SECNAV Visits Bahrain, NAVCENT/5th Fleet Sailors, Marines
Story Number: NNS030220-01
Release Date: 2/20/2003 7:33:00 AM
From JO2(SW) Dennis J. Herring, COMUSNAVCENT/FIFTH FLEET Public Affairs
CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF OPERATIONS (NNS) -- The Navy's top leader arrived recently in the Navy Central Command/ 5th Fleet area of responsibility to visit with Sailors and Marines.
The Honorable Hansford T. (H.T.) Johnson, Acting Secretary of the Navy took a few hours while in theater to tour and visit with the crew of USS Montpelier (SSN 765), a fast-attack submarine homeported in Norfolk, Va.
Cdr. William J. Frake, the commanding officer of Montpelier and a native of Bristol, Pa., introduced Johnson to crew members in the control center of the submarine where he was shown the boat's various weapon control systems and capabilities.
Before deployment, the crew practiced underwater mine hunting on a range designed to test their ability to find them, said Frake. Sonar technicians were able to detect a very high percentage of the mines planted on the range with the boat's system. Before leaving sonar, Johnson was also shown systems that will be replaced soon with the newest underwater detection equipment available for submarines.
Lt. Chris A. Nash, of Evadale, Texas, the boat's navigation officer, explained the systems the crew use to determine course, speed and geographic location. Submarines use many different sensors to maintain course and location, even global positioning systems found in the civilian world, said Nash.
After completing their tour of the combat center, Frake escorted Johnson through the boat and down to the torpedo room. While in this part of the boat, TMCS(SS) Scott D. Lentz, of York, Pa., explained how the launching systems worked and the capabilities of the submarine's weapons.
From the torpedo room, Frake and the chief of the boat, MMCM(SS) Tom J. Kendrick, of Minneapolis, Kan., escorted Johnson to the mess decks to meet and talk with some of the crew members.
Sailors on the mess decks proudly showed Johnson the mess decks entertainment system, a large-screen television and movie system. When he asked who decides which movies would be watched, the crew members joked it is almost decided like a lottery system.
The submarine has a library of a few hundred movies, but the crew seems to pick a favorite and it is watched over and over during the deployment, said Frake.
After talking to the crew members about the importance of their mission, Johnson was taken to the officer's ward room where he met with some of the submarine's Officers and was presented a Montpelier ball cap, commemorative coin and plaque.
In the ward room, Frake and Johnson discussed the importance of the coalition of international forces in the Middle East. British and Italian ships have escorted the submarine during different parts of the deployment, said Frake. The different navies have shown a very high level of professionalism, he added.
"The Secretary of Defense wants us to be a joint, combined, total force, combining other nations, active and Reserve in the total force," said Johnson. "We are doing that."
Johnson also talked about his upcoming discussions with Congress and how important it is for him to visit with Sailors and Marines before sitting down in Washington and discussing the needs of the Navy.
"When I go before the Congress, I can say I have been there," said Johnson. "I have seen the Sailors and Marines and I know what they need."
In closing, Johnson talked about the Sailor's and Marine's families at home. Every Sailor and Marine has family, a spouse, parents or siblings somewhere back home, he said.
"Sailors and Marines, you can rest assure the nation is behind you," Johnson said. "Your parents care about you. My wife and I are the parents of a Marine, and we are very proud he is serving his country."
"This is a tremendous group of people here and we can do anything," he said.
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