POHANG, Republic of Korea (NNS) -- The amphibious landing dock ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) embarked two MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 14 off the coast of Pohang, Korea on March 12.
The taking on of the helicopters was in preparation to provide humanitarian assistance in support of earthquake and tsunami relief operations in Japan as directed.
The ships of crew more than 250 Sailors were recalled Friday night on March 11, and out to sea in less than six hours after the initial earthquake to take on landing craft unit and embark HM 14 aircraft.
"We consistently train for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said Cmdr. A. D. Ragland, Tortuga's commanding officer. "Our crew is ready to serve in whatever capacity the United States Navy calls for."
The Whidbey Island-class amphibious ships like Tortuga have the largest well deck capacity of any Navy ship and are ideal platforms for troop, vehicle and cargo transport. With two landing craft utility (LCU) vehicles from Assault Craft Unit 1, which are capable of transferring more than 100 personnel and vehicles ashore per landing to provide required assistance.
"HM 14's heavy lift capabilities have been essential in past disaster response efforts in the region. They can take engineering equipment and large amounts of cargo to places they would otherwise not be able to go," said Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Task Force 76.
During Typhoon Morakot disaster response, HM 14 flew 55 sorties and lifted more than 260,000 pounds of gear, including excavators and engineering support equipment.
Tortuga, along with the rest of the Essex Amphibious ready group are transiting toward Japan to provide assistance to areas impacted by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of northern Honshu and subsequent tsunami.
The taking on of the helicopters was in preparation to provide humanitarian assistance in support of earthquake and tsunami relief operations in Japan as directed.
The ships of crew more than 250 Sailors were recalled Friday night on March 11, and out to sea in less than six hours after the initial earthquake to take on landing craft unit and embark HM 14 aircraft.
"We consistently train for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," said Cmdr. A. D. Ragland, Tortuga's commanding officer. "Our crew is ready to serve in whatever capacity the United States Navy calls for."
The Whidbey Island-class amphibious ships like Tortuga have the largest well deck capacity of any Navy ship and are ideal platforms for troop, vehicle and cargo transport. With two landing craft utility (LCU) vehicles from Assault Craft Unit 1, which are capable of transferring more than 100 personnel and vehicles ashore per landing to provide required assistance.
"HM 14's heavy lift capabilities have been essential in past disaster response efforts in the region. They can take engineering equipment and large amounts of cargo to places they would otherwise not be able to go," said Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, commander, Task Force 76.
During Typhoon Morakot disaster response, HM 14 flew 55 sorties and lifted more than 260,000 pounds of gear, including excavators and engineering support equipment.
Tortuga, along with the rest of the Essex Amphibious ready group are transiting toward Japan to provide assistance to areas impacted by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred off the coast of northern Honshu and subsequent tsunami.
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ATSUGI, Japan (NNS) -- Helicopters assigned to the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 14 at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, transported 1,500 pounds of rice and bread to survivors of the 8.9 earthquake and tsunami Japan on March 12.
The supplies will help feed more than 2,000 people sleeping in the local gymnasium in Shiroishi.
The citizens of Ebina City, a community adjacent to Atsugi, donated the food to the community in the Miyagi Prefecture.
NAF Atsugi's Commanding Officer Capt Eric Gardner said they were more than happy to answer the request to transport the rice and bread.
"This is one of our core capacities from the CNO's National Maritime Strategy," said Gardner. "We had the opportunity and America is always ready to stand up and assist our Japanese hosts."
After various planning, coordinating and preflight meetings, the helicopters were loaded and flew north with the food for delivery.
Once the helicopters landed at the Shiroishi Baseball Field, more than a dozen people were waiting to receive the food supply.
One person waiting for the aid said it was great to get the bread and rice, because of the "unreliable supplies at the local grocery stores right now."
HS 4 is ready to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance to Japan as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi.
The supplies will help feed more than 2,000 people sleeping in the local gymnasium in Shiroishi.
The citizens of Ebina City, a community adjacent to Atsugi, donated the food to the community in the Miyagi Prefecture.
NAF Atsugi's Commanding Officer Capt Eric Gardner said they were more than happy to answer the request to transport the rice and bread.
"This is one of our core capacities from the CNO's National Maritime Strategy," said Gardner. "We had the opportunity and America is always ready to stand up and assist our Japanese hosts."
After various planning, coordinating and preflight meetings, the helicopters were loaded and flew north with the food for delivery.
Once the helicopters landed at the Shiroishi Baseball Field, more than a dozen people were waiting to receive the food supply.
One person waiting for the aid said it was great to get the bread and rice, because of the "unreliable supplies at the local grocery stores right now."
HS 4 is ready to provide disaster relief and humanitarian assistance to Japan as directed in support of Operation Tomodachi.
