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Harpers Ferry Conducts Maritime Interdiction Training with Philippine Navy

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061030-04
Release Date: 10/30/2006 3:48:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Charles Green, USS Harpers Ferry Public Affairs

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES (NNS) -- U.S. and Philippine Sailors honed their skills in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) techniques aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) and other vessels off the coast of Palawan Oct. 21, as part of annual bilateral exercises Talon Vision and Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) 07.

Working with two different Philippine naval crafts, the corvette Artemio Ricarte (PS-37) and the gunboat Fredericko Martir (PG 385), Harpers Ferry had the opportunity to rehearse both compliant as well as non-compliant boarding tactics.

“Since one of the key methods for weapons smuggling has been via seaborne transfer, the close working relationship our Navy enjoys with our Philippine counterparts is critical to stability in this theater,” said Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Meyers, executive officer of the Harpers Ferry.

Harpers Ferry was one of the first forward deployed naval force (FDNF) ships to become certified with a non-compliant VBSS capability, allowing them to board and search vessels that could be smuggling weapons or illegal contraband in violation of United Nations’ sanctions.

“We get specific training by coordinating our scenarios and refining our tactics and cohesiveness,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jeff Edward McElhannon, the VBSS primary boarding officer.

During the two-day training period, the crew of Harpers Ferry conducted five different boarding scenarios, and the VBSS teams from the Philippine navy also conducted boardings of Harpers Ferry as well as a landing craft utility (LCU).

In the final scenario with the gunboat Fredericko Martir, a coordinated team approach was used by having Harpers Ferry’s boarding officer lead the Philippine non-compliant teams in a takedown of Harpers Ferry's bridge.

"The team’s tactical maneuvers were precise and calculated," said Meyers, "and the professionalism and skill of the Philippine teams was impressive to watch."

Following the boardings, the VBSS teams debriefed each other and discussed options to improve for future scenarios.

“This is exactly why we have these joint exercises,” said Meyers, “to learn from each other and better coordinate our resources. Our teams improve their skills boarding craft they are not familiar with, and both the Harpers Ferry teams, as well as our Philippine friends gained a mutual trust and respect for each other’s capabilities.”

Harpers Ferry is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group serving 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.