OAK HARBOR, Wash. – Sailors from Patrol Squadron Nine (VP-9) returned home to family and friends after a successful deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations, the U.S. 4th Fleet Public Affairs said in a May 10 release. 

VP-9 deployed to Cooperative Security Location Comalapa, El Salvador, last October to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Flying 1,060 mishap-free flight hours in the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft, the Golden Eagles coordinated with U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and partner nation surface forces to disrupt more than 38,000 kilograms of cocaine and 18,000 pounds of marijuana worth a street value in excess of $2.7 billion dollars. 
 
“The Golden Eagles lived up to their reputation of operational prowess and mission success,” said Capt. Matthew Pottenburgh, commander of Task Force 47. “They flawlessly executed all the types of missions we train for as maritime patrol aviators which helped people in need and strengthened partnerships with our friends in the region.” 
 
Additionally, VP-9 provided support to two major hurricanes Eta and Iota off the coast of Honduras. Both hurricanes brought heavy rains, severe flooding, and landslides to many of the same areas. VP-9 flew reconnaissance missions in support of disaster response operations, providing real-time information to decision makers to ensure the proper flow of aid to the most severely impacted regions of the country. 
 
The Golden Eagles also participated in several training opportunities, specifically a tri-lateral anti-submarine warfare exercise with forces from Colombia and Peru. Planned in a pandemic environment with no face-to-face meetings, VP-9’s performance enhanced interoperability with two of our key partners and increased the naval warfighting readiness for all three navies. 
 
“The hallmark of VP-9’s deployment was seamless coordination,” said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.  The squadrons are vital to our mission and our partner nation relationships.”   
 
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser crew repatriated 13 of 14 migrants to the Dominican Republic, following the interdiction of a migrant vessel just off the coast of Rincon, Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a May 12 release. 

The migrant group consisting of 13 males, including a 16-year-old minor, and a pregnant woman, claimed being Dominican Republic nationals.  

One of the interdicted migrants remains in Puerto Rico to face possible federal prosecution on charges of attempted illegal re-entry into the United States.  

The interdiction is the result of ongoing efforts by Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) partner agencies to combat illegal migrant smuggling. 

Coast Guard watchstanders at Sector San Juan received a call from a U.S. Border Patrol agent at 3:39 a.m. May 9 reporting a Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action marine unit had intercepted a migrant vessel, approximately three nautical miles off the island’s west coast. During the interdiction, two of the migrants jumped into the water and attempted to swim to shore. 

A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Borinquen launched to search for the two migrants in the water. Once on scene, the Coast Guard aircrew spotted the two men struggling to stay afloat and vectored in the Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser’s cutter boat to their position. The Coast Guard boat crew safely recovered the two men, who were embarked, along with the other migrants, aboard the cutter Winslow Griesser. 

Prior to embarking, the Winslow Griesser crew provided the migrants with lifejackets. Once aboard the cutter, they received food, water and basic medical attention. 

“I commend the responding units in this case,” said Cmdr. Beau Powers, Sector San Juan chief of response. “Their efforts helped save two lives from drowning and ensured the safe return of 13 of the migrants to the Dominican Republic. We call out to anyone considering taking part in an illegal voyage across the Mona Passage that you not take to the sea. The perils are quite real, and your life and the lives of everyone else in the voyage will be in great danger.” 

The crew of the cutter Winslow Griesser transferred 12 adult migrants to a Dominican Republic Navy vessel May 10 and repatriated the minor to Dominican Republic authorities in Santo Domingo Tuesday morning. 

Cutter Winslow Griesser is a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

WASHINGTON (NNS) – Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Gilday traveled to Bath, Maine, May 10 to visit Bath Iron Works with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, his public affairs officer said in a release. 

“One of the most important reasons I am in Maine today is to ensure every person here knows their work is critically important to our Navy,” said Gilday. “DDGs [guided-missile destroyers] are the workhorse of our Fleet, and simply put, you can’t get to the fight if you don’t have ships to sail there. To the entire workforce here at Bath Iron Works who are responsible for helping us generate warfighting readiness, you have my profound thanks.” 

During the trip, Gilday and the Senators saw Bath Iron Works’ shipyard facilities, toured and met with Sailors aboard USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118). 

