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DESRON 50 Concludes Operations Aboard Ocean 6

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070312-10
Release Date: 3/12/2007 5:08:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bobby Northnagle, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

OCEAN 6, At Sea (NNS) -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 50 concluded its mission March 6 as command and control staff for the commander of Task Group (CTG) 158.1 aboard Ocean 6, an afloat forward staging base attached to the Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.

DESRON 50 staff members arrived on board Ocean 6 in November and departed the platform as Capt. Jeffery Harbeson, commander DESRON 50, was relieved as the CTG 158.1 commander by British Royal Navy Capt. Bob Sanguinetti.

“We helped secure the infrastructure for Iraq by guaranteeing there was freedom from [terrorism] and no maritime crime,” said Harbeson. “A significant amount of Iraq’s income is generated from Khawr Al Amaya and Al Basra oil terminals (ABOT).”

Maritime security operations (MSO) help set conditions for security and stability in the North Persian Gulf and protect Iraq’s sea-based infrastructure, which provides the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.

“We were the staff for CTG 158.1’s mission, which is defense of the oil platforms, MSO and assessing training with the Iraqis,” said Ensign Steven Davis, DESRON 50 watch officer.

DESRON 50 is a parent command for Mine Division 31, which has four mine sweepers that primarily patrol central and southern Persian Gulf, and 11 patrol craft that primarily perform MSO in the north Persian Gulf.

"Our mission in DESRON 50 is primarily as force provider, a support unit for commands based out of Bahrain and participating in theatre security operations and exercises inside the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations,” said Lt. j.g. Valerie Vanho, DESRON 50 assistant operations officer.

Upon DESRON 50’s departure from Ocean 6, Davis mentioned he was pleased with the status of the overall mission.

“The Iraqis have warmed up to the coalition forces out here,” he said. “They realize that the protection of the oil platforms is very important to their country’s economy and to their own lives.”

The staff will return to Bahrain, where the rest of DESRON 50 serves as the Middle East Force Surface Action Group and also coordinates the Navy’s extensive regional exercise program for surface combatants by working with friends and allies in the Gulf region.