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Vandegrift Boarding Team Demonstrates Capabilities

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060327-14
Release Date: 3/27/2006 4:05:00 PM

By Ensign Matthew Hage, USS Vandegrift Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) hosted more than 50 U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) Sailors, Feb. 27, to showcase the capabilities of both Vandegrift and JDS Ikazuchi’s (DD 107) Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) boarding teams.

The MIO mission involves boarding ships at sea that are suspected of conducting illicit or dangerous activities and therefore may resist attempts to be boarded.

“Our objective today is to increase the breadth of knowledge of maritime interception operations and strengthen our partnership with JMSDF,” said Cmdr. David Chase, Vandegrift’s commanding officer.

For the uninformed observer, it may have looked as if Vandegrift was under siege at Fleet Activities Yokosuka’s Pier 11 once the demonstration began. Armed with training weapons and outfitted in camouflage, helmets and tactical vests, the U.S. and Japanese teams successfully boarded the “suspicious” vessel, rounding up Sailors posing as crew members from the “suspicious” vessel. Once the crew members were subdued, the teams seized the vessel’s bridge and other key spaces.

The speed and precision with which the boarding and seizure of the vessel occurred reflects the superb training of both the U.S. Navy and JMSDF teams, an observation that both navies’ recognized.

“The U.S. Navy boarding team is very tough and strong” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Takashi Shibukawa from Ikazuchi.

Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Joeseph Vanhooser acted as one of the “suspicious crew members” and spoke admirably of the Ikazuchi team.

“Despite the language barrier, I was highly impressed with their total control of the situation and thorough search techniques,” he said.

As the demonstration was similarly judged successful by all other participants and observers alike, it sets the tone for a series of planned exchanges between Vandegrift and her sister ship in the coming months.

Vandegrift is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.