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Blue Ridge departs Guam early to avoid Typhoon Kujira

Seventh Fleet

7th Fleet public affairs
Posted 04/10/2003

ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE AT SEA -- The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and the embarked Commander, 7th Fleet staff's four-day port visit in Guam was cut short by two days as Typhoon Kujira gathered strength south of the Pacific island.

Blue Ridge Sailors arrived in the U.S. territory April 10 expecting four days of relaxation, shopping, interacting with local residents and participating in a community service project. They were able to do all of that -- albeit in just a shorter amount of time. The crew got word of their April 12 departure the night before.

"When we recieved the sortie recomendation from METOC Yokosuka, the typhoon's maximum sustained winds were at 40 knots, gusting to 50 knots, with a forecast maximum of 75 knots gusting to 90 knots," said Chief Aerographer's Mate (SW) Duane Hutchens, 7th Fleet Meteorological and Oceanographic division officer. Hutchens added that Apra Harbor, where Blue Ridge was moored, isn't "as ideal a harbor to ride out a storm" as Yokosuka, so the ship had to leave to avoid being damaged.

"Guam isn't a safe typhoon haven, so it was recomended that all units in there depart the harbor to avoid winds associated with the storm," Hutchens said. "Currently the storm has 90 to 110 knot gusts with a forecast maximum of 105 to 130 knot gusts and will pass Guam at 143 nautical miles."

Hutchens said the main reason the ship left Guam is actually the seas in the island's vicinity. "They are forecast to be 12-15 feet, and seas at that height tend to cause a lot of structural damage to ships, so its a good thing we left when we did."

While in port, Blue Ridge Sailors and 7th Fleet staff geared up to join more than 8,000 personnel participating in the military training exercise Tandem Thrust 2003 in the Marianas Island training area. Tandem Thrust, which will be held from April 14 - May 5, is a U.S. Pacific Command-sponsored exercise designed to train the U.S. 7th Fleet commander's staff as a designated joint task force (JTF) headquarters.

The exercise will focus on crisis action planning and execution of contingency response operations. U.S. Pacific Command units will conduct land, sea and air training throughout the Marianas Island training area.

The 7th Fleet area of responsibility for U.S. Navy operations encompasses 52 million square miles of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. On average, there are 50 ships, 200 aircraft and approximately 20,000 Sailors operating in the area.

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, and has a complement of nearly 1,000 crewmembers and embarked staff.