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Essex Brings on Ammo for Fall Patrol

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061004-12
Release Date: 10/4/2006 1:23:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jhoam M. Montolio, USS Essex Public Affairs

USS ESSEX, At Sea (NNS) -- The Sasebo, Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) began the onload of ammunition via landing craft utility (LCU) Sept. 26 in preparation for the ship’s fall patrol.

Essex requires the ammo for shipboard training purposes and for use by the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), during the upcoming patrol, according to Senior Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW/SW) Kelly Smith.

Pallet after pallet of ammunition was delivered to the ship by Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 Western Pacific Detachment LCUs.

The ammo was initially picked up by the LCUs at the Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo’s (CFAS) Ordnance Department at Maebata Pier and taken to the ship while it sailed out of Sasebo’s harbor.

“Conducting ammo onloads gives some of the newer, less experienced guys, hands-on training on how to handle ammo and set it up in the ship’s magazines,” said Aviation Ordnanceman (AO) 1st Class (AW/SW) Steven Poteat.

The ammunition, brought to the ship on wooden pallets, is taken from the well deck up to the hangar bay using forklifts. Finally, it moves from the hangar bay to an elevator, which takes the ammo into magazines or storerooms. The process takes precision and caution throughout, say the ship’s ordnance personnel.

“The whole process of moving ammunition has to be done carefully,” explained Poteat.

Poteat also said that the ammo onload was good for training.

“Even though all the AOs are already qualified by Navy standards to move the ammo, we still use this time to further our training,” said Poteat. “We don’t get a lot of opportunities to do this kind of thing. It’s good for us, it’s good for the ship and everyone gets a chance to see what we do.”

Essex, commanded by Capt. Brian T. Donegan, is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious assault ship and is the flagship for the Sasebo, Japan-based Essex Expeditionary Strike Group, which serves under Commander, Task Force 76. Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.