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SPS Patino Completes Refueling Exercise with USS Boone

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060628-22
Release Date: 6/28/2006 9:32:00 PM

By Photographer’s Mate Airman Apprentice John Suits, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic

USS BOONE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Boone (FFG 28) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with Spanish replenishment ship SPS Patino (A14) to refuel while underway in the North Atlantic Ocean June 25, during the operational phase of the Neptune Warrior Course.

In order to refuel, Boone sailed alongside Patino and maintained a steady course while the UNREP occurred. Crew members aboard both ships performed their duties to make sure every detail of the UNREP ran successfully and without any flaws.

For boatswain’s mates aboard Boone, safety is the key ingredient to perform a successful UNREP. This replenishment offered the added challenge of coordinating with a foreign navy.

“Working with a foreign navy, including the Spanish navy, is a little bit difficult because of communication,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Randal Cribb, leading rig captain for Boone’s UNREP team. “When we did the UNREP with Patino, we had to adapt to their way of communicating by the way they used signal paddles and hand signals to let us know what they were doing.”

The Neptune Warrior course is designed to challenge Boone for their next deployment later this year.

“Neptune Warrior is basically a preparation for our next deployment,” said Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Roger Harding, leading chief petty officer of Boone’s Deck Department. “We get prepared for anchoring, towing exercises, UNREPS, Rigged Hull Inflatable Boat exercises, flight deck operations, daily deck watches and driving the ship.”

“I feel that I am trained well for Neptune Warrior,” said Seaman Kevin Roberts. “I know pretty much everything I need to know to perform my duties as a [boatswain's mate]. There is no doubt we know what to do for the upcoming drills we will do in the future.”

For related news, visit the Destroyer Squadron 24 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/desron24/.