INSIDE — MSC ships tow decommissioned sub • MSC accepts T-AKE 5INSIDE — MSC ships tow decommissioned sub • MSC accepts T-AKE 5

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July 2008

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U.S.Navyphoto

Military Sealift Command fleet ocean tugUSNS Apache was fitted with subma-rine rescue equipment in Stavanger,Norway, before participating in Ex-ercise Bold Monarch 08, May 24to June 6 in Arendal, Norway.

Story and photos Page 4

Apache proves sub rescuecapability in NATO exercise

Iwas reading the Navy Times re-cently when I came across a let-ter to the editor from an MSCmariner who is also a Navy Re-servist [Navy Times, June 2, 2008,Opinion/Back Talk, Pg. 47]. In theletter, the mariner/Reservist com-pared and contrasted Navy Sailorsand MSC mariners. He was criticalof his uniformed counterparts inthe surface force. Being a Navy Sailor with four

command tours on my résumé, Ithink I can speak about the surfacewarfare community with some au-thority. Also, having spent the pasttwo years getting to know ourMSC civilian mariners, I think Ican speak to that side of the issueas well.One of the first observations I

would make is that you can’t com-pare apples and oranges. Consider the typical MSC civil

service mariner. He or she is anaverage of 45 years old and hasbeen sailing professionally formore than seven years. Almost 40 percent have prior military

service experience. The typical CIV-MAR is focused in one area of expert-ise, so he or she really knows the job indetail. Also, since MSC doesn’t operateunder the personnel rules of the uni-formed Navy, the typical mariner hasspent more time actually at sea perfect-ing their professional capabilities.The average Navy Sailor, on the other

hand is considerably younger and hasfar less sea time and experience, notonly due to the personnel operationstempo rules, but because additionaltraining requirements for weapons sys-tems, damage control, small arms quali-fication, force protection and other ship-board tasks that may not apply to civil-ian mariners take a great deal of timeand effort. However, Navy Sailors become expert

in those areas and others, such as com-mand, control, communications and

computer systems. They take pride intheir abilities and capabilities, and theyare part of the most professional Navy inthe world, just as we are here at MSC. A second observation concerns com-

paring and contrasting Navy combatantships and MSC ships. Let’s look at twoship types that are roughly equal in size:the Mars-class combat stores ship andthe Ticonderoga-class guided missilecruiser.The mission of a combat stores ship

is to provide underway replenishment ofall types of supplies, ranging from re-pair parts to fresh food, clothing andmail, via tensioned cargo rigs and UH-60 Seahawk helicopters or their com-mercial equivalents. That means that, like all MSC ships,

it has a single purpose — in this case,providing supplies, including frozen,chilled and dry provisions, to U.S. Navycombatant ships that are at sea for ex-tended periods of time.

On the other hand, a guided missilecruiser performs in a battle force role.These ships are multi-mission — airwarfare, undersea warfare, naval surfacefire support and surface warfare. They are surface combatants capable

of supporting carrier battle groups, am-phibious forces, or of operating inde-pendently and as flagships of surfaceaction groups. They have to be ready for any combat

situation, anywhere, anytime. That in-cludes defending our ships from enemyattack on the high seas and in the lit-torals. That is no easy task, given thevast variety of potential threats.So, comparing the missions of the

two classes of ships is pretty difficultbecause of their missions. Contrastingthem is much easier, which you can seeat a glance in the ship comparison boxabove. MSC ships are less complicated and

generally operate at slower speeds in

deep water because of their sin-gle-mission focus. Navy com-batants have to be capable of op-erating and maintaining multipleweapons systems and more com-plicated command, control, com-munications and computer sys-tems; maneuvering in a varietyof warfighting scenarios andwater depths; and sustaininglarger crews to support war-fighting functions and respondto battle damage. MSC ships and Navy combat-

ants use different maintenancemodels that support two differ-ent roles and uses. Yes, MSCships may find themselves inharm’s way at times in supportof our national security, but theNavy’s role is to sail into harm’sway intentionally to defend andprotect our national security.Now, there are some other

similarities. Both MSC andNavy ships can and have runaground. Both have suffered col-

lisions. Crew members have perishedon both types of ships.But, the biggest similarity is that

we’re both part of the U. S. Navy, andwe need each other to successfully ac-complish our mission. You can’t compare apples and or-

anges, but you sure need both in ahealthy fruit salad.

Keep the faith,

Commander’s perspective

2

Sealift is an authorized publication for members andemployees of the Navy’s Military Sealift Command.Contents of this publication are not necessarily theofficial views of or endorsed by the U.S. govern-ment, the Department of Defense or the Departmentof the Navy. Sealift is published monthly by the Mil-itary Sealift Command Office of Public Affairs asauthorized under NAVPUBINST 5600.42A. Submis-sion of articles and letters should be addressed to Ed-itor, Sealift, Military Sealift Command, 914 CharlesMorris Court, S.E., Washington Navy Yard, D.C.20398-5540; phone (202) 685-5055 or DSN 325-5055; fax (202) 685-5067; or via e-mail to sealift ed-itor@navy.mil. All photographic submissions mustbe sent via e-mail, express mail or parcel service.

COMSC Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr., USNDirector, Public Affairs Timothy BoulayEditor Rosemary HeissWriters Edward Baxter, Singapore

Bill Cook, Norfolk, Va.Susan Melow, Norfolk, Va.Laura Seal, Washington

Anna Hancock, WashingtonGillian Brigham, NaplesSarah Burford, San Diego

Art Director Dale Allen, WashingtonGraphics Susan Thomas, Washington

Military Sealift Command reports to the Command-er, U.S. Transportation Command for defense trans-portation matters, to the Commander, U.S. FleetForces Command for Navy-unique matters and to theAssistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Devel-opment and Acquisition for procurement policy andoversight matters.

