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Kearsarge Completes PANAMAX 2006

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060913-01
Release Date: 9/13/2006 7:33:00 AM

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) Dave Nagle, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) completed PANAMAX 2006 Aug. 30 in the Caribbean Sea.

PANAMAX, which ran from Aug. 24-30, is a multinational training exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal, involving civil and military forces from the region.

Ships, aircraft, and personnel from 18 countries took part in the exercise designed to prepare participating nations for a coalition response to threats to the Panama Canal. The exercise was an opportunity to further theater security cooperation by bringing together nations of the region to protect an asset of vital interest for the hemisphere and the world.

Kearsarge acted as the command and control platform for the multinational force conducting the exercise. The ship moored at Colon, Panama, Aug. 21 and embarked more than 270 foreign military officers and four staffs, including the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO) who directed the exercise with the integrated multinational staff.

According to Kearsarge Operations Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Jason Vogt, PANAMAX allowed Kearsarge to exercise its capabilities as a command and control flagship, while the combined force of more than 4,000 Sailors demonstrated capabilities in mission areas such as mine warfare, maritime interdiction operations, and humanitarian assistance.

“PANAMAX was particularly beneficial, because it enabled us to practice those mission areas in a multinational environment, in a relevant scenario such as the defense of the Panama Canal from terrorist organizations,” said Vogt. “The canal is such a global asset, having the opportunity to work through a scenario with forces from nations that benefit from its commerce is invaluable. Each country brought something that added to the global war on terrorism.”

Detachments from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadrons (HM) 14 and HM-15 were embarked aboard Kearsarge for the exercise. Flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, the squadrons used Airborne Mine Countermeasures (AMCM) devices to identify mine-like objects.

For the first time, HM-15 compared the capabilities of the AN/AQS-14A and the upgraded AN/AQS-24A mine hunting systems, helicopter-towed sonar arrays used to detect and classify mine threats in the ocean. Both systems give sonar images; however, the AN/AQS-24A provides better resolution. As part of the exercise, the squadron compared images from the same columns of water.

The exercise provided the squadrons the opportunity to hone their skills in an underway environment.

“Participating in PANAMAX has been invaluable training for our squadron personnel,” said Lt. j.g. Mitchell Grant of HM-15. “Operating in the shipboard environment and the realistic mission tasking have greatly improved our capabilities and readiness to combat real-world threats. Our pilots were able to complete necessary deck landings for qualification and proficiency, and in turn, they provided the opportunity for shipboard air traffic controllers to qualify newly assigned personnel.”

Rear Adm. James Stevenson, COMUSNAVSO and commander, Task Force 138 praised the Kearsarge crew for their professionalism and support during the exercise.

“The entire crew of this fine warship is to be commended for your personal commitment and significant contribution to this immensely important 18-nation exercise,” wrote Stevenson in an all-hands message to the crew. “Your efforts helped to ensure that a multinational force could respond to and disrupt threats against the Panama Canal, a critical passage for the world’s maritime commerce.”

PANAMAX was first conducted in 2003 with three nations, three ships and 700 personnel participating. The exercise has grown in size and complexity, involving 18 nations, nearly 30 ships and 20 aircraft, and more than 4,000 people this year. Participating nations included Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

Other U.S. units participating in PANAMAX included USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Halyburton (FFG 40), USS Blackhawk (MHC 58), USS Warrior (MCM 10), USS Chief (MCM 14), USS Heron (MHC 52) and USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913). In addition to HM-14 and HM-15, embarked staffs and units aboard Kearsarge included USNAVSO, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 40, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 4, and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26.