USS Bonhomme Richard Returns Home from RIMPAC
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060806-08
Release Date: 8/6/2006 4:51:00 PM
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Walter T. Ham IV, USS Bonhomme Richard Public Affairs
ABOARD USS BONHOMME RICHARD (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines assigned to USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) (BHR) returned to their homeport of San Diego Aug. 7 nearly two months after getting underway for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006 exercise.
During the transit to the Hawaiian operating area for RIMPAC 2006, BHR served as an experimental test bed for Trident Warrior 2006, the Navy’s annual communications sea trial. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship conducted experiments that tested new technologies that will revolutionize the way the U.S. Navy communicates in a joint service, inter-agency and multinational environment.
The ship then pulled into Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for nine days in support of RIMPAC 2006. During the port visit, senior BHR officials attended national receptions for the eight participating countries, while the crew enjoyed tours of Oahu and Maui. BHR Sailors and Marines also participated in numerous RIMPAC sporting events and won the U.S. 3rd Fleet RIMPAC Cup. With the USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri Museum in the background, the ship hosted a filming of FitTV’s Bodies in Motion with Gilad Janklowicz on the flight deck.
“This port visit was a chance for our crew to enjoy the ‘Aloha’ State before the tactical phase of RIMPAC began,” said BHR Commanding Officer, Capt. Steve Greene. “Our Sailors and Marines represented us well in their interactions with the Sailors and Marines from the seven other nations involved.”
Operating with the Bilateral Force, together with the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, BHR participated in intense naval and amphibious exercises in the Hawaiian operating area and on the islands Kauai and Oahu.
During the three weeks of the tactical phase, BHR and the embarked Special Purpose Marine Air/Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) 3 conducted a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) on the Pacific Missile Range Facility on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, a helicopter raid on Northern Oahu and a full amphibious assault on Oahu by landing craft, air cushioned (LCAC) and CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopters.
“RIMPAC was a world class training evolution, and it gave us the opportunity to perform the same missions we would in a real world crisis,” said Greene. “It also gave us a chance to enhance our interoperability with the same allies who help to promote peace and stability within the Pacific Ocean region.”
Following a five-day return visit to Pearl Harbor, where RIMPAC officially concluded, BHR offloaded the majority of the Marines and their equipment and embarked 139 Tigers for the trip back to San Diego. In addition, BHR onloaded nearly 70 vehicles, as well as a sailboat as part of the Navy’s Opportune Lift Program. Conducting the lift via Navy assets vice commercial shipping services will ultimately save service members, the Navy and taxpayers nearly $100,000 dollars.
“This is a great deal for our fellow service members,” Greene said. “BHR is glad to lend a helping hand by moving these vehicles and some operational equipment back to the mainland free of charge.”
According to Greene, BHR Sailors and Marines will now have the opportunity to spend some time at home, prior to getting underway for future operations.
“During the past seven weeks, our Sailors and Marines have performed brilliantly," Greene said. "Our mission is to deliver Marines to the fight or scene of disaster on time, and BHR’s crew consistently performs this demanding mission superbly. I couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism and enthusiasm exhibited by our crew.”
For related news, visit the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/lhd6/.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