Printed on recycled paper

Robert D. Reilly Jr. Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

Commander, Military Sealift Command

CIVMARs and Sailors — maritime apples and oranges

Combat Stores Ship

Guided Missile Cruiser

Length: 581” l Beam: 79”

Length: 567” l Beam: 55”

Guided Missile CruiserDisplacement(full load)SpeedCrewAircraftArmament

Combat Stores Ship18,000 tons

21 knots118 Civilians and 26 Sailors

2 UH-60 helicoptersNone MK-41 standard missiles, ASROC

missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles,MK-46 torpedoes, 5-inch/54-caliberguns, Phalanx close-in system

2 SH-60 helicopters364 Sailors30+ knots9,600 tons

Photo illustration by Susan Thomas

Military Sealift Fleet Support Command Executive Director Jack Taylor was honored as the Massachusetts MaritimeAcademy Mariner of the Year during a Maritime Day observation May 21 by academy cadet Matt White of Lowell, Mass.Taylor, a 1980 graduate of the academy, received the honor for exemplary performance and outstanding meritoriousservice to the maritime industry for his work within Military Sealift Command and MSFSC.

MSFSC exec recognized

Ship Comparison

By Laura Seal MSC Public Affairs

It was an awesome sight as Mili-tary Sealift Command fleet oceantug USNS Sioux towed one of theNavy’s most famous namesake ves-sels to its final port of call, Bremer-ton, Wash. At the end of Sioux’s tow line

was the 360-foot decommissionednuclear submarine USS Hyman G.Rickover, named for the father ofthe nuclear Navy. The powerful Sioux, less than

two-thirds the size of the massivesubmarine at the end of its towline, proceeded on a precise courseinto the Puget Sound Naval Ship-yard and Intermediate MaintenanceFacility.Although Capt. Brad Smith,

Sioux’s civil service master, modestlycalled the operation “uneventful,” toothers who got a rare glimpse of theoperation, it was nothing short ofamazing.The Bremerton arrival marked the

completion of a 10,000-mile, seven-week journey that began April 8 whenanother MSC ship, the 255-foot res-cue and salvage ship USNS Grapple,departed the Portsmouth Naval Ship-yard in Kittery, Maine, with ex-Rick-over in tow. Grapple and ex-Rickover traveled

3,600 miles to the Panama Canal

where, in accordance with Panaman-ian law, a canal pilot and tugboatsguided ex-Rickover through the locksApril 24-25. Grapple escorted ex-Rickover

through the canal to the PacificOcean, where the 226-foot Sioux re-sumed the submarine tow and contin-ued the journey to Bremerton. Siouxand ex-Rickover stopped in SanDiego May 13-23.

“We really enjoy towing sub-marines,” said Smith. “When it cameto Rickover, it was a pleasant tow.There was good weather, and the towwas uneventful, which is everythingyou hope for when doing a missionlike this.”Sioux and Grapple are both crewed

by civil service mariners working forMSC — 20 aboard Sioux and 24aboard Grapple. Grapple also carries a

small military detachment, and for thetow, a seven-person crew of Navysubmariners rode the MSC ships tomonitor ex-Rickover and respond toany tow-related problems.Ex-Rickover is the 22nd of the U.S.

Los Angeles-class attack submarinesand the only one not named after aU.S. city. Ex-Rickover played an in-strumental role in submarine operationsduring the height of the Cold War.Commissioned in July 1984, it com-menced inactivation in March 2007and was decommissioned in December2007. The submarine’s reactor was de-fueled at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. U.S. Navy guided missile frigate

USS Carr, guided missile destroyerUSS Pinckney and guided missilefrigate USS Rodney M. Davis provid-ed force protection escorts fromMaine to Panama, from Panama toSan Diego and from San Diego toBremerton, respectively.While in Bremerton, ex-Rickover

will go through a dismantling pro-gram overseen by the Navy. The sub-marine will remain moored at theshipyard until it is dry-docked for dis-mantlement and disposal, which iscurrently scheduled for 2016.Grapple is one of MSC’s four rescue

and salvage ships, and Sioux is one offour fleet ocean tugs. These ships towother ships, lift heavy objects likedowned aircraft and deploy divers forrescue and salvage operations.

3

MSC accepts fifth dry cargo/ammunition shipBy Anna HancockMSC Public Affairs

Military Sealift Command ac-cepted delivery of dry

cargo/ammunition ship USNSRobert E. Peary in San Diego June5. The ship was built by GeneralDynamics NASSCO. Named in honor of Navy Rear Adm.

Robert E. Peary, leader of the first ex-pedition to the North Pole, the ship is

the fifth in the Lewis and Clark-classof underway replenishment ships withthe designation T-AKE 5. The ships’ primary mission is to de-

liver ammunition, provisions, stores,spare parts, potable water and petrole-um products to the Navy’s underwaycarriers and expeditionary strikegroups, allowing them to stay at sea forextended periods of time.“Introducing this ship to the fleet is a

great step in modernizing the Navy and

bringing new capabilities to the fleet,”said Capt. Gregory L. Horner, Peary’scivil service master. The T-AKEs will replace some of

MSC’s aging, single-mission ships suchas Kilauea-class ammunition ships andMars- and Sirius-class combat storesships that are nearing the end of theirservice lives.At the end of July, the 689-foot

Peary will go on a short ‘shakedowncruise’ where the ship’s crew will test a

range of shipboard operations. By theend of the summer, Peary will departfor its homeport in Norfolk, Va. Fromthere, the ship will soon deploy on itsfirst operational mission. Peary has a crew of 124 civil service

mariners working for MSC, as well as amilitary detachment of 11 Sailors whoprovide operational support and supplycoordination. When needed, Peary can also carry a

helicopter detachment.

U.S. Navy photo by Sarah Burford

Fleet ocean tug USNS Sioux tows decommissioned nuclear submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover into the San Diego Bay. Ex-Rickover made a stop in San Diego on ajourney that began in Maine and ended in Bremerton, Wash. The submarine was towed for the first leg of the trip by rescue and salvage ship USNS Grapple to thePanama Canal. From there, Sioux towed the decommissioned submarine the rest of the way.

Military Sealift Command civil service mariners Able Seaman Robert Greene,Boatswain Howie Goettsch and 2nd Mate William Minton aboard rescue and sal-vage ship USNS Grapple hook up the tow wire and chain from Grapple to decom-missioned Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover.

