Ponce Underway, Demonstrating Readiness to Respond
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080914-03
Release Date: 9/14/2008 4:39:00 PM
By Second Fleet Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) got underway Sept. 14 from Naval Station Norfolk, to demonstrate operational readiness at sea.
Ponce is conducting routine training operations off the Virginia coast, and is capable of providing disaster response and of rendering assistance to civil authorities, if called upon to perform this mission.
Three ships, USS Nassau (LHA 4), Ponce, and USS Bataan (LHD 5), were ordered Sept. 12 to increase readiness for possible disaster response support.
Nassau was already at sea conducting routine operations, and was first directed south to operate off the Florida coast before receiving orders to move into the Gulf of Mexico.
The amphibious assault ship Bataan has been ordered to remain in a prepared-to-deploy status, ready to get underway within 24 hours, if needed.
Although there has been no specific tasking for these three ships, their at-sea readiness provides options for Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command and Commander, U.S. Northern Command.
For more news from Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c2f/.
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