OFF THE COAST OF JACKSONVILLE, N.C. -- Those who fail to adapt, fail to survive, according to Darwin's Theory of Evolution. To counter ever-changing threats to peace and freedom, the U.S. Navy exploits new concepts and technologies both in its planning and operations. Enter USS San Antonio (LPD-17), the latest in a new line of amphibious transport docks conceived to do just that.
The San Antonio will be the newest point in the trident of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, by which the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit projects power on foreign shores. The new LPD boasts considerable improvements over older models and Marines from the 26th MEU and Battalion Landing Team 3/8 came aboard in March to help the Navy test San Antonio's expeditionary capabilities.
For the Operational Evaluation, more than 600 Marines and sailors conducted hundreds of exercises and training evolutions, spanning a MEU's spectrum of capabilities from helicopter missions to amphibious operations. The Marines' activities helped the Navy evaluate how well the ship conducts these missions. Evaluators observed logistical tasks such as onloading, stowing and debarking combat vehicles.
They watched as MEU pilots logged hundreds of flight hours.
They also observed how crew and ship facilities accommodated hundreds of embarked personnel.
Marines conducted more than 380 helicopter missions on San Antonio's improved flight deck with CH-53 Sea Stallion, CH-46 Sea Knight, UH-1 Huey and AH-1 Cobra helicopters, including landing four CH-46's at the same time, something older LPDs simply couldn't do.
The San Antonio boasts a larger and better-designed "well deck," an internal wet/dry dock from which boats and amphibious vehicles launch and recover. Marine vehicles like the Assault Amphibian Vehicle can move swiftly from vehicle stowage and launch directly into the sea from there. To support the OpEval, the Marines participated in well deck operations including an AAV launch, Combat Rigid Raider Craft launch and recovery and movement ashore via Navy Landing Craft Air Cushioned and the traditional Landing Craft Utility.
Transport dock ships draw water as ballast and partially lower into the sea to support amphibious operations. San Antonio's larger well deck can support two LCACs simultaneously, getting Marine vehicles like the HMMWV, M1A1 tank, Light Armored Vehicle-25 and M23 7-ton trucks to shore more quickly and efficiently.
In all, the Marines participated in more than 450 flight deck and well deck events in a two-week period and transported more than 1,400 passengers throughout various exercises. Not a single significant injury happened during the OpEval, a testament to safety procedures and clear-headedness throughout this grueling evaluation, according to 26th MEU Safety Officer, Mr. Eddie Smith.
Ship facilities such as the galley, berthing, fresh and waste water, electricity, laundry disbursing, and a number of others were also burdened as part of the evaluation. For example, messmen and Marine augmentees in the galley produced an additional 1,800 daily meals to feed embarked Marines. Measuring the ship's ability to support and sustain Marines with food, water, services and living conditions is critical to the ship's future role in the amphibious Navy.
"This is a new phase in the Navy/Marine Corps relationship, particularly with the amphibious Navy," said Lt. Col. John R. Giltz, commander of the 26th MEU's Logistics Combat Element, CLB-26. San Antonio's flight deck, well deck, stowage, passageways and berthing were designed to make the embarked 26th MEU a more versatile, swift and efficient expeditionary force for projecting American political will on foreign shores.
"It was designed from the keel up for Marines," Giltz said. "It was well thought out operationally and in its ability to transport Marines to places where we're going to find ourselves doing missions ... I think you'll find it can do a lot more even than they realize right now."
"This ship will enable a MEU to perform faster and with greater precision," said 26th MEU Executive Officer Lt. Col. John W. Capdepon. “It will give the MEU commander even more speed and flexibility to meet his objectives.”
Major Allen D. Agra, CLB-26's executive officer, said he believes the San Antonio has the ability to support MEU operations independent of the other two vessels of its ESG if need be. In the event the 26th MEU would have to support multiple, geographically separate operations, he said the San Antonio and embarked Marines could handle a "split-ESG."
This is quite a statement, considering a MEU and the ESG’s three ships have historically been designed to operate together.
"In the event we have to," began Agra, "we could split from the Iwo (the larger USS Iwo Jima, LHD-7) and conduct operations independently." This kind of flexibility multiplies the 26th MEU commander's range and options. Agra said the ship's configuration maximizes efficiency of its approximate 24,000 square feet of vehicle storage space while still allowing for quick deployment of assets.
"I was really impressed with the way they had the hummers and 7-tons stowed in there," he stated.
But the sum of the MEU/ESG parts does not describe the whole. More than concepts and equipment, Navy/Marine Corps teamwork make expeditionary evolutions like these run with precision.
"If you want to say the Marine Corps is a Naval service, that's perfectly true," said Giltz. "But where that's proven every day is in the relationships that are built ... between the Marines and amphibious Navy," he said.
Landing support specialist Sgt. Richard Verhaar of CLB-26 worked daily with sailors as a Combat Cargo team leader. He said establishing personal relationships goes a long way toward operating efficiently.
"You get in good with many of the different sailors on the ship and you start to work better as a team because they get to know you on a bit of a more personal level," said Verhaar. "It makes your operations run a lot smoother," he said.
"All branches have got to work together at some time,"
agreed Petty Officer 1st Class Pearline Myers, the galley supervisor. "Because there's a lot going on out there. Everybody's got to have that within themselves if they want to help out that next shipmate or personnel that come aboard, no matter what their branch of service. But Navy/Marine, we just click."
The 26th MEU and Iwo Jima ESG will conduct work-ups throughout the summer and deploy to support U.S. international interests early this Fall.