MSC ships tow decommissioned nuclear sub

U.S. Navy photo by Electronics Technician 2nd Class Daniel Strain

4

Partially flooded and quickly descending to the ocean floor, the diesel-electricsubmarine USS Squalus malfunctioned and sank in nearly 250 feet of water dur-

ing a test dive off the Isle of Shoals May 23, 1939. At the time, neither the U.S.Navy nor submarine experts believedthat the crew could ever be rescued.However, the disaster sparked an un-precedented rescue operation that in-troduced rescue and salvage innova-tions, and within 39 hours, all 33crew members aboard were saved. Nearly 70 years later, Military

Sealift Command fleet ocean tugUSNS Apache proved to the worldthat MSC can successfully conductsimilar rescues at sea. Apache represented the United

States during the largest multination-al submarine rescue exercise in theworld – NATO-led Bold Monarch08. The exercise was conducted May24 to June 6 three nautical miles offthe coast of Arendal, Norway, asApache and ships from other coun-tries practiced life-saving operationsfor distressed submarines.

A worldwide effortBold Monarch brought together

14 NATO allies with submarine res-cue capability. Participants includedthe United States, Great Britain,Canada, France, Germany, Greece,Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Nor-way, Poland, the Russian Federa-tion, Turkey and Ukraine. Since sub rescues require special-

ized equipment and expertise to besuccessful, only a limited number ofnations have the capability to con-duct them. Apache, a 226-foot shipwith a civil service crew of 16 and a4-person military detachment, metall of the requirements.

Preparing for the operationPreparations began three months

before the exercise. While in port in Charleston, S.C.,

Capt. Charles R. Rodriguez,Apache’s civil service master, andMilitary Sealift Fleet Support Com-mand Chief Engineer Tom Rusnak

intricately planned shipboard modifications to secure the sub-rescue equipment tothe ship’s deck. “Apache is a very versatile ship with diverse capabilities,” said Mark Helmkamp,

MSFSC’s rescue and salvage ship andfleet ocean tug class manager. “It canperform a variety of operations insupport of our nation.” Apache’s deck has an extensive

bolt system that allows various rescueand salvage equipment to be tem-porarily secured on board. With onlyminor modifications, the ship wasmade ready to perform the task ofsaving submariners from what mightotherwise be a deadly situation.Engineers installed a weight sys-

tem underneath the deck to ensurethe ship would remain balancedonce the extra load of the rescueequipment was added. They alsoadded a detailed system of platesthat would secure the equipment tothe ship’s deck. “Apache’s bolt system allowed the

equipment to be mobile and interop-erable,” Rodriguez stated. “Theequipment can be taken off the shipwithout leaving behind extreme alter-ations to the ship.”Meanwhile, across the country at

Naval Air Station North Island in SanDiego, Deep Submergence Unit, theU.S. Navy’s only worldwide deploy-able submarine rescue capabilitycommand, prepared and loaded itssub rescue equipment on board aRussian aircraft for delivery to theApache.Apache left Charleston and met up

with the equipment in Stavanger,Norway, five days before the exer-cise. The ship’s crew quickly com-pleted installion on Apache’s afterdeck. With the modifications com-plete and the sub rescue equipment inplace, Apache was ready to depart forArendal.

Executing the mission For the crew aboard Apache, the

mission was two-fold — to practiceand perfect a four-point mooring op-

eration and to successfully res-cue simulated submarine sur-vivors using a state-of-the-artsubmarine rescue system.

Expertly executing thefour-point moorApache’s crew coordinated the

mooring with NATO allies topractice rescuing submariners“trapped” in submarines from theNetherlands, Norway and Poland. The difficult mooring opera-

tion began when an ally ship laida two-point moor, consisting ofone bow line and one stern lineattached to a 3,200-pound an-chor. Each anchor was placed ata specific coordinate, a half-mileapart, designated by the “dis-tressed” submarine. Once the submarine bottomed

underneath approximately 320feet of water within the two-pointmoor, it released a flare signalingto Apache to move into position.As Apache moved, deck hands

took hold of the bow and stern mooring lines, keeping the movement under controland the lines taut as the engineering crew simultaneously positioned the ship direct-ly over the submarine. The ally ship then set port and starboard mooring pointsagain a half-mile apart. The precise location of the mooring points and Apache’s exact location inside

them were crucial for the rescue equipment aboard the ship to reach the submarine’sescape hatch.When Apache got in its final position, the assisting ship passed the last two moor-

ing lines to Apache, completing the four-point moor. Apache’s crew gave all fourlines one final adjustment to ensure that the ship could not move while deployingthe sub rescue equipment. The crew secured and monitored the mooring linesaround the clock until the rescue exercise was complete.“Getting Apache into the correct position within the four-point moor took exten-

sive cooperation with the Deep Submergence Unit, the submarine crew simulatingthe distress call and my civilian and military crew,” said Rodriguez as he describedthe complex operation.

Rescuing submarine survivorsOnce the ship’s anchors were set and buoys in place for the four-point moor, the

crew began to deploy the system that enabled survivor rescue operations.The rescue system has two major components, the pressur-

ized rescue module, called Falcon, and the submarine de-com-

pression system, which is being developed to stabilize survivors during deep-sub-marine rescue operations. Named after similar equipment used for the Squalus res-cue, Falcon can transfer up to 16 survivors in addition to the two module operators. Falcon deployed to search for the submarine, and minutes later, Falcon mated

with the submarine’s escape hatch. A pressure differential that exists on the ocean floor naturally sealed the rescue mod-

ule to the hatch, and the crew on board Falcon pumped out excess water. At a depth ofmore than 300 feet, survivors from the distressed sub were transferred to Falcon, whichthen surfaced to bring the group onto Apache for simulated medical treatment.“Everyone knew the task and overcame significant obstacles in a very short period of

time to ensure success,” said Bill Orr, U.S. Submarine Force escape and rescue officer.

Emerging as an international leader Throughout the exercise, international teams conducted various rescues, in-

cluding dive and medical simulations, rescue-vehicle operations, parachute-re-covery training and ship-maneuverability drills. Apache conducted approximately20 rescue operations with the submarines, and transferred more than 200 people.“Apache’s crew did an incredible job and exceeded the expectations of the inter-

national community,” said Rodriguez. “From the stewards on board, to the deckand engineering departments, to the Navy detachment, the crew was always flexi-ble and adaptable.”Apache mirrored the successes of the 1939 operation and introduced improved

capabilities to the international community. Upon its return to the United States,Apache continued its primary mission to conduct towing and salvage operations offthe East Coast.

