• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Prepositioning Ship Key Player in Multinational Exercise BALTOPS 2006

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060623-04
6/23/2006

From Sealift Logistics Command Europe Public Affairs

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016) joined maritime forces from nine countries in the Baltic Sea June 6-18, for the 34th annual military exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2006.

During the exercise, Wheat, a member of the European theatre’s Maritime Prepositoning Ship Squadron (MPSRON)1, was used as a critical training platform for military teams from NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

June 6-14, Wheat played the role of a merchant vessel suspected of carrying contraband. Teams from Germany, Denmark, Poland, Russia and the United States practiced intercepting and boarding the ship via speed boats and helicopters. Once aboard, the teams practiced searching the ship for illicit cargo. Overall, Wheat was boarded and searched 13 times during the exercise.

“We were amazed at how cohesive a unit the personnel from all of the nations became by the end of the exercise. Although we all hailed from different countries, we became a team,” said the ship’s civilian master, Capt. Rick Jordan.

Wheat is operated by 29 U.S. merchant mariners employed by a private company under contract to Military Sealift Command.

Wheat also trained with German, Swedish, Danish Scottish, U.S. and Russian warships during the exercise’s minesweeping scenario. Wheat posed as a ship being escorted through a “Mine Danger Area” by a convoy of U.N Peacekeeping Force warships. After being “hit” by mines during the drill, Wheat’s crew simulated containing flooding aboard ship, rescuing injured crewmen and abandoning ship.

“The ships of Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron 1 have been regular participants in BALTOPS since the squadron was established in the mid-1980s, and particularly since being forward-deployed to the European Command area of operation since 1995,” said Capt. Edward C. Zurey Jr., commander, MPSRON 1, which strategically prepositions combat cargo at sea in the event U.S. troops need to respond to a military or humanitarian crisis in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

“This exercise helps NATO and Partnership for Peace nations hone their maritime interdiction skills, which contributes to the overall maritime security of the region," said Zurey. "It also helps the nations involved strengthen the already steadfast partnerships that unite us.”

Wheat is named for Medal of Honor recipient, Marine Lance Cpl. Roy M. Wheat, who threw himself on an exploding mine to save the lives of his fellow Marines during the Vietnam War.