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PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) departed from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka on March 12, to provide humanitarian assistance in support of earthquake and tsunami relief operations in Japan as directed.
"We had just pulled into Yokosuka when I got the word to head back out and proceed north. We're now part of the search and rescue operations taking place off of the coast of Japan," said Cmdr. Matt Lehman, commanding officer of John S. McCain.
"As a member of Destroyer Squadron 15 and the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, we'll be working side-by-side with USS Ronald Reagan and other Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, helping with any humanitarian operations that come up," he added.
McCain's mission involves using rigid-hull inflatable boats to search for anything adrift in the water and providing support for any helicopter operations by acting as a refueling station; an operation also known as "lily padding."
"I'm really proud of my guys," said Lehman. "We got the call late at night, right when we returned from an exercise and here we are again doing our thing. It's a real testament to the all the Sailors in the U.S. Navy that we can get underway in such a short period. I'm proud to be part of this operation and I know we'll do the best we can do and help everyone we can."
McCain along with the destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) will assist Japanese authorities off the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan to provide at-sea search and rescue recovery operations.
"We had just pulled into Yokosuka when I got the word to head back out and proceed north. We're now part of the search and rescue operations taking place off of the coast of Japan," said Cmdr. Matt Lehman, commanding officer of John S. McCain.
"As a member of Destroyer Squadron 15 and the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, we'll be working side-by-side with USS Ronald Reagan and other Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) ships, helping with any humanitarian operations that come up," he added.
McCain's mission involves using rigid-hull inflatable boats to search for anything adrift in the water and providing support for any helicopter operations by acting as a refueling station; an operation also known as "lily padding."
"I'm really proud of my guys," said Lehman. "We got the call late at night, right when we returned from an exercise and here we are again doing our thing. It's a real testament to the all the Sailors in the U.S. Navy that we can get underway in such a short period. I'm proud to be part of this operation and I know we'll do the best we can do and help everyone we can."
McCain along with the destroyers USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) will assist Japanese authorities off the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan to provide at-sea search and rescue recovery operations.
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USS Blue Ridge readies to provide aid to Japan
SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- Seventh Fleet command flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) Sailors and embarked 7th Fleet staff members are preparing for humanitarian aid and disaster relief support operations while sailing toward the eastern coast of mainland Japan March 13.
Blue Ridge Sailors loaded a humanitarian aid/disaster relief (HADR) kit while moored in Singapore Friday night and set sail Saturday morning. Shortly after departing Singapore, the ship completed replenishment-at-sea operations with USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204), receiving fuel and additional supplies.
"I'm amazed at the things we've achieved in such a short time," said Master Chief Information Systems Technician Lonnie Gillilan, who led the recent on-load preparations aboard Blue Ridge. "We've all been pulling together, no complaining. I'm very impressed."
Sailors worked past midnight Friday, loading equipment to allow Blue Ridge to provide fresh water and supplies during HADR support operations.
"It's giving me a sense of accomplishment to know that the work we're doing could help people out," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Patrick Ramos, who helped push crates of supplies from the flight deck.
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jonathan Howton, a leading petty officer aboard Blue Ridge, has experience conducting HADR support operations in conditions similar to those location in Japan affected by the recent tsunami.
"I was aboard USS Iwo Jima when we provided aid to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," said Howton. "In a disaster situation you have to prepare for the unknown. You never know what's going to happen."
USS Blue Ridge is uniquely equipped and able to perform amphibious command and control operations and is ready to support assigned HADR relief efforts.
Blue Ridge Sailors loaded a humanitarian aid/disaster relief (HADR) kit while moored in Singapore Friday night and set sail Saturday morning. Shortly after departing Singapore, the ship completed replenishment-at-sea operations with USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204), receiving fuel and additional supplies.
"I'm amazed at the things we've achieved in such a short time," said Master Chief Information Systems Technician Lonnie Gillilan, who led the recent on-load preparations aboard Blue Ridge. "We've all been pulling together, no complaining. I'm very impressed."
Sailors worked past midnight Friday, loading equipment to allow Blue Ridge to provide fresh water and supplies during HADR support operations.
"It's giving me a sense of accomplishment to know that the work we're doing could help people out," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Patrick Ramos, who helped push crates of supplies from the flight deck.
Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jonathan Howton, a leading petty officer aboard Blue Ridge, has experience conducting HADR support operations in conditions similar to those location in Japan affected by the recent tsunami.
"I was aboard USS Iwo Jima when we provided aid to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina," said Howton. "In a disaster situation you have to prepare for the unknown. You never know what's going to happen."
USS Blue Ridge is uniquely equipped and able to perform amphibious command and control operations and is ready to support assigned HADR relief efforts.