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By Petty Officer 3rd Class Jennifer Apsey
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
MANAMA, Bahrain – Men and women of Destroyer Squadron 50 as Commander Task Force 55 help secure the Persian Gulf by conducting Maritime Security Operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.
CTF 55 conducts MSO by providing ready naval forces to help deter destabilizing activities, conduct mine countermeasures training and operations and defend regional maritime infrastructure.
"CTF 55 conducts Maritime Security Operations across a full range of activities," said Capt. Karl Van Deusen, Commander, CTF 55. "This includes coordinated training of our Mine Countermeasures forces in theater, defense of the Al Basrah [ABOT] and Khawr Al Amaya [KAAOT] Oil Terminals [OPLATs] and training of Iraqi navy and Iraqi marine personnel aboard the OPLATs."
Destroyer Squadron 50/CTF 55 was re-commissioned Nov. 30, 1994 and is comprised of two subordinate commands: Patrol Forces Southwest Asia and Mine Countermeasures Division 31.
"As a force provider for Mine Countermeasures ships, CTF 55 supports regional commanders with the ability to conduct mine hunting and sweeping exercises and operations as well as explosive ordnance disposal," said Van Deusen. "Additionally, the Navy's MCM ships perform surveys throughout the Arabian Gulf."
By conducting MSO in the PersianGulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the North Arabian Sea, CTF 55 helps ensure the sea lines of communication remain open, guaranteeing the free flow of commerce in and out of the region.
Mine Countermeasures Division 31, is the parent command for various MCM ships and Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, and is an integral member of CTF 55 helping ensure freedom of safe navigation for commercial shipping throughout the region.
"Our job is to provide oversight for the Class Mine Countermeasures ships and their crews," said Capt. Scott Evertson, Commander, Mine Countermeasures Division 31. "We have four Avenger Class MCM ships and four MH-53 Dragon helicopters which allow us to handle any mine warfare contingency successfully."
Evertson also said they played a vital role in conducting mine clearance operations this past spring, working alongside Royal Navy MCM Forces in the Northern Persian Gulf during Operation Ardent Remedy.
"Our ships deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf to do ordnance disposal work in Ardent Remedy," said Evertson. "It was a terrific operation and a great example of coalition effort leading to a greater sense of security in the region."
PATFORSWA is the parent command for five U.S. Navy Patrol Craft and six U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Boats. The command's mission is to train, equip, deploy and support maritime forces conducting operations in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command's area of responsibility.
PATFORSWA is commanded by Coast Guard Capt. Matthew Bell. With his staff, supporting maintenance team and Law Enforcement Detachments, they directly support CTF 55's mission by providing ready forces flowing to and from the ABOT and KAAOT as well as the Iraqi naval base in Umm Qasr, Iraq.
When on deployment, CTF 55 conducts operations in the Northern Persian Gulf in support of CTF 158. Their primary mission is conducting MSO around KAAOT and ABOT in support of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1790. This resolution charges the multinational force with the responsibility and authority to maintain security and stability in the Iraqi territorial waters and also supports the Iraqi government's request for security support. Iraq's oil platforms account for greater than 80 percent of the country's gross domestic product.
Although CTF 55 is comprised of many different components, they all work together to ensure the waters in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO remain protected.
"As always, the most important ingredient to mission first is our people," said Van Deusen. "Our Sailors and Coast Guardsmen are the best in the world. They are motivated, dedicated, and well trained for the many demanding assignments."
Operations specialist Petty Officer 2nd Class Angela Lewis of CTF 55 assists with planning for conferences, future coalition exercises, and assisting with providing guidance for staff training for NAVCENT.
"I enjoy working with people from different backgrounds," said Lewis. "We all have different experiences from the Navy which allows everyone to learn from one other and adds ways to make things better within the command."
Van Deusen also commented on the Sailors' and Coast Guardsmens' hard work and strong ambition being an important asset to CTF 55.
"I'm reminded daily of our Sailors' selfless duty by the impressive list of accomplishments across the AOO by these young men and women," said Van Deusen. "I am proud of their accomplishments and honored to be their commodore."
Van Deusen stated that the dynamic synergy within NAVCENT makes CTF 55's impact all the greater and extends to their close-knit relations with the Combined Maritime Forces.
"Whether operating throughout Arabian Gulf or back here in Bahrain, we are focused, organized and committed to the theme of 'no one nation can do it alone,'" he said. "It simply would not be possible to maintain the operational schedules necessary to achieve mission success across the spectrum of our operations without the bonds that exist among all our professionals."
MSO helps develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.04.2008 06:46 |
| Story ID: | 25886 |
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| Web Views: | 454 |
| Downloads: | 260 |
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