By Anna HancockMSC Public AffairsB

Apache represents U.S. in NATO exercise

Military Sealift Command fleet ocean tug USNS Apache hosts visitors to observe sim-ulated submarine rescue operations. Apache hosted more than 200 international visi-tors throughout the two-week exercise.

U.S. Navy photo

08old Monarch

5

Partially flooded and quickly descending to the ocean floor, the diesel-electricsubmarine USS Squalus malfunctioned and sank in nearly 250 feet of water dur-

ing a test dive off the Isle of Shoals May 23, 1939. At the time, neither the U.S.Navy nor submarine experts believedthat the crew could ever be rescued.However, the disaster sparked an un-precedented rescue operation that in-troduced rescue and salvage innova-tions, and within 39 hours, all 33crew members aboard were saved. Nearly 70 years later, Military

Sealift Command fleet ocean tugUSNS Apache proved to the worldthat MSC can successfully conductsimilar rescues at sea. Apache represented the United

States during the largest multination-al submarine rescue exercise in theworld – NATO-led Bold Monarch08. The exercise was conducted May24 to June 6 three nautical miles offthe coast of Arendal, Norway, asApache and ships from other coun-tries practiced life-saving operationsfor distressed submarines.

A worldwide effortBold Monarch brought together

14 NATO allies with submarine res-cue capability. Participants includedthe United States, Great Britain,Canada, France, Germany, Greece,Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Nor-way, Poland, the Russian Federa-tion, Turkey and Ukraine. Since sub rescues require special-

ized equipment and expertise to besuccessful, only a limited number ofnations have the capability to con-duct them. Apache, a 226-foot shipwith a civil service crew of 16 and a4-person military detachment, metall of the requirements.

Preparing for the operationPreparations began three months

before the exercise. While in port in Charleston, S.C.,

Capt. Charles R. Rodriguez,Apache’s civil service master, andMilitary Sealift Fleet Support Com-mand Chief Engineer Tom Rusnak

intricately planned shipboard modifications to secure the sub-rescue equipment tothe ship’s deck. “Apache is a very versatile ship with diverse capabilities,” said Mark Helmkamp,

MSFSC’s rescue and salvage ship andfleet ocean tug class manager. “It canperform a variety of operations insupport of our nation.” Apache’s deck has an extensive

bolt system that allows various rescueand salvage equipment to be tem-porarily secured on board. With onlyminor modifications, the ship wasmade ready to perform the task ofsaving submariners from what mightotherwise be a deadly situation.Engineers installed a weight sys-

tem underneath the deck to ensurethe ship would remain balancedonce the extra load of the rescueequipment was added. They alsoadded a detailed system of platesthat would secure the equipment tothe ship’s deck. “Apache’s bolt system allowed the

equipment to be mobile and interop-erable,” Rodriguez stated. “Theequipment can be taken off the shipwithout leaving behind extreme alter-ations to the ship.”Meanwhile, across the country at

Naval Air Station North Island in SanDiego, Deep Submergence Unit, theU.S. Navy’s only worldwide deploy-able submarine rescue capabilitycommand, prepared and loaded itssub rescue equipment on board aRussian aircraft for delivery to theApache.Apache left Charleston and met up

with the equipment in Stavanger,Norway, five days before the exer-cise. The ship’s crew quickly com-pleted installion on Apache’s afterdeck. With the modifications com-plete and the sub rescue equipment inplace, Apache was ready to depart forArendal.

Executing the mission For the crew aboard Apache, the

mission was two-fold — to practiceand perfect a four-point mooring op-

eration and to successfully res-cue simulated submarine sur-vivors using a state-of-the-artsubmarine rescue system.

Expertly executing thefour-point moorApache’s crew coordinated the

mooring with NATO allies topractice rescuing submariners“trapped” in submarines from theNetherlands, Norway and Poland. The difficult mooring opera-

tion began when an ally ship laida two-point moor, consisting ofone bow line and one stern lineattached to a 3,200-pound an-chor. Each anchor was placed ata specific coordinate, a half-mileapart, designated by the “dis-tressed” submarine. Once the submarine bottomed

underneath approximately 320feet of water within the two-pointmoor, it released a flare signalingto Apache to move into position.As Apache moved, deck hands

took hold of the bow and stern mooring lines, keeping the movement under controland the lines taut as the engineering crew simultaneously positioned the ship direct-ly over the submarine. The ally ship then set port and starboard mooring pointsagain a half-mile apart. The precise location of the mooring points and Apache’s exact location inside

them were crucial for the rescue equipment aboard the ship to reach the submarine’sescape hatch.When Apache got in its final position, the assisting ship passed the last two moor-

ing lines to Apache, completing the four-point moor. Apache’s crew gave all fourlines one final adjustment to ensure that the ship could not move while deployingthe sub rescue equipment. The crew secured and monitored the mooring linesaround the clock until the rescue exercise was complete.“Getting Apache into the correct position within the four-point moor took exten-

sive cooperation with the Deep Submergence Unit, the submarine crew simulatingthe distress call and my civilian and military crew,” said Rodriguez as he describedthe complex operation.

Rescuing submarine survivorsOnce the ship’s anchors were set and buoys in place for the four-point moor, the

crew began to deploy the system that enabled survivor rescue operations.The rescue system has two major components, the pressur-

ized rescue module, called Falcon, and the submarine de-com-

pression system, which is being developed to stabilize survivors during deep-sub-marine rescue operations. Named after similar equipment used for the Squalus res-cue, Falcon can transfer up to 16 survivors in addition to the two module operators. Falcon deployed to search for the submarine, and minutes later, Falcon mated

with the submarine’s escape hatch. A pressure differential that exists on the ocean floor naturally sealed the rescue mod-

ule to the hatch, and the crew on board Falcon pumped out excess water. At a depth ofmore than 300 feet, survivors from the distressed sub were transferred to Falcon, whichthen surfaced to bring the group onto Apache for simulated medical treatment.“Everyone knew the task and overcame significant obstacles in a very short period of

time to ensure success,” said Bill Orr, U.S. Submarine Force escape and rescue officer.

