• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

TSV-1 Prevail Ready to Support Fleet

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031124-07

Release Date: 11/24/2003 3:21:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman James Kusher, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Commander, Carrier Group (COMCARGRU) 4 and Training Support Vessel Prevail (TSV-1) hosted an open house at Naval Station Norfolk Nov. 18, to showcase the Navy's only dedicated training support ship.

The open house presented commanding, executive and operations officers with an opportunity to view in detail the capabilities Prevail can deliver in support of fleet exercises, group sails and unit level training.

"We planned the open house so that we could orient the local commands and staffs with our ship's capabilities, and also so that we could illicit input to improve training," said Capt. Mark Nold, COMCARGRU 4 Assistant Chief of Staff for Training.

Prevail master of the ship, retired Capt. G.W. Fleck, said he feels the ship provides training that is integral to the current Navy operations pace. "With the implementation of the Fleet Response Plan, training outside of the traditional cycle is becoming critical," he said. "Prevail represents the ability to maximize training efficiency in the at-sea environment without the impact (by use of) other fleet vessels."

Before being directed by U.S. Atlantic Fleet for conversion to a training support vessel in April 2003, the ship previously served as USNS Prevail (T-AGOS 8), an ocean surveillance ship operated by Military Sealift Command. The success of TSV-1's predecessor, R/V Gosport (IX-517), fueled the conversion idea.

"We enjoyed great success with the Gosport," said Nold. "The experience we gained from operations gave us a strong foundation for the building of the Prevail."

The 224-foot ship provides a dedicated training platform for Atlantic Fleet Carrier Strike Groups, Expeditionary Strike Groups and individual units deployed during the inter-deployment readiness cycle.

Lt. Bryan Dewberry, COMCARGRU 4 Opposition Forces operations officer, said he feels the current training missions, including maritime interdiction operations (MIO), threat simulation and operational security training, are more intense than just a re-creation.

"I would say the ship does very little simulation," he said. "The focus is on real-time, practical training. For example, during MIOs, the Prevail crew will provide accurate garb and accents."

Fleck reinforced the emphasis given to authenticity during their exercises. "The resource we provide is what we call high-fidelity training," he said. "We want to raise the comfort and confidence of the individuals we train, so they are ready when they step out on that strange ship in unfamiliar seas."

With the standard now set, Nold said he hopes the future is bright for additional training vessels. "There has been an interest on the west coast for acquiring such a ship," he said.

Prevail represents a change in instruction that is reiterated in a recent naval message by Rear Adm. Dick Gallagher, commander, Carrier Group 4. "Prevail represents a significant transformation in naval training," said Gallagher. "The ship's debut in the Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Strike Group's Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) validated its importance in fleet training support."