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COMPHIBRON 8 Embarks Saipan in Preparation for Phoenix Express

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: phibron8060530-01
5/30/2006

By

COMPHIBRON 8 Embarks Saipan in Preparation for Phoenix Express
Story Number: NNS060526-25
Release Date: 5/26/2006 1:47:00 PM
By Lt. Enid Wilson, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8 Public Affairs
ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Commander, Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 8 embarked USS Saipan (LHA 2) May 18 in preparation for the multinational combined exercise Phoenix Express in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Western Mediterranean Sea early this summer.

Comphibron 8, assigned to Commander, Amphibious Group (COMPHIBGRU) 2 along with Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 4, Beach Master Unit (BMU) 2, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4, and Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, all of Little Creek, Va., and Helicopter Support Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 of Norfolk, Va., moved aboard Saipan to participate in Phoenix Express.

Phoenix Express will include ships from Algeria, France, Morocco, Spain and the United States. The exercise will provide an opportunity for ships to participate in diverse maritime training scenarios focusing on tactics, techniques, and procedures to carry out the global war on terrorism at sea. A combined multinational staff will direct the exercise from aboard Saipan in order to allow participant nations to develop greater proficiency in maritime domain awareness, and strengthen emerging and enduring partnerships.

During the Atlantic Ocean transit, the Saipan crew and embarked staff are preparing for an intensive 10-day exercise, including aviation operations, demonstrations, firefighting, foreign officer exchanges, gunnery exercises, maritime interdiction operations (MIO), medical training, search and rescue, ship handling, towing, underway replenishment, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS). An observer from Tunisia will join the countries participating in the exercise.

Along with exercise planning and preparation, COMPHIBRON 8 staff and Saipan crew enjoyed a steel beach picnic May 21, only three days after setting sail, rehearsing for a much larger steel beach picnic planned during the exercise. One thousand crew members were joined by nearly 80 embarked staff and unit personnel for lunch and dinner in the hangar bay where music, ping-pong, and game tables were set up for entertainment. On the flight deck, Sailors played basketball and soaked up the sun.

“It’s a great opportunity to get everyone out...and it gives us an opportunity to get to know everybody, have a good time, socialize and find out who our shipmates are,” said Saipan’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Richard D. Fitzpatrick.

The menu included grilled steaks, chicken, hotdogs and pork. According to Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Amanda Marsh, more than 700 lbs. of steak, 15 cases of baked beans, 10 cases of hotdog and hamburger buns were used for the picnic. The First Class Petty Officer’s Association, chiefs' mess, and wardroom volunteered for cooking and serving to help give everyone aboard during the holiday routine, even the culinary specialists.

COMPHIBRON 8 Commodore, Capt. Robert W. Bougher said he has been very impressed with Saipan’s hospitality.

“Saipan has given us first class treatment," he said. "They are really cracking the code, and they don’t overlook any details in their planning.”