Emerging as an international leader Throughout the exercise, international teams conducted various rescues, in-

cluding dive and medical simulations, rescue-vehicle operations, parachute-re-covery training and ship-maneuverability drills. Apache conducted approximately20 rescue operations with the submarines, and transferred more than 200 people.“Apache’s crew did an incredible job and exceeded the expectations of the inter-

national community,” said Rodriguez. “From the stewards on board, to the deckand engineering departments, to the Navy detachment, the crew was always flexi-ble and adaptable.”Apache mirrored the successes of the 1939 operation and introduced improved

capabilities to the international community. Upon its return to the United States,Apache continued its primary mission to conduct towing and salvage operations offthe East Coast.

Apache represents U.S. in NATO exercise

Military Sealift Command fleet ocean tug USNS Apache’s Second Mate Jean A. Marien guides members of Deep SubmergenceUnit through celestial navigation computations.

U.S. Navy photo

08old Monarch

6

HHQQ •• HHIIGGHHLLIIGGHHTTSS

Navy Diver 1st Class Frederick Heimgartner, as-signed to Mobile Salvage and Diving Unit One,aboard rescue and salvage ship USNS Safe-guard, stands beside a large rock under water

near Saipan, May 14. The rock was later removedfrom the seabed because it posed a danger to

navigation. Working in strong currents, divers at-tached heavy wire to break the obstruction freefrom the ocean floor. The obstruction was thenlifted onto Safeguard’s deck using the ship’s on-

board crane.

Rockbottom

U.S. Navy photo

Military Sealift Command honored15 employees with awards for federalgovernment length of service. MaryBurroughs, comptroller’s office, re-ceived an award for 35 years of federalservice. Thirty-year awards went toCharlene Tutt, Lee McCray, andTerry Murphy from command, con-trol, communications, and computersystems; Alan Mendelsohn fromcounsel; and Palma Anne Hutchinsonfrom joint plans, strategic studies, andwargaming. Recognized for 25 years offederal service were Kevin Baetsen,engineering; and Dawn Doakes, mar-itime forces and manpower manage-

ment. Twenty-year awards went toTodd Carroll from command, control,communications, and computer sys-tems; Raji Kanth from the comptrol-ler’s office; Griff Hume from opera-tions; and Joel Weger from counsel.Timothy Langdon from engineeringreceived a 15-year award. JosephCowen from command, control, com-munications, and computer systems;and Pamela Castellano from counsel,were honored for 10 years of federalservice. MSC headquarters celebrated Asian

Pacific American Heritage Month onMay 28. The program featured the Fil-

Am Dance Ensemble, guest speakercivil service mariner Radio ElectronicsTechnician Terri Cheng-Nodelmanand remarks from Rear Adm. RobertO. Wray, deputy commander, MSC.At an awards ceremony in Washing-

ton, D.C., May 19, Jessica Chu, con-tracts and business management, re-ceived the MSC headquarters 4th Quar-ter 2007 Civilian of the Quarter Award,and Warren Thomas, administrativesupport center, was recognized as therunner up. Navy Intelligence Special-ist 1st Class Stefanie Crawford, oper-ations, received the MSC headquarters1st Quarter 2008 Senior Sailor of theQuarter Award, and Navy OperationsSpecialist 2nd Class Carol Halstead,operations, received the MSC head-

quarters 1st Quarter 2008 Junior Sailorof the Quarter Award.MSC welcomes Louis Novak and

Seamus Hunt, engineering; NavyChief Storekeeper Evelyn Lim, logis-tics; Andrew Fiske and StephenHughes, contracts and business man-agement; Navy Information SystemsTechnician 2nd Class Rodney Brown,command, control, communications,and computer systems; and NavyCmdr. Glenn Macario, operations.MSC bids farewell to Christine

Muth, counsel; Talishia Turner,comptroller’s office; Johanna O’Neill,administrative support center; Navy Lt.Cmdr. Stephen Frangos, engineering;and Rowland Smith, Special MissionProgram.

By Anna HancockMSC Public Affairs

From Saipan, to Korea, to Washington, D.C., Military Sealift Command tookpart in honoring U.S. merchant mariners all around the world. Air Force Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander, U.S. Transportation Com-

mand, and more than 250 guests paid tribute May 22 to some of the unsung he-roes of national defense – U.S. merchant mariners – at Military Sealift Com-mand’s annual National Maritime Day memorial service and wreath-laying cer-emony at the Washington Navy Yard Cold War Museum.National Maritime Day was established by Congress in 1933 to honor the

contributions and sacrifices of U.S. merchant mariners in defense of the nation. At the heart of the ceremony was the placing of three wreaths to commemo-

rate the sacrifices that generations of mariners have made in service to the na-tion. The solemn occasion drew to a close with a 21-gun salute by a seven-per-son firing party positioned on the Anacostia River waterfront just outside themuseum. Following the ceremony, the wreaths were transferred to the MerchantMarine bronze relief sculpture on the East Wall of the Navy Memorial in Wash-ington, D.C.“These are the people who ensure that the promises we’ve made to our serv-

ice men and women are and always will be promises kept,” said Schwartz.Special guests in attendance included World War II veterans who served as

merchant mariners on the tankers and ammunition ships that supplied Alliedtroops in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. “This was the first Maritime Day that I’ve [observed], and it has been a won-

derful experience,” said retired Navy Cmdr. Bill Carter, one of the six WorldWar II veterans honored at the ceremony.Cadets from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in

Piney Point, Md., also attended the ceremony.Across the Far East and Indian Ocean, MSC offices and squadrons took the

opportunity to recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. merchant mariners.