“It was a pleasure to host Admiral Gilday in Maine to tour Bath Iron Works,” said Collins.  “I am proud of the highly skilled employees at BIW who build the best ships in the world.  Today’s visit provided Adm. Gilday with the opportunity to see firsthand the impressive work that they do to provide our sailors with high quality and technologically advanced destroyers.  As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will continue to be a strong advocate for the shipyard, and I look forward to working with the Navy to increase the size and capabilities of our fleet.” 

During the tour they also visited the Bath Iron Works Training Academy, which teaches new workers to become pipefitters, welders, tinsmiths, and other tradespeople.  

“I’ve long believed that ‘one day of seeing is better than one hundred days of reading.’ Today, the CNO lived by that mantra by coming to get a firsthand look at the important work being done at Bath Iron Works,” said King. “The ships being built at BIW are the workhorses of the Navy, playing an outsized role in our national defense, and they’re all the product of the skill and dedication of Maine’s shipbuilders. I’m grateful to the CNO for taking the time to visit BIW, which is an essential part of our national defense infrastructure and a major economic engine for the state of Maine. In the months ahead, I will continue collaborating with Navy leaders and my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to ensure that this shipyard has the tools it need to continue bolstering our national defense and supporting thousands of good-paying jobs for families throughout Maine.” 

The visit marked CNO’s first trip to Bath Iron Works. 

BLACK SEA — The Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) conducted a series of operational exercises with Ukraine, May 9, 2021, in the Black Sea, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a May 9 release. 
 
Hamilton conducted maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and ship handling operations with the Ukrainian navy vessel Island-class patrol boat Starobilsk (P 241). These operations were designed to increase interoperability as a part of a regional effort to bolster maritime partnerships with NATO partners. 
 
“Hamilton was honored to conduct at-sea operations with the Ukrainian navy,” said Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of Hamilton. “Because we have shared interests, these events promote our strong partnership in ensuring safe and lawful activity in the Black Sea.” 
 
The U.S. Coast Guard has a long and enduring partnership with regional maritime forces, particularly in strengthening maritime forces in Georgia and Ukraine. Hamilton conducted at sea engagements with the Georgian coast guard and a port visit in Batumi, Georgia, last week. 
 
“This was a great opportunity to interact and share best practices with the Ukrainian navy,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Dunsavage, Hamilton crew member. “Both of our crews take pride in being professional mariners, and today, we proved that. We look forward to doing it again.” 
 
Hamilton is the first U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea since 2008. The last U.S. Coast Guard cutter to visit the Black Sea, USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), sailed to the Black Sea twice, in 2008 and 1995. 
 
Hamilton is the fourth national security cutter and is the fifth cutter named for the father of the U.S. Coast Guard: Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and advocate for the creation of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. 
 
The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a routine deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, working alongside NATO Allies and partners, building maritime domain awareness, and sharing best practices with partner nation navies and coast guards. 
 
 
 

RESTON, Va. — Rolls-Royce has been selected to supply its MTU naval generator sets for phase one of the U.S. Navy’s Constellation (FFG 62)- class frigate program, previously known as the FFG(X) program. Rolls-Royce has received a contract for the first shipset to provide four MTU naval generator sets, each rated at 3000 kWe at 1800 rpm. 

The Navy Constellation-class frigate is a multi-mission warship designed for operation in littoral and blue water environments to conduct air, anti-submarine, surface and electronic warfare, in addition to information operations. The generator sets are based on the MTU 20V 4000 M53B engine and provide a total power output of 12 MW for propulsion and on-board power supply. 

“We’re very proud that Fincantieri Marinette Marine has placed its trust in our mtu naval generator sets for this important program,” said Adam Wood, director, Government Sales North America at Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems. “We have a legacy of strong support for our partners in both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, and we are honored to be selected for FFG 62. There is no doubt that our systems will perform to the high expectations and unique demands of the U.S. Navy Constellation class.” 

The flexible design engineering of the frigate’s CODLAG propulsion system will allow for energy-efficient diesel power generation for propulsion at normal cruising speeds with extended range, while enhancing anti-submarine capability in its extremely quiet diesel-electric configuration. When completed, the lead ship will be nearly 500 feet long, accommodate up to 200 Sailors and be capable of sustained speeds of more than 26 knots.  

Fincantieri Marinette Marine of Marinette, Wisconsin, was awarded the build contract for the project, which includes the design and construction of the lead ship and the option to build up to 10 ships in total for phase one. A potential planned second phase would include another 10 ships.  

