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The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Surface Warfare Mission Package successfully completed the second phase of its developmental testing, the Naval Sea Systems Command announced Nov. 7.

USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) conducted the testing at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Point Mugu range off the coast of California, October 1-25. The objective of the testing was to prove the performance capabilities for surface warfare missions, validate recent upgrades and correct problems found in previous testing.

Preliminary analyses of the results indicate that overall test objectives were achieved, and the ship and mission package operated as expected.

“The achievement of this at-sea test milestone demonstrates that the surface warfare package meets its requirements,” said Capt. John Ailes, program manager for mission module integration for the Program Executive Office for Littoral Combat Ships. “It also shows the significant progress that the mission modules program has made toward providing an affordable surface warfare capability.”

The test events demonstrated the ship’s ability to detect, track and simulate engagement of air and surface threats. The final exercise was a live-fire event, where the ship demonstrated the ability to defend itself against several attacking speed boats. These boats were identified as a threat by the ship’s helicopter, which passed the information to the ship. Fort Worth then successfully engaged all targets with both the 30mm and the 57mm gun weapons systems, which reduced the attacking boats to smoking hulks.

The Initial Operational Test and Evaluation for the surface warfare mission package will be conducted in early 2014, and will be the final step in achieving initial operational capability.

The surface warfare mission package is designed to defeat small boat threats and also provides the capability for the ships to conduct maritime interdiction operations. The package consists of two 30mm guns, two 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats, an MH-60R helicopter, a 19-person surface warfare detachment, and a 23-person aviation detachment.

The LCS’s permanent 57mm gun, and its speed and maneuverability, coupled with the 30mm guns of the SUW MP, provide the LCS a significant advantage over small boat threats.

PEO LCS is affiliated with the Naval Sea Systems Command and provides a single program executive responsible for acquiring and sustaining mission capabilities of the littoral combat ship class, from procurement through fleet employment and sustainment. The combined capability of LCS and LCS mission systems is designed to dominate the littoral battle space and provide U. S. forces with assured access to coastal areas.

Press Release, November 8, 2013; Image: Lockheed Martin
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A Sailor assigned to the guided missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) was recognized Nov.7 during an awards ceremony aboard the ship for his role in helping victims of an automobile accident that occurred last month in neighboring Chula Vista, Calif.

Master-at-Arms 1st Class (SW/AW) Michael Sanders, a Vandegrift crew member and native of Pensacola, Fla., received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his role in helping to extricate three children and their mother from an overturned minivan following a collision with a San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) special needs vehicle that occurred Oct. 14.

Both Sanders and his wife, who also attended the ceremony, said they have vivid memories of that day and it’s not something that we will ever forget.

Last Columbus Day, Sanders and his wife were jogging when they discovered the accident shortly after 9 a.m.

“There was a vehicle overturned on its side,” said Sanders. “It was a van and I was unsure of how many people were inside it, so I rushed across the street to assess the situation.”

Upon inspecting the van, Sanders said he saw the three injured children and their mother inside and started working to get them out of the damaged vehicle.

“I told the older brother that he had to help me get his sister out of the seat,” said Sanders. “So he handed her up to me so we could get her out of the vehicle.”

Sanders said he also directed another bystander to remove his shirt and apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding from a head wound on one of the children.

“The mother was complaining that her side was hurting,” said Sanders. “So we waited until the paramedics got on scene to help get her out of the vehicle.”

Sanders and his wife then helped to calm the children until emergency medical service personnel arrived on the scene. The mother and all three children, along with one passenger from the MTS vehicle, were transported to a local hospital following the accident.

A 10-year Navy veteran, Sanders said he credits his Navy training with knowing what to do in an emergency situation like the one both he and his wife experienced that morning and that he had undergone initial first responder training during a tour in Souda Bay, Greece.

“I was also a part of the special response team in Guam where we worked hand-in-hand with the fire department, corpsmen, EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] and Homeland Security,” he said.

Vice Adm. Thomas H. Copeman III, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, made the presentation during an awards ceremony held on ship’s flight deck.

“Petty Officer Sanders had the good fortune … to be at the right place at the right time to help a family out,” said Copeman. “I think it’s emblematic of all of our Sailors in the Navy, and in the armed forces in general, to exemplify the value we call courage, which is one of our Navy core values.”

Copeman said it was an honor to take part in ceremonies recognizing local Sailors for their quick actions during emergency situations. In June, he attended a ceremony to recognize two Sailors from the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) for their lifesaving efforts following a devastating EF-5 tornado that struck the city of Moore, Okla.

Vandegrift is homeported at Naval Base San Diego. The ship and crew are participating the basic phase of the fleet’s training cycle in preparation for future operations
Press Release, November 08, 2013; Image: Wikimedia

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Capt. Richard Hayes, Commander, Task Force (CTF) 52, relieved Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Wemett, the commanding officer of the Bahrain-based mine countermeasures ship USS Dextrous (MCM 13), Nov. 6, due to loss of confidence in Wemett’s ability to command.

The relief occurred after an investigation revealed deficiencies in operational preparedness, situational awareness, and tactical proficiency. Wemett has been reassigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Dextrous is now commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Chavius Lewis, the former commanding officer of USS Devastator, who will serve until a permanent relief is named.

CTF 52 is the commander of mine warfare forces in U.S. 5th Fleet.

5th Fleet encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, North Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea. The expanse comprises 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.
Press Release, November 08, 2013; Image: Wikimedia

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