MSC’s office in Korea observed Maritime Day during a ceremony in Busan,the world’s fifth largest port and MSCO Korea’s home for over a half a century.More than 80 dignitaries from the U.S. and Republic of Korea military, port au-thorities, local government officials, U.S. Consulate, and representatives fromthe maritime industry attended the event.MPS Squadron Three operations officer Navy Chief Warrant Officer Tim

Ratliff, along with Lafe Fraley, a U.S. merchant mariner and boatswain aboardMaritime Prepositioning Ship MV 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman, attended a ceremonyto honor National Maritime Day at the American Memorial Park in Saipan May22. Sponsored by the U.S. National Park Service, the American flag was raisedslowly in tribute to the thousands of merchant mariners who perished in serviceto the nation in past conflicts. At Diego Garcia, MPS Squadron Two commander Navy Capt. John Arbter,

along with Capt. Wilbur Dahn, master of Maritime Prepositioning Ship SS Pfc.Eugene A. Obregon, Capt. Tim Sullivan, master of prepositioning ship MVSSG Edward A. Carter Jr., and MSCO Diego Garcia commanding officer NavyLt. Cmdr. Omar Jana, spoke at a Maritime Day ceremony held May 23 at theIndian Ocean island’s United Seamen’s Service center. At Guam’s United Seamen’s Service center May 23, MPS Squadron Three

commander Navy Capt. Ulysses Zalamea, addressed an audience of 30 U.S.Navy Sailors, merchant mariners and other guests on the importance of U.S.merchant mariners to the nation. Staff members from Ship Support UnitGuam attended. At Okinawa’s United Seamen’s Service center, Navy Capt.Humberto L. Quintanilla, chief of staff of Expeditionary Strike Group 7 andTask Force 76, was the keynote speaker at a Maritime Day ceremony May 23.More than 200 guests attended, including Japanese Coast Guard Rear Adm.Uryu Haruhiko, deputy commander, 11th Regional Coast Guard headquarters,Okinawa. Since the American Revolutionary War, U.S. merchant mariners have provid-

ed vital equipment and supplies to our warfighters. MSC is the nation’s largestemployer of U.S. merchant mariners and seeks to honor them each year.

Merchant mariners honored by Military Sealift Command

FFAARR •• EEAASSTT •• HHAAIILLSS

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CCEENNTTRRAALL •• CCUURRRREENNTTSS

7

CCOOMMPPAASSSS •• HHEEAADDIINNGG

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Military Sealift Fleet SupportCommand’s new headquartershas been opened, on a limitedbasis, for scheduled tours by per-sonnel ultimately moving into thenew facilities. Employees fromboth the comptroller and con-tracting directorates have visitedthe spaces. With newly paintedwalls, carpet and a paved em-ployee parking lot, the facilityshould receive its first occupantswithin weeks instead of months.

Capt. Bob Wiley, master ofhospital ship USNS Mercy, hasestablished a blog to keep family,friends and the civil servicemariner community abreast ofevents aboard Mercy while theship is underway for the humani-tarian mission Pacific Partnership2008. Wiley posts stories of themen and women who compriseMercy’s crew along with photo-graphs taken along the way. Hisblog, which has a link from theMSFSC Web page, is athttp://mercycaptain.blogspot.com.

MSFSC’s Web page has a newlink to the organization’s shore-side civil service vacancy an-nouncements. By selecting thetab to the position announce-ment, viewers will gain accessto information about the posi-tion and steps to applying forjobs ashore.Fair winds and following seas

to the following civil servicemariners as they enter onto theretirement rolls: AssistantDamage Control OfficerGeorge Blanchard, Able Sea-man Reynaldo Dandan, Sup-ply Officer Henry Dunlap Jr.,1st Assistant Engineer NeilHutchings, Laundryman AbelLejarde, Chief Cook EduardoMedina, Boatswain JoseMonge, Able Seaman GennaroOratelli and Utilityman GeraldSoriano. For more news on MSFSC and

civil service mariners, visit theWeb site and online publication:www.msc.navy.mil/msfsc.

Maritime Prepositioning ShipSquadron Three changed commandMay 30 when Navy Capt. RichardDaniel relieved Navy Capt. UlyssesZalamea aboard the squadron’s flag-ship MV Cpl. Louis J. Hauge Jr.Daniel reports to the squadron fromNavy Training Support Center, SanDiego. Navy Capt. Jim Romano, com-

mander, Sealift Logistics CommandFar East visited the Republic of Singa-pore navy’s Changi Naval Base May20, where he met with the base com-manding officer Col. Joe Cheung. Ac-companying Romano were Ship Sup-port Unit Singapore commanding offi-cer Navy Lt. Cmdr. Mike Little andSEALOGFE’s operations officer NavyCmdr. Paul Grgas. Cheung presentedan overview brief to Romano, Littleand Grgas on base operations and in-frastructure. Next, the group was ableto observe some of the Singaporenavy’s most modern warships at thepier. Changi is Singapore’s largestnaval base and host to many MSC andUSS ships visiting Singapore. In other news, Maritime Preposition-

ing Ship USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummushosted a group of teachers and studentsfrom the local Marianas High School

May 7. The group toured the ship andstayed aboard for lunch.During a routine port visit to the

Philippines, crew members from com-bat stores ship USNS Niagara Fallscleaned and painted several class-rooms at the Kalalake elementaryschool outside of Olongapo April 29.The school’s teachers treated the Ni-agara Falls’ crew to a lunch of localcuisine as students performed tradi-tional dances. SEALOGFE welcomed Navy Cmdr.

Paul Grgas as the command’s opera-tions officer. Grgas reports from thestaff of Commander, Logistics GroupWestern Pacific, which is collocatedwith SEALOGFE in Singapore. Navy Chief Gunner’s Mate David

Price departed MPS Squadron Threeand was relieved by Navy Chief Gun-ner’s Mate Thomas Peck. At Military Sealift Command Office

Korea, Navy Storekeeper 1st ClassArnel Betita relieved Navy Store-keeper 1st Class Chris Lapid as sup-ply officer. Navy Chief Yeoman RickPettis, the command’s administrativeofficer, was relieved by Navy Yeoman2nd Class Deanna Cox. MSCO DiegoGarcia welcomed Navy Storekeeper2nd Class David Haney.

Military Sealift Command fast com-bat support ship USNS Rainier, combatstores ship USNS San Jose, fleet re-plenishment oilers USNS Kanawhaand USNS Pecos and fleet ocean tugUSNS Catawba continued their 5thFleet deployments in support of mar-itime security operations and opera-tions Iraqi Freedom and Enduring

Freedom in June. They have been pro-viding support to the USS AbrahamLincoln carrier strike group, USS Nas-sau expeditionary strike group andother coalition naval forces. Catawbarecently participated in a dive trainingexercise with Mobile Diving and Sal-vage Unit Two, while in port in Mana-ma, Bahrain.

Large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Gilliland off-loaded165,000 square feet of cargo return-ing from Operation Iraqi Freedomduring the ship’s May 12-17Charleston stop.Military Sealift Command-chartered

ship SS Westward Venture loaded

75,000 square feet of cargo and mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicles onJune 8 destined for duty in OperationIraqi Freedom. Sealift Logistics Command Atlantic

supply officer, Navy Lt. j.g. MauraThompson, was promoted to the rankof lieutenant on June 2.

