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Dubuque UNREPs with Walter S. Diel

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080611-23
Release Date: 6/11/2008 9:35:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Gross, USS Dubuque Public Affairs

USS DUBUQUE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Dubuque (LPD 8) completed an underway replenishment (UNREP) June 9, with USNS Walter S. Diel (T-AO 193), the first UNREP for Dubuque since getting underway following a four-day port visit to Phuket, Thailand.

UNREP is the transfer of fuel, munitions, supplies and personnel from one vessel to another while ships are underway. Using the concept of UNREP, an entire strike group can be resupplied, rearmed and refueled in a matter of hours while continuing on its mission.

During the UNREP the "Mighty 8" took aboard 18 pallets of stores, including parts required to maintain the ship's warfighting readiness, and offloaded seven pallets of retrograde material as well as taking on 110,000 gallons of diesel fuel marine (DFM) and 20 thousand gallons of JP5 jet fuel.

According to Sailors aboard Dubuque, a lot of preparations had to be made before pulling alongside Walter S. Diel, including the setting up of two of the ship's four UNREP stations. Sailors also had to verify all the forklifts required for the UNREP were operational.

Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Brian Clark, who served as a safety petty officer during the event, explained that the hardest part of the UNREP is the integrated timeline for preparations.

"Its quite a challenge," said Clark. "We have to coordinate setting up stations with the Air Department so we don't interfere with their operations.

Another key element in the UNREP is the working party, which is used for line handling during the evolution. When the working party is in place with lifejackets and hard hats, a safety brief is conducted before the UNREP can begin.

Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class (SW) Derek Earhart, who served as a rig captain during the UNREP, explained that his job was to supervise the loading of stores and the off-loading of mail and recyclables.

As a rig captain, Earhart said his job was giving commands to line handlers to control the movement of the lines going from ship to ship. He said he also gives orders to the signalman and sound-powered phone talkers to keep communication with the bridge and delivery ship during the UNREP.

"It's all about multitasking, beginning with mustering assigned personnel and the proper set up of the rig to the actual evolution," said Earhart. "I'm constantly moving and keeping my head on a swivel."

The San Diego-based Dubuque is part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and is currently underway on a scheduled deployment, operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.

For more news from USS Peleliu, visit www.navy.mil/local/lha5/.