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ESG 8 Departs U.S. 5th Fleet AOR

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060410-02
Release Date: 4/10/2006 10:33:00 AM

By Lt. Lesley Lykins, USS Nassau Strike Group Public Affairs

ABOARD USS NASSAU, At Sea (NNS) -- Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 8 transited through the Suez Canal April 7, marking the end of more than four months of maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

ESG 8, composed of the five ships and one submarine in the USS Nassau (LHA 4) Strike Group and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU (SOC)), deployed Nov. 4 from Norfolk, Va., as part of a routine deployment of forces.

While conducting operations in 5th Fleet, the ESG continuously displayed unique capabilities and continuous flexibility. From serving as a sea base for operations ashore, to working with coalition and local navies, conducting routine Maritime Security Operations (MSO) boardings and providing assistance to mariners, the ESG completed a wide range of missions and operations.

“I couldn’t be happier. I think we’ve done an outstanding job,” said Capt. Marty Allard, commander, Nassau Strike Group. “We were very well trained for our operations here.”

After arriving in the Persian Gulf, the amphibious ships of the strike group completed a timely and efficient offload for the 22nd MEU (SOC) which was continuing into Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Once in Iraq, the 22nd MEU (SOC) established its combat operations center near the ancient city of Hit along the Euphrates River. The MEU remained on station in Iraq for nearly 60 days.

The guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and amphibious transport ship USS Austin (LPD 4) maintained security for the Iraqi oil platforms in the Northern Persian Gulf while working closely with mobile security detachments, coalition forces and the Iraqi navy.

“It was very interesting, having a direct impact on the training and readiness of Iraqi forces that are being trained to take over the maritime security operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf and around the two Iraqi oil terminals,” said Lt. Cmdr. Dan Evans, Austin’s executive officer.

“I probably had some preconceived notions about how that was going to work out, but when we got up there and embarked the Iraqi navy and marines, we found them to be professional, friendly, energetic and eager to accept greater responsibility for maritime security in the [North Persian Gulf]," he said. "Their embarkation will certainly make this a memorable deployment for the crew.”

Cape St. George served as the flagship for Coalition Task Force (CTF) 58 hosting British Royal Navy Commodore Bruce Williams and his staff.

“If ever there was a mission that builds consensus and common ground between our coalition maritime forces, it is the maritime security of our sea lanes,” said Capt. James R. Yohe, Cape St. George’s commanding officer. “We all share in the benefits of stability and safety on the high seas.”

MSO tracking, queries and boardings were performed by all the ships while assigned to 5th Fleet with the exception of the amphibious assault ship Nassau, which served as flagship for the ESG. These operations are designed to pressurize the maritime environment in order to prevent terrorists from using it to transport personnel and equipment or as a venue for attack. The ships in the ESG performed these missions in many locations throughout the region including the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Gulf of Oman, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Often, the ESG ships were on station performing these missions in several different bodies of water simultaneously.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) apprehended 10 suspected Somali pirates and freed 16 Indian crew members from the Motor Vessel (M/V) Safina Al Bisarat while conducting MSO in the Indian Ocean. Later in the deployment, Cape St. George and USS Gonzales (DDG 66) apprehended 12 Somalis after returning fire on three small skiffs suspected of piracy.

“The immense job satisfaction I have gained from providing security and stability on the high seas where USS Cape St. George sailed and doing it in partnership with our coalition allies has made this a very memorable deployment for me,” said Yohe.

Nassau’s capabilities and resources played a critical role during the deployment. Nassau’s medical team provided care to distressed mariners in the area, as well as to the critically injured Somalis transferred to Nassau after the gunfight with Cape St. George.

Sailors from Nassau escorted M/V Safina Al Bisarat into Kenyan waters after the crew was freed from suspected pirates and, with the help of the embarked Sailors of Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, provided food, water and fuel to the distressed M/V Al Manara.

On numerous occasions, ships in the ESG participated in training exercises with coalition forces in the area. In the Northern Persian Gulf, ESG ships worked closely with British and Australian ships, while the ships in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean operated with the French, German and Dutch navies as part of Coalition Task Force 150.

USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), a dock landing ship home ported at Little Creek Amphibious Base, Norfolk, Va., conducted an underway replenishment training exercise with the French frigate Courbet (F 712). French and American sailors conducted a cross-deck swap, which gave Sailors the opportunity to experience the culture of a coalition Navy.

Nassau, Austin and the 22nd MEU conducted a final exercise with Djibouti prior to heading out of 5th Fleet. The exercise offered the opportunity for Marines from the MEU to conduct bilateral training while the Aviation Combat Element (ACE) practiced low altitude training and fire support functions.

“I believe that our efforts down here have been flawless. The fleet commander praised the ESG’s accomplishments and said we’ve done everything asked of us and we accomplished our missions safely,” said Allard. “We work hard to minimize the risks to the young Sailors. We do want everybody to come home safely having fully accomplished all of our missions.”

Nassau, Cape St. George, Winston S. Churchill, Austin, Carter Hall, USS Norfolk (SSN 714) and the 22nd MEU (SOC) will report to Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet while transiting the Mediterranean Sea.