USNS Montford Point, USNS Dahl Demonstrate Seabasing Capability

Photo By Grady Fontana | 160725-N-IX266-001 PACIFIC OCEAN—The vehicle transfer ramp connects expeditionary transfer dock USNS Montford Point (T-ESD 1) and maritime prepositioning force ship USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312) during a maneuver to demonstrate MSC’s unique seabasing capabilities , July 21. (Courtesy photo)  

PACIFIC OCEAN

07.25.2016

Story by Grady Fontana 

Military Sealift Command Far East

Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) expeditionary transfer dock USNS Montford Point (T-ESD 1) and maritime prepositioning force (MPF) ship USNS Dahl (T-AKR 312) performed a “skin-to-skin” (S2S) maneuver to demonstrate MSC’s unique seabasing capability, July 21-22. The event displayed the two ships’ ability to transfer large cargo, such as vehicles, at sea.

The S2S maneuver is achieved by the two ships connecting while the Montford Point acts as a floating pier for a simulated offload.

The Montford Point is categorized as an expeditionary floating pier-at-sea. The ship is tasked to the Marine Corps to provide a pier-at-sea to move and transfer cargo from large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ships onto landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vessels to provide seabasing capabilities for the Navy and the Marine Corps. The Montford Point and Dahl are both part of Maritime Prepositioning Ships Squadron Three (MPSRON-3).

“Montford Point provides combatant commanders the ability from over the horizon to transfer and deliver personnel and equipment ashore to a limited or un-available port,” said Navy Capt. Eric C. Lindfors, commodore, MPSRON-3. “This ability provides a unique capability within the seventh fleet area of responsibility enabling instream operations from a variety of non-traditional locations.”

Though, no equipment were transferred during this event, during a full demonstration, the Dahl can discharge equipment onto the Montford Point through a connecting ramp. The equipment can then be loaded into LCACs for transfer to shore, further enhancing Marine Corps and naval integration.

The two MSC ships conducted the two separate events in consecutive days further displaying the potential routine nature of such an event when tasked during ideal conditions.

In a S2S operation, the ships navigate alongside and are moored together. Once connected, the MPF ship lifts the Montford Point’s ramp with her shipboard crane and connects it to the MPF ship. Once the ramp is connected, vehicles and cargo can be rolled on and off with efficiency.

A strong advantage for the pier-at-sea concept includes being able to move at will so as to not become a possible target to unfriendly forces. The makeshift pier can operate 25 miles off shore and still provide support for the military services.

When the Montford Point is on mission, the ship submerges to about 40 feet while underway to the area of operations. Once on station it submerges to about 50 feet, so that the LCACs can maneuver right up on the mission deck to pick up cargo. This allows the Montford Point to operate like a floating pier and will serve as a transfer point for Marine Corps amphibious landing forces.

“An inherent challenge we face is purely a numbers game of two crews on Montford Point and two crews on each of the LMSRs she conducts operations with,” said Lindfors. “Capturing the lessons learned from these quarterly events is critical to gaining efficiency, maintaining safety and ensuring our mariners have the proficiency needed when called upon.”

The Montford Point’s flexibility is critical for humanitarian response to natural disasters and for support to warfighters ashore. The size allows for 25,000 square feet of vehicle and equipment stowage space and 380,000 gallons of JP-5 fuel storage.

MSC operates approximately 115 non-combatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.

MPSRON 3, operating in the western Pacific, maintains tactical control of the 12 ships carrying afloat prepositioned U.S. military cargo for the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force. The squadron’s mission is to enable force from the sea by providing swift and effective transportation of vital equipment and supplies for designated operations.

• Date Taken: 07.25.2016
• Date Posted: 07.25.2016 04:11
• Story ID: 204901
• Location: PACIFIC OCEAN