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Mesa Verde Receives Operational Tasking 93 Days After Commissioning

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080513-01
Release Date: 5/13/2008 2:14:00 PM

By Ensign Peter Downes, USS Mesa Verde Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) returned to homeport on April 4, after completing an interagency counter-narcotics mission.

Operational tasking for the mission was received only 93 days after the ship's commissioning. Going "operational" was a significant change from the training mindset the crew had been in since commissioning.

"Getting out there and actually using the skills we learned over the past few months was great," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jesse Gazur. "All that training we did was worth it."

A hardworking crew was not the only reason for Mesa Verde's success. Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, the LPD 17 class program manager, and the ship's port engineer worked closely with the crew and the builder, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, to identify equipment issues on earlier San Antonio-class ships and correct them during Mesa Verde's construction. This led to an impressive showing for the ship during last year's builders and acceptance trials, which are designed to identify problems with the ship before the Navy takes custody of it.

Mesa Verde had been on a streak of qualification and certification completions, including amphibious warfare, force protection, and flight deck certifications when the operational tasking came in.

Mesa Verde's mission in the Caribbean Sea required the crew to perform a variety of special evolutions.

"The ship and crew performed exceedingly well and we flexed nearly every mission area the ship was designed to fulfill. We did several tasks not yet performed by the class, including embarking an amphibious squadron staff and interagency personnel and equipment. I am very proud of how we did out there and know that we will continue to be ready whenever we are called," said the ship's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Shawn W. Lobree.

Since returning to Norfolk, the Mesa Verde crew continues to train and prepare for her next tasking, which includes final contract trials in June and shock trials later in the summer.

For more news from USS Mesa Verde, visit www.navy.mil/local/mesa/.