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MOBILE BAY, Ala. – The ex-USS Shadwell (LSD-15), once known for its operational versatility as a Casa Grande-class dock landing ship, has reinvented itself as the Navy's full-scale Damage Control Facility.
Moored in Mobile Bay, Ala., the Shadwell’s new mission is dedicated to integrated Research, Development, Test and Evaluation studies on active and passive fire protection, flooding and chemical (simulants) defense. It is under the care and maintenance of the Office of Naval Research Shipboard Fire Scaling Section. Instead of being manned by a crew of up to 472 military personnel, the reinvented Shadwell is maintained by civilians, an active duty officer and lead petty officer, and the 20 sailors of Navy Reserve Naval Research Laboratory Science and Technology 117 (NR NRL S&T 117).
The ship that served in World War II and supported numerous military operations is now regularly set ablaze in a controlled test environment to further the safety of operational Navy and civilian shipboard firefighting measures. The sailors of NR NRL S&T 117 assist with testing by setting up fire cribs, running wires and extinguishing test fires.
“NR NRL S&T 117 provides support on a rolling, as-needed, basis determined by testing and work requirements,” said Lt. Cmdr. Alex Jones, commanding officer, NR NRL S&T 117. According to Jones, sailors from NR NRL S&T 117 are onboard at any given time providing support. In addition to testing and evaluation activities aboard the Shadwell there is an ongoing requirement for preservation support.
Sailors wanting to serve aboard the Shadwell can volunteer and provide preservation support by way of chipping, painting and cleaning. This support is vital to maintaining the Shadwell as a viable disaster control test and evaluation platform.
| Date Taken: | 01.27.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.27.2013 19:45 |
| Story ID: | 101107 |
| Location: | MOBILE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 334 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sailors provide test and evaluation support to ex-USS Shadwell, by Capt. Lisa Allen, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
