Logistics Lauded As Lynchpin For Units Conducting Counterpiracy Ops

01.21.2009

Courtesy Story

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

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From Combined Task Force 151 Public Affairs

SAN ANTONIO, At Sea - The Navy's logistics and re-supply procedures help provide joint or combined force commanders flexible and agile maritime forces that can sustain afloat-based operations and a forward presence around the globe, including in the Gulf of Aden where Combined Task Force 151 is conducting counterpiracy operations.

"A Cooperative Strategy for 20th Century Seapower," a unified maritime strategy signed by the senior leaders of all the sea services states: "Operating forward enables familiarity with the environment, as well as the personalities and behavior patterns of regional actors."

For CTF 151's U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard units to maintain a persistent presence in their operations area, they must rely on replenishments at sea.

"The RAS methodology has been one of the Navy's greatest strengths and allows for sustained operations," said Lt. Richard Knutson, operations officer for USS San Antonio, the flagship for the multinational task force. "We maintain forward presence by patrolling areas of interest and utilizing all assets available on board to maintain a good maritime picture in support of our assigned tasking."

The ships, helicopter squadron, Marine Corps units and Coast Guard law enforcement detachment in CTF 151 have myriad logistics requirements that must be met in a timely manner to maintain operational readiness and accomplish their mission of detecting and deterring piracy activity.

In the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, planning is coordinated through Commander, Task Force 53, headquartered in Bahrain, which schedules the event with the Military Sealift Command, units requiring replenishment and units internal to the ship that are available to support the RAS. Typically this coordination involves a 10-day lead time.

"This requires significant planning from the supply department in order to project requirements more than two weeks in advance," said Lt. Melinda Johnson, San Antonio's supply officer.

The operations officer aboard the ship to be replenished collects information from the ship, such as the required amount of fuel, parts, supplies the number of pallets of stores, mail and cargo to be transferred and the method of re-supply - vertical, underway or concurrent replenishment. That information and the replenishment-at-sea requisition, which includes a recommended position, start time and desired configuration for the RAS, are submitted to CTF 53. San Antonio recently conducted an evening RAS to maximize its time on station.

"From the supply standpoint, the only difference between a daytime and a night RAS is the amount of daylight needed to get the stores inside the ship," said Johnson. "The primary issue is safety, as there is less visibility to move stores."

In order to prevent a potentially harmful situation, Sailors conducting a RAS at night must pay close attention to the surface picture and activities of all hands involved in the evolution.

"A RAS in general, is one of the most dangerous evolutions a ship can do, just by the nature of the event," said Knutson.

San Antonio maintains its operational readiness and forward presence by its ability to be refueled and replenished without pulling into a port.

There are many logistics involved, but the benefits are great, not only in terms of operations but also in the quality of life for the crew. This can impact productivity -- and ultimately the mission.

The amphibious transport dock ship's crew conducting counterpiracy ops benefits from the constant re-supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, ship store items and toiletries. The various departments also benefit from a RAS because they receive needed parts and consumable items, which allow the ship to remain at a fully operational level for a sustained amount of time. The ship usually receives mail during the replenishment as well.

"We are capable of storing up to 45 days of food to sustain operations," added Johnson.

San Antonio is the flagship for CTF 151. CTF 151 is a multinational task force conducting counterpiracy operations to detect and deter piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. It was established to create a lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment.