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Tortuga Replaces Fort McHenry in FDNF

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060412-07
Release Date: 4/12/2006 12:48:00 PM

From Task Force 76 Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) completed an exchange-of-command process April 12 in Sasebo, Japan, which officially welcomed Tortuga to the Forward-Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF).

Exchange of command is part of the Navy’s long-range plan to routinely replace older ships assigned to the Navy’s FDNF with newer or more-capable ships.

“We welcome Tortuga to Task Force 76,” said Capt. Alan R. Moore, Task Force 76 deputy commander. “We take great pride in the ships and units we have available to ensure peace and stability throughout Southeast Asia. Fort McHenry has served with great distinction, and we are confident that Tortuga will perform the same.”

Tortuga, the sixth Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, commissioned in 1990, replaced Fort McHenry during an exchange-of-command process that was held on Tortuga’s flight deck.

Fort McHenry will depart Sasebo in April 2006 and return to Little Creek, Va., where it will then be homeported.

“The exchange-of-command process was executed safely and efficiently," said Cmdr. Michael T. Talaga, Tortuga's commanding officer. "We completed earlier than expected because the crews of both ships started communications very early and focused on priority items. Once Tortuga arrived, ownership of the hulls shifted very quickly and the crews worked together quickly to see the process through.

"Across all departments, we worked as one cohesive and efficient team," he added. "We will miss the Fort McHenry and welcome the additional capabilities that Tortuga will bring to the FDNF."

“Tortuga-Fort McHenry hull swap was a success by every measure due to close coordination – early and often,” said Rear Adm. Victor G. Guillory, commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet. “The attitudes and obvious commitment to safe execution of a condensed hull swap schedule was impressive to observe. [Bravo Zulu] to Tortuga and Fort McHenry command leadership teams and their crews for a job well done.”

Tortuga is a dock landing ship forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan, as part of the Forward-Deployed Amphibious Ready Group. Task Force 76 is the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force, which is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.