Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Perez | Soldiers from the 168th Transportation Detachment, Special Troops Battalion, 8th...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM — The 168th Transportation Detachment, Special Troops Battalion, 8th Theater Sustainment Command transported a company sized element of infantry soldiers and their combat vehicles in an unprecedented mission for the thirty-three year old General Brehon B. Somervell, Logistics Support Vessel 3, from Oct. 17 to 21.
The mission, named Operation Tropic Voyage, was the first time LSV 3 included combat soldiers, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, on its cargo deck instead of the standard vehicles and equipment the vessel normally transports. The 273-foot Army Watercraft System (AWS) was built to carry up to 2,000 tons of cargo ranging from combat vehicles and military equipment to humanitarian aid supplies. The AWS is one of only eight logistics support vessels in the entire Army, three of which belong to the 8th TSC.
Demonstrating the capability to move combat forces within the Pacific theater of operations served as the mission’s intent, and the 168th Trans. Det. executed the task flawlessly despite never using their vessel for the transit of actual soldiers. The crew loaded 101 personnel along with 15 combat vehicles on the cargo deck of the LSV for movement from the island of Oahu to the Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii’s “Big Island.”
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kyle Blue, commander of the 168thTrans. Det. and LSV 3 vessel master, oversaw the mission’s preparations and the rehearsal that was conducted to ensure the first of its kind mission went as smoothly as possible for the soldiers, cargo, watercraft and its crew.
“It was a lot of mental preparation, especially for the leaders,” said Blue. “For the crew, it was everyday operations. For us, it was a little more stressful because we were worried about them on the deck. If things start going wrong, how do we respond? How do we make sure that we try to keep them as safe as possible while also making sure that the vessel and crew are safe? So that was probably the hardest part.”
The 25th ID soldiers coordinated closely with the vessel’s crew to rehearse for and execute the operation. The rehearsal drills included the offloading and loading of combat vehicles onto the deck, as well as personal flotation device familiarization training for safety while in transit on the open seas. The drills were followed by a five hour sail to provide the combat soldiers with the experience of being at sea under day and night conditions. The movement of the infantry soldiers provided the 8th TSC with an opportunity to demonstrate how their assets can deliver combat fighting power to various locations in the Pacific theater.
8th TSC, Deputy Commanding Officer, Col. Theodore White, maintained a close watch on the developments of Operation Tropic Voyage to ensure the mission’s safety and success.
“The significance of this operation is that we are demonstrating how Army Watercraft Systems can support the operational maneuver of a combat configured tactical formation as part of a maneuver commander’s order of battle,” said White.
Once the loading of soldiers and vehicles finished at Waipio Point, the “bridge” crew steered the vessel towards Kawaihae Harbor, Hawaii. During sail, the transportation detachment rehearsed battle drills such as how to extinguish a fire on board and how to rescue a “man overboard” in a display of teamwork comparable to that of a naval vessel crew. Many of the infantry soldiers on deck had no idea that the LSV 3 crew were actual Army soldiers.
The vessel’s crew consisted of 33 personnel, from the deck and bridge crew to the engineers on board, all who held essential responsibilities in making sure the mission was a success.
After the sixteen hour journey, LSV 3 arrived safely to “Big Island” at sunrise, despite strong ocean waves and gusty winds throughout the night. The 8th TSC sustains ready, lethal Army forces to protect the homeland, enhance joint force capability, deter potential adversaries, and maintain the rules-based international order. This transport mission proved that by concept, an AWS can support troop movement in the defense of our nation’s interests in the Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 10.21.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.22.2021 15:40 |
| Story ID: | 407764 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 1,577 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, U.S. Army Watercraft Transports Infantry in Hawaii, by SSG Richard Perez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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