Weather Poses Tactical Advantage for Counterpiracy Task Force
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090201-03
Release Date: 2/3/2009 5:00:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW/SW) Monique K. Hilley
USS MAHAN At Sea (NNS) -- Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 employs myriad surface and air assets to detect and deter piracy but also relies on the elements this time of year due to their impact on the number of attempted attacks on tankers and merchant vessels transiting through the Gulf of Aden.
"The weather is briefed daily to leadership aboard Mahan. It is an integral element of our operational planning and risk management processes," said Cmdr. Steve Murphy, commanding officer of USS Mahan (DDG 72). "The weather impacts other maritime activities as well - such as fishing - and is monitored closely to judge the impact on pirate vessels."
During this time of year, the region typically has high pressure which produces generally fair weather with mostly clear skies, light winds and temperatures that stay in the 70s. The weather, including wind speed, sea states, visibility, dust and storm systems, all play a role in and determine whether there are optimal conditions for piracy.
"The pirates in this area know the weather and what to expect. They live by it. You could say it's part of their job," said Aerographer's Mate 2nd Class Angela Fleischer, aboard Mahan. "Perfect piracy weather is a day with light winds and calm seas. Really, it's a 'Catch-22'. Bad weather keeps the pirates at bay, but great weather brings the pirates out allowing us to do our job of counterpiracy."
Pirates typically transit through the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in small boats or skiffs. Skiffs allow them to both travel at a high rate of speed to catch up to their next conquest and to blend in as harmless fishermen when needed.
Fortunately for merchant vessels and other possible piracy targets, even sea heights as little as three feet can deter piracy because the skiffs do not handle well in rough seas.
Rear Adm. Terry McKnight, commander of CTF 151, has said that weather can be the task force's ally.
"These skiffs that the pirates have are not much bigger than a Boston whaler, so when the weather picks up, they tend to stay at home, and not out here," he said.
Weather also may affect how the task force carries out its mission.
"Weather in this area has a direct impact on the accomplishment of the counterpiracy mission," said Fleischer, a native of Baltimore, Ohio.
High winds mean stronger line is needed for flags, and more caution needs to be taken during normal topside evolutions. In some instances, flight operations may be delayed or cancelled, challenging the task force leadership to arrange alternate means to detect or deter piracy acts.
"Strong winds can feel as if they've increased or decreased, depending on the ship's heading [direction] and speed," explained Fleischer. "Driving 15 knots into the wind that is blowing at 15 knots can create 30 knots of wind across the deck. This can cause cancellations or delays to flight operations, and it may also be necessary to secure the weather decks to keep personnel safe."
High winds can cause the seas to build rapidly, which causes significant impacts to small boat or rigid-hull, inflatable boat operations. CTF 151's visit, board, search and seizure teams use RHIBs to depart the ship swiftly in response to possible piracy activity.
Thunderstorms also greatly affect shipboard operations. To prevent injury to personnel and damage to equipment, fueling of ships or aircraft is not done in and around thunderstorms, and military aircraft do not take off, fly into or land during a thunderstorm with the exception of special circumstances.
Dust is another weather factor common in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. Blowing dust caused by strong winds or even sandstorms can travel for great distances away from where it originated and decrease visibility to less than a mile at times.
"Once the dust is in the air, it can stay suspended for days, restricting normal visibility and creating a brown or orange tinge to the horizon," said Fleischer.
"Low visibility is a major concern to ship's safety. In open water, there are always other vessels in motion. If we can't see them, chances are they can't see us."
Throughout the fleet, operators are always keen on knowing current weather conditions to make informed decisions on how best to carry out the assigned mission. To assist them, Strike Group Oceanography Team Norfolk temporarily assigned aerographer's mates, like Fleischer, to strike groups and surface combatants.
"In order for the leadership to plan for a successful mission, they need timely, accurate weather information," said Aerographer's Mate 2nd Class Annalyn Lawe, a native of Falmouth, Mich.
In the Gulf of Aden, despite the weather conditions this time of year, the task force -- which right now includes Mahan, USS San Antonio (LPD 17) and the British ship HMS Portland (F 79) -- has been successful in its mission.
Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 is a multinational task force conducting counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. It was established to create a lawful maritime order and develop security in the maritime environment.
For more news from Combined Task Force 151, visit www.navy.mil/local/CTF-151/.
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