “This was my first time with the boarding team,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Stephen Flores. Flores immediately checked the patient’s vitals and did a full examination, finding that the patient’s heart rate and blood pressure were extremely high.

Rear Adm. Allen G. Myers relieved Italian Navy Rear Adm. Emilio Foltzer as Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 commander Dec. 3 during a change of control ceremony aboard ITS Etna (A 5326). CTF 152 is responsible for conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the central and southern Persian Gulf. During the ceremony, Myers stressed the importance of regional maritime partnerships. “Between supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and continuing the mission of maritime security operations, cooperation with regional partners is imperative,” said Myers. Foltzer said he is confident CTF 152 will continue to make a positive impact on security and stability in the region under Myers’ supervision. “Today, CTF 152 returns back to the U.S. Navy under the sage leadership of [Rear] Adm.