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Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Changes Command

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080522-04
Release Date: 5/22/2008 9:13:00 AM

From Sealift Logistics Command Europe Public Affairs

CORFU, Greece (NNS) -- The leadership of Military Sealift Command's (MSC) 6th Fleet-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron (MPSRON) 1 changed hands May 22, in Corfu.

Capt. Clay Saunders was relieved by Capt. William Sheehan during a ceremony held aboard the squadron's flagship USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (T-AK 3008).

"This is an exciting time to be a MPSRON commander. As MSC, the Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps continue their efforts to make the sea basing concept an operational reality, MPSRON 1 sails ready to assist in any way we can," said Sheehan.

The ships of MPSRON 1, MSC ships John P. Bobo and USNS Lcpl. Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016), are forward deployed year-round in the European and African theaters, strategically prepositioning military cargo at-sea for quick delivery ashore in the event of any fast-breaking military or humanitarian crises.

While Bobo and Wheat are noncombatant cargo ships crewed by U.S. merchant mariners, the squadron is commanded by a Navy captain and a military staff embarked aboard the flagship.

In addition to the squadron's primary mission of prepositioning military cargo afloat, the ships also participate in a number of U.S. and NATO exercises throughout the year.

In April, the squadron collaborated with Africa Partnership Station platform USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and HSV-2 Swift in a historic exercise held off the coast of Monrovia, Liberia. During the exercise, the squadron demonstrated the Navy's sea basing concept by deploying the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS) for the first time in an operational, real-world environment. INLS is a roll-on/roll-off discharge platform comprised of barges and ferries that allow ships to off-load cargo at sea and deliver it ashore when traditional harbor facilities are unavailable.

After the INLS was assembled five miles off the coast, Swift pulled up to the platform and loaded trucks, equipment and humanitarian aid cargo from Bobo, Wheat and Fort McHenry. This cargo was then delivered ashore to be used by a number of schools and clinics in Liberia.

"This was a very rewarding tour," said Saunders. "Working with the maritime professionals on Bobo and Wheat and being part of our growing engagement in West Africa were certainly the highlights."

MSC operates more than 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that deliver combat equipment to troops, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world, resupply Navy ships at sea, and perform a variety of other missions for the Department of Defense.

For more news from Military Sealift Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/MSC/.