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Patriot, EOD Conduct Live Underwater Detonations in WP-MCMEX 06

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060615-08
6/15/2006

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

ABOARD USS PATRIOT, South China Sea (NNS) -- Sasebo, Japan-based USS Patriot (MCM 7) served as the platform for embarked explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel to complete live underwater detonations during the first segment of the at-sea phase of the multinational Malaysian-sponsored Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (WP-MCMEX) 2006 off the coast of Kuantan, Malaysia, June 11.

Patriot’s shipboard minemen laid two inert mines off of the ship’s fantail in the morning for divers of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Detachment (Det) 51 to practice mine neutralization techniques. Patriot crew members were also afforded the opportunity to expend live rounds on the ship’s gun mounts, simulating a battle general quarters one day prior to the EOD evolution.

“This segment of the exercise was very valuable for us because it gave us the opportunity to actually use some of the tools we have to neutralize mines and defend the ship,” said Lt. Cmdr. Richard D. Brawley, Patriot commanding officer. “Because of the live-fire conditions, it gave both the EOD team and our crew the opportunity to experience what may one day be a real-world situation.”

Crew members of the forward-deployed mine sweeper felt similarly to Brawley, greatly enjoying the fact that they were able to expend the ammunition and increase their skills on the ship’s force protection assets.

“Using live fire allowed us to see what could actually happen in a situation where live fire would be needed, like adjusting to misfires and things of that nature,” said Mineman 1st Class (SW) Douglas E. Warren, who doubles as the ship’s master-at-arms in addition to his regular duties. “It was good practice and certainly a necessary component to our mission, considering the type of waters we travel through and the force protection threats we potentially face.”

For the EOD component, personnel completed search and survey dives and subsequently placed demolition charges on the located mines. Once at the surface and at a safe distance away, the EOD team detonated the explosives to neutralize the mines.

“I felt a high feeling of accomplishment from successfully completing the mission,” said Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 2nd Class (DV/FPJ) Michael J. Nisi, who dived on the mine and planted the explosives. “A lot of training went into this, so it’s great to see that training paid off. This exercise gave us a chance to test our limitations and help us prepare for different situations that we might encounter."

To accomplish the mission, the EOD team did a series of walk-throughs, called ‘dry dives,' leading up to the actual dive on the mines, in addition to countless proficiency dives while in the Det.’s forward-deployed home of Sasebo.

The successful mine neutralization at WP-MCMEX comes after doing a similar procedure at Cobra Gold 2006.

WP-MCMEX brings together navies as part of the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, a consortium of Pacific-based nations that meet bi-annually to work out global and regional issues. This is the third WP-MCMEX.

The next segment of the exercise is the tactical phase. During this phase, Patriot and involved nations will collaborate to complete a counter-terrorism crisis-response scenario in which mine sweep assets will have to clear a safe merchant traffic route between two Malaysian ports.

Patriot is a mine countermeasures ship forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Patriot and USS Guardian (MCM 5) serve under Task Force 76, which serves as the U.S. 7th Fleet’s Mine Countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations. The ship and embarked EODMU 5, Det 51 are currently deployed in Southeast Asia to support 7th Fleet’s interoperability and training commitments in mine neutralization warfare and maritime operations.

For more information on CTF 76, visit www.ctf76.navy.mil.

For more info on WP-MCMEX, visit www.mindef.gov.sg/navy/wpns_mcm/.