Maritime Prepositioning ShipSquadron Once changed hands May 22 inCorfu, Greece. Navy Capt. WilliamSheehan accepted command from NavyCapt. Clay Saunders aboard squadronflagship USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo.U.S. 6th Fleet command ship USS

Mount Whitney participated in AustereChallenge 2008 May 2-13 in the Mediter-ranean Sea. This exercise was designed totest U.S. European Command’s joint taskforce capabilities when responding tomilitary contingencies in theater. After internal fighting broke out in

Lebanon May 8, MSC fleet replenish-ment oiler USNS Patuxent, drycargo/ammunition ship USNS Sacagaweaand fast combat support ship USNS Arc-tic conducted resupply missions in theEastern Mediterranean Sea in support ofU.S. 6th Fleet ships deployed to the re-gion. USS Mount Whitney also deployed

from its homeport in Gaeta, Italy, May 14to support efforts to resupply the U.S.Embassy in Beirut. MSC Deputy Commander Rear Adm.

Robert O. Wray visited Sealift LogisticsCommand Europe in Naples, Italy, May7-10. While in Naples, the admiral metwith SEALOGEUR commander NavyCapt. Nicholas H. Holman and ShipSupport Unit Naples director MichaelRagonese and addressed the staff duringan all-hands call. Sacagawea was in Hammernesodden,

Norway, May 19-21, loading U.S. MarineCorps Prepositioning Program-Norway,or MCPP-N, ammunition for delivery tothe United States. The MCPP-N facilityprepositions a 30-day supply of combatequipment and ammunition ashore inNorway for use in Europe-based U.S. andNATO exercises or for use by the MarineCorps in times of conflict.

In May, fleet ocean tug USNS Nava-jo played an instrumental role in the re-covery of the tail rotor of a Navy H-60H helicopter that crashed Nov. 9,2007, off the coast of San Diego. Nava-jo deployed a remotely operated vehi-cle, which located the tail rotor of thehelicopter. Navajo searched a sea floorarea measuring approximately twosquare nautical miles, searching for the150-pound, 132-inch-long rotor. Opera-tions began on May 13. The rotor wasrecovered May 18, well ahead of itsscheduled date of June 10, and will beused as part of the investigation intothe cause of the accident.Fleet replenishment oiler USNS

Yukon participated in Exercise NorthernEdge 2008 May 1-18 in the Gulf ofAlaska. The joint exercise allowed par-ticipants to simulate responding to crisesin the Asian Pacific region. During theexercise, Yukon provided fuel and sup-plies to the Navy guided missile de-stroyers USS Chafee and USS John PaulJones, also participating in the exercise.Fleet replenishment oiler USNS

Henry J. Kaiser received Bravo Zulurecognition for its fueling efforts in sup-port of the aircraft carrier USS RonaldReagan and its strike group. Kaiser sup-ported five emergent underway replen-ishments, which enabled the recentlydeployed Reagan strike group to clearthe Southern California operating area

quickly as the weather deteriorated rap-idly and continue on their first leg oftheir 2008 Western Pacific deployment.

Rear Adm. Robert D. Reilly Jr.,commander, Military Sealift Command,recently visited San Diego May 27-29.While in the city, Reilly served as guestspeaker for the San Diego Military Ad-visory Council breakfast and the Sur-face Navy Association luncheon. Reillyalso visited Kaiser, Yukon and Navajo.In addition, he also held all-hands callswith Sealift Logistics Command Pacificand Ship Support Unit San Diego per-sonnel and civil service mariners fromthe Customer Support Unit West.Navy Capt. David Kiehl, command-

er, SEALOGPAC, presented letters ofcommendation to MSC representativeoffice Seattle employees KathleenO’Leary and Steven Busby for theiroutstanding efforts to support MSC’smission in the Pacific Northwest duringthe period of January to April while thedirector’s position was vacant. SEALOGPAC welcomes Bruce

Leach, the new director of MSC’s rep-resentatives in Seattle. Best wishes toTerry Wight, Military Sealift FleetSupport Command/SSU San Diegocontracts department as he leaves a 10-year career with MSC in San Diego fora position with Commander, Mainte-nance and Logistics Command, Pacific,U.S. Coast Guard, Alameda, Calif.

In May 2008, Sealift LogisticsCommand Central coordinated fourdry cargo operations, moving morethan 1.2 million square feet of com-bat equipment. In addition, the com-mand moved more than 52 milliongallons of fuel in support of opera-tions Iraqi Freedom and EnduringFreedom. Navy Capt. Anthony Dropp,

SEALOGCENT commander, wel-

comes incoming deputy commander,Navy Capt. Joseph Hennessy, andreplenishment officer, Navy Lt.Cmdr. William Booth. Departingdeputy commander, Navy Capt.Michael Johnson, will head to U.S.Fleet Forces Command and departingreplenishment officer, Navy Lt.Cmdr. Michal Carl, will be the aidefor U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Robert Dail,director of Defense Logistics Agency.

8

By Trish LarsonMSC Public Affairs

Every day, millions of barrels offuel oil are moved across the

world’s oceans on Military SealiftCommand fleet replenishment oil-ers, as well as MSC’s government-owned and commercially-char-tered tankers. These oil-ladenships are a pivotal part of the sup-ply line that keeps U.S. militaryships and aircraft deployed aroundthe world in support of the na-tion’s armed forces. With that mis-sion goes the enormous responsi-bility of protecting ocean andcoastal environments.Nowhere was that responsibili-

ty more evident than during acarefully crafted oil-spill exerciseconducted at the San Diego Con-vention Center June 10-12 andled by Navy Region Southwest.More than 150 government and indus-try participants, including 10 fromMSC commands, were able to testtheir response skills without posingany harm to the waters off the Califor-nia coast. A multi-faceted computer simulation

featured a collision at sea between the678-foot MSC fleet replenishment oilerUSNS John Ericsson and a 670-footChevron tanker MV Jupiter about 25miles off the coast of San Diego. Par-ticipants got to visualize the adrena-line-charged situation that would existif the two ships had suddenly and un-expectedly discharged more than100,000 barrels of crude and diesel oilinto the ocean.

