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Ledet News

11 Sep 2023

Littoral Combat Ship USS Milwaukee Decommissioned

USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) has been decommissioned after less than eight years of naval service.The U.S. Navy has been scrapping its fleet of littoral combat ships—including both its Freedom and Independence variants. The latest to get the axe, USS Milwaukee, was decommissioned in Mayport, Fla. on September 8.During the ceremony guest speaker, Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink (USN, Ret), former chairman of Milwaukee’s commissioning committee wished…

29 Apr 2017

US Coast Guard Seizes $22.5 Mln of Cocaine

The Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Zephyr (PC 8), its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) personnel and coalition forces intercepted an immense amount of contraband while on patrol conducting Operation Martillo in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations April 19. Zephyr, along with Dutch Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel, pursued and boarded a small fishing vessel, called a panga, and interdicted 750 kilograms of cocaine with a total street value of $22.5 million. "Today's success was due to the high professionalism and cohesive integration of the Zephyr crew and USCG LEDET," said Lt. Cmdr. Cameron Ingram, Zephyr's commanding officer.

25 Feb 2015

U.S., Ghana Complete AMLEP 2015

U.S. and Ghanaian and maritime forces completed Africa Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership (AMLEP) 2015 operations, Feb. 24, 2015. The Military Sealift Command’s joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and an embarked combined law enforcement detachment (LEDET), working in tandem with Ghanaian navy’s Western Naval Command Maritime Operations Center (MOC) and patrol vessels, were able to detect three vessels that were violating Ghanaian maritime law and cite them for follow-on judicial action. The combined Ghana-U.S. efforts—another example of the Global Network of Navies—improves interoperability between both nations and helps deter illicit activity that threatens freedom and security in the global commons.

24 Nov 2014

CBP P-3 Disrupts Attempt to Smuggle cocaine

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine P-3 aircrew operating out of National Air Security Operations Center (NASOC)-Jacksonville, Florida, detected a suspicious vessel carrying more than 1,100 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $82.3 million. While patrolling the Pacific Ocean on Nov. 9 during a counter-drug mission, an aircrew aboard a P-3 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft spotted a high speed vessel moving through an area routinely used by drug smugglers. With the assistance of an additional CBP P-3 Long Range Tracker (LRT), OAM agents coordinated with the U.S. Navy to intercept the vessel. A U.S.

23 Oct 2013

Lost Vessel Rescued by U.S. Navy Ship

Guided-missile frigate USS Rentz (FFG 46) and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) conducted a Safety-of-Life-at-Sea operation rescue Oct. 20-21 for a fishing vessel, 200 nautical miles off the coast of Ecuador in distress and stranded for 10 days. The crew of the 14 meter vessel and four other small crafts in tow, had been without fuel or food prior to Rentz' arrival. The distressed vessel was spotted early Sunday morning, Oct. 20 by Rentz' forward lookouts, who reported the small craft roughly 6,000 yards forward of the ship's position. The ship swiftly responded and launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat to investigate the situation with embarked U.S. Coast Guard LEDET personnel.

06 Sep 2013

U.S. Navy, Coast Guard Participate in Joint Training

Sailors assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team 101 embark onto a rigid-hull inflatable boat during small boat operations aboard the guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51). Joint interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. Third Fleet's ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derek Stroop)

U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team (LEDET) 101 embarked and integrated with Sailors on the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) for training and anti-drug smuggling operations off the California coast, Aug. 26-29. "We are currently supporting counter-smuggling operations by providing law enforcement capabilities to Third Fleet Navy platforms in known drug and migrant transit corridors," said Coast Guard Chief Maritime Enforcement Specialist Chris Sinclair…

28 Apr 2011

This Day in U.S. Coast Guard History - April 28

1908- Secretary of Commerce and Labor was authorized to patrol regattas and transfer that authority to another Department if need be. Thus the Revenue Cutter Service became the primary federal agency that patrolled regattas. 1918- CGC Seneca saved 81 survivors from the torpedoed British naval sloop Cowslip while on convoy route to Gibraltar. Cowslip was attacked by three German U-boats. 1993-Coast Guard PACAREA LEDETs, operating from the USS Valley Forge and USSCleveland, boarded the St. Vincent-flagged 225-foot freighter Sea Chariot about 300 miles southwest of Panama. The boarding team discovered bales of cocaine in some of the containers aboard and then seized the vessel.

17 Sep 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History - September 17

1882-At 2: 30 a.m., during the prevalence of a strong southerly gale upon Lake Huron, the schooner, Colonel Hathaway, lying at the wharf at South Harrisville, MI was wrenched from her moorings and driven ashore. The morning was intensely dark and rain fell in torrents, but the schooner drove so far up on the beach that her crew of five men found no difficulty in saving themselves without aid. While drifting in, she collided with the schooner Garibaldi, she too broke adrift and drove ashore. The crew of this vessel, five in number, were equally fortunate in getting ashore without trouble. Word being sent about noon to the life-saving station at Sturgeon Point (No.

15 Sep 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – September 15

1944- Coast Guardsmen participated in the invasion of Morotai Island. 1948- After making a night-long high speed run to reach the hurricane-ridden Portuguese schooner Gasper some 300 miles off the southern tip of Newfoundland, USCGC Bibb launched two 20-man rubber lifeboats in heavy rain and seas to rescue 40 survivors and 1 dog from the doomed ship. 1958- A New Jersey Central passenger train plunged into Newark Bay through an open drawbridge, submerging two engines and two coaches. Coast Guard small craft and helicopters assisted in rescuing 43 survivors and recovering 29 bodies. 1995-Hurricane Marilyn made landfall, cutting a path of destruction across the U.S. Virgin Islands. GANTSEC Command Center coordinated the SAR efforts.

28 Apr 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – April 28

1908- Secretary of Commerce and Labor was authorized to patrol regattas and transfer that authority to another Department if need be. Thus the Revenue Cutter Service became the primary federal agency that patrolled regattas. 1918- CGC Seneca saved 81 survivors from the torpedoed British naval sloop Cowslip while on convoy route to Gibraltar. Cowslip was attacked by three German U-boats. 1993-Coast Guard PACAREA LEDETs, operating from the USS Valley Forge and USS Cleveland, boarded the St. Vincent-flagged 225-foot freighter Sea Chariot about 300 miles southwest of Panama. The boarding team discovered bales of cocaine in some of the containers aboard and then seized the vessel.

18 Feb 2010

Freedom’s Maiden Deployment

Photo courtesy U.S. Navy

The Navy's first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1), left Naval Station Mayport Feb. 16 for her maiden operational deployment to the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) areas of focus. During the independent deployment, Freedom will participate in counter-illicit trafficking (CIT) operations off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea. A U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) is embarked aboard Freedom to facilitate CIT operations.

17 Sep 2009

This Day in Coast Guard History – Sept. 17

1882-At 2: 30 a.m., during the prevalence of a strong southerly gale upon Lake Huron, the schooner, Colonel Hathaway, lying at the wharf at South Harrisville, MI was wrenched from her moorings and driven ashore. The morning was intensely dark and rain fell in torrents, but the schooner drove so far up on the beach that her crew of five men found no difficulty in saving themselves without aid. While drifting in, she collided with the schooner Garibaldi, she too broke adrift and drove ashore. The crew of this vessel, five in number, were equally fortunate in getting ashore without trouble. Word being sent about noon to the life-saving station at Sturgeon Point (No.

15 Sep 2009

This Day in Coast Guard History – Sept. 15

1944- Coast Guardsmen participated in the invasion of Morotai Island. 1948- After making a night-long high speed run to reach the hurricane-ridden Portuguese schooner Gasper some 300 miles off the southern tip of Newfoundland, USCGC Bibb launched two 20-man rubber lifeboats in heavy rain and seas to rescue 40 survivors and 1 dog from the doomed ship. 1958- A New Jersey Central passenger train plunged into Newark Bay through an open drawbridge, submerging two engines and two coaches. Coast Guard small craft and helicopters assisted in rescuing 43 survivors and recovering 29 bodies. 1995-Hurricane Marilyn made landfall, cutting a path of destruction across the U.S. Virgin Islands. GANTSEC Command Center coordinated the SAR efforts.

15 May 2009

CTF 151, First Suspected Pirate Capture

Ships from Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 prevented a piracy attack in the Gulf of Aden, which resulted in the apprehension of more than a dozen suspected pirates aboard an alleged mothership May 13. At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Republic of Korea Destroyer, ROKS Munmu the Great (DDG 976) and guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) responded to a distress call from the Egyptian-flagged Motor Vessel Amira, which reported being attacked approximately 75 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen.

24 Mar 2009

Suspected Pirates Apprehended

The guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64) apprehended six suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden on March 20 after responding to a distress call from two nearby merchant vessels. At approximately 4:30 a.m., the Philippines-flagged Motor Vessel Bison Express sent a distress call to all ships in the area reporting they were being pursued by a small skiff containing six heavily-armed suspected pirates. Gettysburg closed immediately on the motor vessel's location and intercepted a skiff matching the description given by the crew of the motor vessel.

13 Feb 2009

Coast Guard, Navy Apprehend Pirates

A Miami-based U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment operating as part of Combined Task Force 151 in the Gulf of Aden assisted in the apprehension of 16 suspected pirates in a 24 hour period. The eight-person LEDET 405 team is conducting counter-piracy operations aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and USS Mahan (DDG 72) as part of a multinational task force in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. "Our role is to augment and train U.S. Navy visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams," said Lt.j.g. Greg Ponzi, officer in charge of LEDET 405. On Feb.

22 Jan 2009

Navy, CG Train to Combat Piracy

On board USS San Antonio (LPD 17), Navy and Coast Guard boarding teams ,which are part of Combined Task Force 151, a multinational counterpiracy task force, train to ensure safe and successful operations in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Red Sea and Indian Ocean. "Our visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams will play a central role here, as will the ship's ability to survey the water and air space to search for suspected pirates," said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Kearns, San Antonio's executive officer. San Antonio has 14 Navy VBSS team members, which includes two Navy boarding officers. The Coast Guard personnel are members of Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 405. The detachment is comprised of eight members, all of whom are qualified as boarding officers.

17 Sep 2008

Navy, Coast Guard Capture Drug Sub

In this photo released by the U.S. Coast Guard, members of U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment 404 survey the deck of the self-propelled, semi-submersible craft seized Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, by the guided-missile frigate USS McInerney (FFG 8). The Coast Guard law enforcement officers, embarked aboard the McInerney, seized the estimated $187 million worth of cocaine during a night raid about 350 miles west of Guatemala.

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 , capturing four suspected narcotics smugglers from 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.

05 Jan 2001

Chouest Vessel Rescues 3 From GOM Waters

Three fishermen from Orange Beach, Ala. were rescued early Thursday morning from the frigid waters of the Gulf of Mexico, after their 46 ft. Bertram sportsfishing vessel sunk for unknown reasons. Temperatures were well below freezing, but luckily for the men C-CHARIOT, a 220-ft. offshore supply vessel owned and operated by Edison Chouest Offshore, happened to be located only a mile from their location when disaster struck. According to David Kent, the captain of the fishing vessel Cat Man Dex, a favorable weather report prompted their late night fishing expedition. At approximately 12:59 am, their engine room began to take on water for unknown reasons.

31 May 2006

Cutter Returns to Portsmouth, Va. After Patrol

The Coast Guard Cutter Bear will return to its homeport of Portsmouth after a 62-day patrol in the southern Caribbean. While underway, the crew conducted excercises with the a Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) in Mayport, Fla., where they trained in interdiction tactics. After the training, the crew steamed south to the Caribbean Basin, in an area known for narcotics trafficking. During 25 days of patrol in this area, a newly qualified watchstander on board spotted a small, fast-moving surface contact on the radar. The embarked HITRON helicopter launched and located a 40-ft. go-fast boat laden with narcotics and extra fuel drums. Before use-of-force tactics could be authorized, the go-fast headed back into territorial seas.

03 Nov 2003

Team Effort Thwarts Caribbean Smuggling Attempt

A joint British Navy and U.S. Coast Guard team stopped more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine from being smuggled through the Caribbean today. A British Navy aircraft, flying a routine patrol for Joint Interagency Task Force South, spotted a suspicious go-fast smuggling boat south of Haiti and a multi-unit pursuit ensued that was coordinated by the Coast Guard's Greater Antilles Section (GANTSEC), based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The HMS Manchester, A British Navy vessel with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET), was notified of the suspect vessel and diverted to intercept it. During the pursuit the smugglers ejected their contraband overboard and Manchester handed off the pursuit to a second British warship…

19 May 2006

Coast Guard Trains Iraqi Marines in Maritime Security Operations

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 102 is teaching Iraqi marines valuable skills that will help them protect Iraqi infrastructure and territorial waters in the future. Embarked aboard USS Ogden (LPD 5) in the North Persian Gulf as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158, the eight-man Coast Guard team routinely trains the Iraqi marine platoons in Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations through a series of almost daily staged events. “We are basically teaching them use of force, tactical procedures in terms of boarding ships and how to handle a large crew,” said Lt. j.g. Torrey Bertheau, officer in charge of LEDET 102. Each of the Iraqi marine platoons spend a week aboard Ogden and use the ship as a simulated oil tanker. U.S.