050923-N-4913K-006 Ingleside, Texas (Sept. 23, 2005) - In preparation of Hurricane Rita, mine warfare ships home ported at Naval Station Ingleside nest in a modified mooring. U.S. Navy photo by Fifi Kieschnick (RELEASED)
Posted on 09/28/2005 5:55:54 PM PDT by SandRat
NAVAL STATION INGLESIDE, Texas (NNS) -- Mine warfare ships based here are prepared to deploy in support of Hurricane Rita disaster recovery efforts.
USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Avenger (MCM 1) and USS Pioneer (MCM 9) are conducting unit level training and sonar calibration operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
These ships are on standby to conduct survey operations of the Galveston and Houston safety fairways to help determine if they are free of any storm-related debris and to ensure the safety of deep-draft traffic transit.
“We are looking forward to supporting Hurricane Rita recovery efforts,” said Capt. Jonathan Tobias, commodore of Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 3 and tactical commander for mine warfare assets that previously surveyed the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) and safety fairways of south Grand Isle. “We successfully applied our mine warfare skills in support of Joint Task Force Katrina, surveying more than 250 nautical miles of safety fairways and 35 oil platforms. This was a critical tasking in support of putting U.S. oil production and shipping back into play.”
Other mine warfare ships are also preparing to assist in survey operations should they be called, as well as MH-53E helicopters from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15. Mine warfare assets standing by to support Hurricane Rita recovery efforts are under the tactical command of MCMRON 1, commanded by Capt. Kevin Scott.
Navy PING
FYI: Ingleside is on the BRAC list
And it'll take them the better part of a day to transit that far ;^) the 'sweeps don't go that fast ... about 14 knots flank which is about 15-16 mph (but that's top speed ... won't be pushing it). Speed isn't a requirement for mine countermeasures.
Just so long as you're not picking on the little guys.
Those ships are being transferred To San Diego when
their base closes.
Ingleside is less than 20 years old. Middle of the Texas coast. I don't get it.
I don't know if it's dumb or any better -- still scratching my head on that one. Though it probably was a good thing to scrap the Inchon -- though they really do need some sort of 'mother ship.'
Nope, those guys get all of the crap and none of the credit. They do a heroic job (anybody that activily LOOKs for mines is approaching hero status in my book). COMMINEWARCOM needs a raise -- but that's just this guys opinion.
It's part of the extra manpower reduction that they (DOD) is after. Ingleside was a split the middle decision for those boats. Doesn't make strategic sense but we don't have that kind of budget.
BTTT
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.