“We all hope that a situation like thiswould never occur,” said Jerry Abrams,safety management director at MilitarySealift Fleet Support Command and anevaluator of the exercise’s unified com-mand, which included the U.S. CoastGuard, the state of California, MSC andChevron. “But we must be prepared fora worst-case scenario. Exercises likethis one help ensure that the agenciesthat are tasked to respond are able to doso quickly and appropriately.”MSC civil service mariners from dry

cargo/ammunition ship USNS AmeliaEarhart were key participants, includ-ing ship master Capt. John Pope, ChiefMate Mike Price and Cargo Mate GuyZiccardi. All of them role-played the

parts of crew members aboard the hy-pothetical, disaster-struck Ericsson inthe exercise. Other MSC participantsincluded engineers and a naval archi-tect from headquarters and representa-tives from MSFSC in Norfolk andSealift Logistics Command Pacific inSan Diego.First responders, like the U.S. Coast

Guard, demonstrated the rapid-fire se-ries of actions they would take in an oil-spill emergency. Masters from bothships involved in the simulation initiat-ed the drill by making a series of notifi-cations to Coast Guard, Navy and otherfederal and state authorities. Navy Lt. Roger Barajas, SEALOG-

PAC’s representative on the unified

command, ensured that the Navy’sinterests were considered as thescenario unfolded. He coordinatedwith the Navy’s Supervisor of Sal-vage in Washington, D.C., to helpput salvage operations in motionfor Ericsson and ensured thewounded ship would have an es-cort while it was towed to a ship-yard for repair.“This exercise tested the unified

command system,” said Barajas. “Itensured that in the event of a realemergency, we would all knowwhat steps we needed to take.” “MSC’s efforts as a response

team were truly impressive,” saidPope. “I was also encouraged bythe success and smooth coordina-tion of the vast number of responseagencies involved. We all have acommon goal: to protect the envi-ronment, and we’ve all gained a

great deal from this exercise.”Throughout the exercise evaluators

provided feedback to exercise partici-pants — maximizing the training ben-efit to all participants. More detailedinformation was shared during a com-prehensive debrief and a sharing oflessons learned at the conclusion ofthe exercise. “The Navy at large, and MSC in par-

ticular, can be justifiably proud ofspearheading exercises like this one,”said MSC’s Director of EngineeringKevin Baetsen. “We cannot afford togrow complacent about our roles asstewards of the environment. It takesconstant vigilance and training to makesure that we’re ready to respond if acrisis occurs.”

ExerciseIncident location

LEGEND

Oil coverageHeavy

Medium

Light

San DiegoSan Diego

Mexico

Pacific Ocean

June 12at 7 a.m.

June 13at 7 a.m.

2 4 8NauticalMiles

This chart shows the effects of the fictitious oil spill as it migrates over a 24-hour period.

Photo illustration by Susan Thomas; information courtesy of The Response Group, Inc.

Exercise Spill Information

83,000 barrelsArabian Light Crude

24,000 barrelsDiesel

Chevron Tanker USNS Ericsson

By Rosemary HeissMSC Public Affairs

Oceanographers from the Naval OceanographicOffice and mariners aboard oceanographic sur-

vey ship USNS Pathfinder collaborated with Eston-ian researchers from May 31 to June 4 in an attemptto find the remains of a Finnish airplane, the Kaleva,that crashed during World War II. Kaleva, which wascarrying nine passengers — including U.S. diplomat-ic courier Henry W. Antheil Jr. — mysteriously ex-ploded 10 minutes after taking off from Estonia’sairport on the first day of the Soviet-blockade of thecountry June 14, 1940.Pathfinder arrived in Tallinn, Estonia, on May 26,

after its Minister of Defense Jaak Aaviksoo request-ed the assistance of a U.S. Navy survey ship in aJanuary 2008 letter to U.S. Secretary of DefenseRobert Gates. “We were glad to work with the Estonian military

and to search for Kaleva,” said Navy Capt. NicholasH. Holman, the commander of Sealift LogisticsCommand Europe who oversees all U.S. Navy non-combatant ships and aircraft operating in Europe andAfrica. “This was a wonderful opportunity for us towork together and build upon the already strongpartnership between our two nations.”During the search, Pathfinder deployed three au-

tonomous underwater vehicles, which used sophisti-cated scientific data-gathering methods to collect in-formation about a section of the Baltic Sea whereEstonian and Finnish researchers believed thedowned airplane to be. Pathfinder’s crew worked around the clock for

days collecting and reviewing recorded data from theautonomous underwater vehicles, including side-scansonar and video. “After gathering the data, there was no indication

of a large, human-made object in this area,” saidMarty Ammond, the senior surveyor for the NavalOceanographic Office. “I have a high level of confi-dence that the plane is not there.”

“Now that these coordinates have been ruled out,we hope that other ships will continue the search thissummer,” said Eric Johnson, a spokesman at the U.S.Embassy in Estonia. “We are confident that the Kale-va will someday be found.”Though the Kaleva location remains a mystery, the

search benefitted both U.S. and Estonian participants. “Americans and Estonians have deepened their re-

lationship, and have honed their abilities,” said John-son. “As a result, we both contribute stronger, surercapabilities to NATO.” USNS Pathfinder is one of seven noncombatant

oceanographic survey ships owned by MilitarySealift Command and operated on behalf of the

Naval Oceanographic Office. These survey ships areforward-deployed year round surveying the world’soceans using a variety of sonar systems to collectdata in coastal and deep sea waters. The ships areoperated by U.S. merchant mariners, while a team ofcivilian oceanographers from the Naval Oceano-graphic Office are embarked to carry out the surveymission.Oceanographic survey ships have a recent history

of being asked to find missing aircraft. In January2007, Pathfinder’s sister ship USNS Mary Sears waspart of a team that successfully located a commercialjetliner that had disappeared off the coast of WestSulawesi, Indonesia.

MSC helps search for plane downed in WWII

Oceanographers from the Naval Oceanographic Office deploy an autonomous underwater vehicle into theBaltic Sea from Military Sealift Command oceanographic survey ship USNS Pathfinder. The vehicle was partof a search effort to locate a Finnish airplane that went down during World War II.

Oil-spill exercise tests MSC responders

Photo by Victor Cornin