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Guardian Conducts Multinational Joint, Combined Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050616-08
Release Date: 6/16/2005 2:26:00 PM

From USS Guardian Public Affairs

ABOARD USS GUARDIAN, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Guardian (MCM 5) is currently in its sixth week of deployment, conducting joint and combined training exercises with armed forces throughout the Western Pacific.

The forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship originally set sail April 16 from Sasebo, Japan, en route to Sattahip, Thailand, to conduct a multinational mine warfare exercise with the Royal Thai Navy.

"In today's environment, where every conflict will be fought with a coalition of forces from many nations, it is imperative that we train and interact with our potential partners," said Lt. Cmdr. Delbert Yordy, Guardian commanding officer.

Guardian conducted exercises and multiship training evolutions with USS Safeguard (ARS 50), a forward-deployed rescue and salvage ship operating out of Sasebo, Japan, and embarked personnel from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 51, forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, throughout the transit to Thailand.

The multiship training evolutions included an Astern Refueling and Connected Replenishment (CONREP) with one of the Military Sealift Command’s Fleet Replenishment Oilers, USNS Yukon (T-AO 202). Though all U.S. Navy minesweepers are outfitted with the equipment to perform a CONREP, it is an extremely rare occurrence. Replenishment ships are typically three to five times the size of U.S. Navy minesweepers, which requires top-notch ship handling by both vessels to complete the evolution. Yukon’s Master cited the Guardian crew as “an extremely professional crew, with exceptional ship driving capability.” Guardian was also credited with making this rare event in the Minesweeping Navy look routine.

With a brief stop in Okinawa, Japan, following the CONREP, Guardian sailed to Thailand to perform surface mine countermeasures operations in exercise Cobra Gold 2005.

Cobra Gold is a biennial joint and combined exercise with armed forces from Thailand, Singapore, Philippines and Mongolia. This year also marked the first year defense forces from Japan participated in the multinational ground, sea and air training operation.

"Cobra Gold is a perfect example how we prepare to operate with other countries in support of our common goals for peace," said Yordy.

Throughout Cobra Gold, Guardian was tasked with the location and positive identification of various mine shapes using its high-powered sonar, surface mine-laying and mine recovery. Embarked personnel from EODMU 51 recovered more than 10 mine shapes while contending with an arduous three-knot current during the multinational exercise.

Guardian stayed in Thailand three days beyond the exercise and enjoyed such activities as swimming, shopping, diving and the nightlife of Pattya Beach. Some members were able to catch a traditional Thai Kickboxing event as well.

While in Pattya, eight Guardian crew members visited a local orphanage. The First Class International Nursery used the talents of the crew members for much-needed projects, from landscaping and painting to the electrical re-wiring of various items.

“It’s always a pleasure to give something back to the people that are a bit less fortunate,” said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Dennis Byrd, a Guardian crew member who participated in the community relations project. “The least I can do is give them a day's worth of labor.”

The crew used their time off to the fullest, knowing that hard work lay ahead in the transit to Singapore. Throughout the three-day trip, Guardian performed minesweeping operations, fire drills, and other various scenarios to keep their operational readiness at its peak.

Guardian is a mine countermeasures ship forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.