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Tortuga Shows its Typhoon Readiness

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070924-19
Release Date: 9/24/2007 6:33:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Brandon A. Myrick, USS Tortuga Public Affairs

USS TORTUGA, At Sea (NNS) -- With a typhoon in the forecast, USS Tortuga (LSD 46) showed off its mission-ready capable status by quickly recalling its crew and getting underway Sept. 18.

Tortuga was ready to go in under 24 hours in preparations for the storm, due to a 100 percent recall of the crew by duty section personnel, to ensure the ship was fully manned.

“We had just gotten back from a recent underway so most of the underway checks were already completed,” said Lt. Robert A. Starks, operations officer. “Getting the ship underway was conducted safely, effectively and smoothly.”

Navigation/Administration Departments had to first initiate a recall of all their personnel. Once they returned, those involved with personnel had to ensure there was an accurate ship-wide muster.

“Since Friday was originally a day off for the crew after their successful completion of Tailored Ship Training Availability for Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, it was a little tricky to ensure a complete recall at first,” said Seaman Doris Campbell.

The quartermasters were recalled quickly so that they could correct charts and plot a track for the ship to follow during its transit away from the typhoon approaching Sasebo.

“Once charts were corrected, the quartermasters immediately began on a navigation brief in order to share the plan out with the crew,” said Lt.j.g. David A. Bush, navgiation officer.

Tortuga took advantage of the extra underway time to continue in its training cycle by conducting non-lethal weapons training to support anti-terrorism/force protection certification.

“A 100 percent personnel recall was enacted with huge success,” said Ensign David A. Grey, weapons officer. “The crew came together to complete the goal in a timely and effective manner.”

Tortuga is a dock landing ship serving under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force. ESG 7/Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.