Typhoon Operates in Horn of Africa

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Robert Northnagle | Sailors aboard USS Typhoon (PC 5) connect with Royal Netherlands support ship HNLMS Amsterdam (A-836) prior to refueling. Amsterdam served as flag ship for Capt. Jeffery Harbeson, commander, Destroyer Squadron 50, and his staff while underway with the Typhoon and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell (WPB 1332) on a month-long maritime security operations mission in and around the Arabian Sea. MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 3rd Class Bobby Northnagle  

MANAMA, BAHRAIN

05.01.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

By Journalist 3rd Class Bobby Northnagle

MANAMA, BAHRAIN - USS Typhoon (PC 5) completed a month-long operation with Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, April 27, that called for the patrol craft to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) alongside the Royal Netherlands Navy support ship HNLMS Amsterdam (836) and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Wrangell (WPB-1332).

The underway period marked only the second time a Navy patrol craft has operated in and around the waters surrounding the Horn of Africa and the first for Patrol Craft (PC) Crew Delta.
CTF 150, commanded by Pakistan Navy Rear Adm. Shahid Iqbal, is responsible for conducting MSO in the Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the North Arabian Sea.

MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons, or other material.

Typhoon's role in the mission, like the Wrangell, was to use its size and speed to do what larger Navy vessels can't.

"[Typhoon's] job was to get as close to dhows and merchant vessels as possible and to send a boarding crew to gather intelligence about maritime activity in the area," said Lt. T.J. Mayott, Typhoon's weapons officer.

"The mission was also to show our presence to local mariners and let them know coalition forces are here to prevent piracy and terrorism," said Lt. Cmdr. P.C. Thien, Typhoon's commanding officer.

Delta crewmembers aboard Typhoon operated the ship while members of Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 401 performed necessary boardings.

"This mission revealed how versatile a PC crew is," said Mayott. "Every Sailor is expected to do the jobs of multiple rates. At any moment, a gunner's mate can be a culinary specialist, help fix an engine or perform the duties of quartermaster of the watch. A PC Sailor is a well-rounded Sailor."

"[Responsibilities] are pushed farther down the chain-of-command then normally expected," agreed Thien. "Some seaman aboard the Typhoon have more on their shoulders than some first class petty officers on a larger ship."

• Date Taken: 05.01.2006
• Date Posted: 05.01.2006 10:01
• Story ID: 6182
• Location: MANAMA, BH