Construction on the first ship is expected to begin later this year. 

BAHRAIN — On May 10, 2021, Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) fast in-shore attack craft (FIAC), a type of speedboat armed with machine guns, conducted unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers and failed to exercise due regard for the safety of U.S. forces as required under international law while operating in close proximity to U.S. naval vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. 5th Fleet said in a release.

A group of 13 IRGCN FIAC made a high-speed approach on the U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61), patrol coastal ships USS Thunderbolt (PC 12), USS Hurricane (PC 3) and USS Squall (PC 7), Coast Guard patrol boats USCGC Wrangell (WPB 1332) and USCGC Maui (WPB 1304), and the guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729). 

The U.S. naval vessels were exercising transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with customary international law. The U.S. naval vessels were escorting Georgia, as the submarine was transiting on the surface. 
 
Two of the 13 IRGCN vessels broke away from the larger group, transited to the opposite side of the U.S. formation and approached Maui and Squall from behind at a high rate of speed (in excess of 32 knots) with their weapons uncovered and manned. The remaining 11 FIAC maintained position which places the formation of the U.S. ships in between the two IRGCN groups.

To de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of all ships and personnel, U.S. crews issued multiple warnings to both groups of IRCGN vessels. Maui and Squalls’ warning to the group of two included repeated bridge-to-bridge verbal warnings, five acoustic device warnings, and five short blasts of the ship’s horn, the internationally recognized danger signal outlined in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs).

After the two IRGCN vessels failed to respond to repeated warnings and closed within 300 yards, Maui exercised lawful de-escalatory measures by firing warning shots. The two IRGCN vessels again failed to respond to warnings and closed to within 150 yards of Maui, at which time Maui fired additional warning shots. 
 
After U.S. naval ships repeated verbal and acoustic warning, sounded five blasts of the ship’s horn, and fired warning shots, the two FIAC altered course and increased their distance from the U.S. forces.

During the interaction, the IRGCN vessels came within 150 yards of Maui at high speed, an unnecessarily close range that put the ships and their crews in immediate danger. 
 
The two IRGCN vessels maneuvered in an unsafe and unprofessional manner and failed to exercise due regard for the safety of U.S. forces as required under international law. Their actions, coupled with the actions of the larger group of FIAC, increased the risk of miscalculation and collision and were not in accordance with the internationally recognized COLREGS’ “rules of the road” or internationally recognized maritime customs. 
 
The U.S. crews operated with distinct professionalism and superior seamanship. 
 
“As professional mariners, we expect the IRGCN to operate with due regard for the safety of all vessels as required by international law,” the release said. “Our Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting the rules-based international order throughout the region. In support of international norms, the U.S. is not an aggressor; our naval forces remain postured in a non-provocative manner that exemplifies professionalism, incentives adherence to international law and customs, and persuades others to emulate our actions. Our forces are trained, however, to conduct effective defensive measures when necessary.” 

ANACORTES, WASHINGTON – Yard Tug (YT) 811 was successfully launched at Dakota Creek Industries (DCI), May 8, the Navy’s Program Executive Office – Ships said in a release.  

YT 811 is the Navy’s fourth of six YT 808-class harbor tugboats ordered in July 2018 under contract with DCI. Acceptance trials for YT 811 are planned for late summer followed by delivery to Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton Annex, Washington. 

YT 808 is the lead craft of the six tugs on the Navy’s contract awarded in July 2018 to replace legacy single-screw YTB tugs built between 1964 and 1975. YT 808 is the first Navy vessel constructed to meet EPA Tier 4 marine diesel engine emission standards.   

The vessels are designed after the Navy’s existing YT 802 Valiant-class tugs and are built to commercial American Bureau of Shipping standards. The 90-foot x 38-foot tugs have a top speed of approximately 12.5 knots and a bollard pull of approximately 43 long tons allowing them to effectively perform towing and ship-handling duties for carriers, surface ships, submarines and barges.  

The tugs are outfitted with a hydraulic hawser winch and staple on the forward deck for towing, and an “H” bitt installed on the aft deck with an adjacent hydraulic capstan for tightening lines. Similar to the previous 802 Class, the new YT 808 Class tugs have an improved articulating hydraulic brow installed aft of the deckhouse to allow personnel transfers to and from alongside ships or submarines. A selective catalytic reduction system uses Diesel Exhaust Fluid to clean the exhaust for compliance with EPA Tier 4 marine diesel emissions requirements. 

