Navy Reestablishes U.S. Fourth Fleet
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its first commander. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and and the surrounding waters. Located in , , and dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), 4th Fleet reestablishment addresses the increased role of maritime forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus, and demonstrates commitment to regional partners.
USS Pearl Harbor Arrives in Panama
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Alexia M. USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) arrived in Vasco Nunez de Balboa on Aug. 25 after completing a series of theater security cooperation events with Central American partner nations during Partnership of the Americas (POA) 2007. While in Panama, Pearl Harbor and other POA units participated in a joint and multinational training Exercise, PANAMAX 2007, tailored to the defense and security of the Panama Canal. “PANAMAX provides realistic training opportunities for forces operating in multinational environments,” said Cmdr. Victor Cooper, Pearl Harbor commanding officer. Sea, ground and air force personnel and observers from 20 countries…
Brazilian Sub Visits Mayport on First Deployment to U.S.
Brazilian Navy submarine Tikuna (S 34) enters Mayport Basin during its first visit to a U.S. Navy base, sponsored by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO). NAVSO sponsors foreign military visits to promote relations with partner nations in Latin America to support Theater Security Cooperation. U.S. By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Brazilian submarine Tikuna (S 34) visited Mayport during its first deployment to a foreign country Aug. 3-13. Tikuna, homeported at Base Almirante Castro e Silva, Mocangue Island, near Rio de Janeiro, deployed from Brazil on May 27 to participate in several training exercises. Units from Canada, England, France and Peru worked together with Tikuna and the U.S. Navy to train in anti-submarine warfare.
Supplying Fuel, Keeping the Fleet Afloat
The Argentine supply ship ARA Patagonia (B 1) participates in exercises alongside dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) to mark the beginning of UNITAS. Navies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Spain and the United States are participating in UNITAS Atlantic 48-2007 from May 2-13 off the coast of Argentina. UNITAS is a combined South American- and U.S.-sponsored annual exercise that incorporates forces from several participating nations. Argentina is hosting this year’s Atlantic phase. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lenny M. By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Holly Boynton, U.S. Commander, Task Force Four Three (CTF 43) provided supply support to numerous U.S. and partner nation naval ships during a recent exercise off the coast of Argentina.
Global Fleet Station Pilot One Step Closer with Arrival of Swift
U.S. Navy High Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) enters Naval Station Mayport. Swift has two water jets that can move the ship to speeds greater than 45 knots and bring it into port without using tugboats. Swift pulled into Naval Station Mayport to prepare for its participation in the pilot program Global Fleet Station (GFS). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Patrick J. By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Cynthia Clark, Commander, U.S. Global Fleet Station (GFS) pilot deployment to the Caribbean is one step closer to starting, with the arrival of High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift at Naval Station Mayport, April 6. GFS pilot 2007 is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation implemented by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and carried out by HSV-2 SWIFT.
U.S. Navy, Colombian Sub Train Under DESI
Colombian Armada submarine A.R.C. Tayrona completed joint training with several U.S. Navy ships in early November, during a brief deployment under the Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) off the coast of Mayport. The DESI program, established in 2001, has engaged several diesel South American navies with submarines to provide a series of programmed stateside deployments. The goal is to support fleet training exercises and tactical development events. “Being able to train with Tayrona gives us the opportunity to improve our skills in sub-surface detection,” said Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr. He met with Cmdr. Herney Gutierrez, Tayrona’s commanding officer, during an office call at U.S.
