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The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography community has been supporting the Navy and its varieties of mission sets since 1924, providing battlespace awareness to naval operations in air, on land, and at sea. The Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) team aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) is a division consisting of 14 sailors: five forecasters, six assistant forecasters (weather observers), a divisional officer, a chief, along with a ship’s company METOC Officer. Aerographer’s Mates embarked aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) hail from Strike Group Oceanography Team Norfolk (SGOT-N).
The METOC team produces a 96-hr forecast twice a day, takes hourly weather observations (OBS) during normal operations, and every 30 minutes during flight operations. They also produce tactical decision aids that depict how electromagnetic energy from radars, sensors, and communications gear, as well as sound in the water will react to changes in the environment. With an on board METOC team, the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is provided METOC inputs and products for all warfare areas from the sea floor to the stars.
The ARG comprises the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19), Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), along with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable.
“Our METOC team on board ensures that planners have timely, relevant, and accurate forecasts to ensure operations are conducted safely,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jaqueline Zimny, Bataan ARG Force Meteorology and Oceanography Officer. “Every evolution has operational limits with regards to the environment. Well deck operations, flight operations, small boat operations, and our other amphibious operations all have environmental limits. Planners need to consider these limits to ensure their planned operations will be executed safely.”
Weather can also be a crucial ally of the Bataan ARG force. Our METOC team not only keeps us safe but they are able to inform the warfare commanders on certain environmental conditions that can give the advantage to the BATARG.
“Environmental conditions can modify sensor and communications performance,” said Zimny. “We can place our sensors, platforms, and weapons in areas forecasted to produce favorable performance based off of warfare commander’s priorities and objectives.”
The Navy isn’t the only service with forecasters as a part of the Bataan ARG team. There are two U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) forecasters embarked aboard Bataan as well as additional Marine forecasters aboard Carter Hall and Mesa Verde. While the Navy side primarily focus on weather impacting ships and shipboard operations, USMC forecasters ensure conditions on land support operations planned producing detailed, high resolution forecasting.
“The METOC team supports Bataan ARG/PHIBRON 8/26 MEU (SOC) and all embedded units, and is an integral part of the warfighting team,” said Chief Aerographer’s Mate Dan Squire, operations aerology division Leading Chief Petty Officer. “Our expertise and ability to observe, predict, and exploit the environment enhance our combat team’s lethality and contribute to the mission every day.”
| Date Taken: | 08.21.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2023 08:19 |
| Story ID: | 458801 |
| Location: | U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY |
| Web Views: | 97 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Weather Forecast Improves Bataan Lethality, by PO2 Danilo Reynoso, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