SAN DIEGO — Northrop Grumman Corp. has been contracted by the U.S. Navy to prototype and reduce the risk of integrating sense and avoid (SAA) capabilities into the high-altitude, long-endurance MQ-4C Triton autonomous system, the company said in a May 10 release. This capability will allow the Triton to safely operate in shared airspace with manned aircraft. 

“Sense and avoid will help ensure our customers can safely operate Triton out of almost any airfield or airport in the world, in full compliance with current and emerging aviation regulations around the globe,” said Doug Shaffer, vice president and program manager, Triton programs, Northrop Grumman. “Incorporating SAA capability will add tremendous flexibility to the Triton system and how the U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and potential future customers seamlessly integrate Triton into their concepts of operation.” 

A key partner in the development of SAA is Aviation Communications & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) LLC, a joint venture of L3Harris and Thales. 

“As a leader in integrated Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast systems, we are actively driving innovation in operational efficiency and airspace safety for the emerging unmanned aircraft platforms,” said Steve Alwin, ACSS president and vice president of engineering. “Our sense and avoid solutions enable active collision avoidance, empowering them to operate safely in commercial airspace.” 

Northrop Grumman and ACSS have been collaborating closely with Naval Air Systems Command for more than five years in the development and evaluation of SAA technology, and have worked together to contribute to the development of SAA-related industry standards. 

Sense and avoid is a focus of the next developmental increment of the MQ-4C system, and a critical element of the cooperative development program requirements defined between the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Air Force. 

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has ordered five more of its new utility landing craft (LCU) for its amphibious warfare forces.   

Naval Sea Systems Command awarded Swiftships of Morgan City, Louisiana, a $59.3 million modification to a previously awarded contract “to exercise an option for the construction of five Landing Craft, Utility (LCU) 1700-class transportation boats (1707 through 1711),” the Defense Department said in a May 7, 2021, announcement. Delivery is expected by November 2023. The funds will come from the fiscal 2021 budget.  

In February 2019, the Navy ordered LCU 1701 and 1702 under a $26.7 million contract modification. The craft will follow the prototype of the LCU 1700 class. In April 2020, the Navy ordered LCUs 1703-1706 under a $50.1 contract.  

“The LCU 1700 class will recapitalize the LCU 1610 capabilities and have a design life of 30 years,” the Naval Sea Systems Command said. “LCU 1700 craft will be a highly reliable and fuel-efficient heavy-lift platform whose capability will be complementary to the faster air cushion landing craft, which have a significantly shorter range, smaller payload capacity, no habitability and operating hour limitations.”  

The Navy’s amphibious warfare ships equipped with well decks routinely deploy with LCUs embarked. The Navy plans to procure a total of 32 LCU 1700 craft.  

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912) returned to its homeport at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, Virginia, after a seven week counter-narcotic patrol in the Central Caribbean on May 7, the Coast Guard 5th District said in a release. 

The crew of the Legare was deployed in support of Operation Unified Resolve/Martillo under the tactical control of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) and the Seventh Coast Guard District. 

The Legare crew patrolled over 8,000 nautical miles throughout the Central Caribbean where they worked in conjunction with Customs and Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Navy, and other partner agencies. 

While on patrol, the Legare provided surface support to Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters that were forward-deployed to Air Station Borinquen, which specialize in airborne interdiction tactics. With the combined efforts of JIATF-S and allied nation assets, the Legare disrupted over $23.5 million dollars in contraband while patrolling known smuggling routes south of the Dominican Republic. 

“Once again the crew of Legare successfully overcame the dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and operating a 30-year-old ship to complete our operational and unit objectives with resounding mission success,” said Cmdr. Malcolm Belt, commanding officer of the Legare. “I am especially appreciative of Legare’s family and friends ashore who support our crew while they continue to deal with COVID-19. In many ways, their lives at home right now are more difficult than ours at sea.” 

Prior to arriving in the Caribbean, the Legare successfully completed the 2021 Cutter Mid-Cycle Training Availability (CMTA) with Afloat Training Organization – Mayport in Florida. CMTA is a demanding week-long training period designed to evaluate onboard training teams and the crew’s response to emergency scenarios that may occur while on patrol.  

The Legare is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth.