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Carter Hall Helps Train the Iraqi Navy to Provide Security for Oil Platforms

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090501-54
Release Date: 5/1/2009 9:26:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katrina Parker, USS Carter Hall Public Affairs

ABOARD USS CARTER HALL- (NNS) -- Situated in the northern reaches of the Arabian Gulf lie Iraq's two oil platforms (OPLATS) – Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) and Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT). From these two steel structures, Iraq's oil is pumped to the global market. The revenue generated fuels Iraq's economy and reconstruction.

To help protect the OPLATS and to develop the Iraq Navy's capability to provide for its security, USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) served as an afloat staging base (AFSB) as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 158.

CTF 158 is one of the primary task forces of the Combined Maritime Forces, a coalition of more than 20 navies that operate in the region to support security and stability. Since 2004, coalition forces have helped provide security for the Iraqi platforms and adjacent waters, enforcing a standoff area and inspecting all incoming tankers.

In her role as an AFSB, Carter Hall supported other warships in the North Gulf. As an amphibious ship, Carter Hall has a well deck, boat deck and flight deck that allows it to provide food, water, maintenance, communications and medical care to other coalition warships, as well as Sailors serving on the OPLATS themselves. This versatility allowed other warships on station to dedicate themselves to the defense of the OPLATS.

"The services that Carter Hall provided were critical to coalition efforts in the North Arabian Gulf," said Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair, Carter Hall's commanding officer. "We not only contributed to the security of the OPLATS and supported other warships in the area, but most importantly, we served as a training platform for Iraqi sailors
and marines."

The ship's size allowed her to act as an at-sea forward operating base to provide vital support to other coalition vessels in
the area.

"Carter Hall was an excellent example of the surface fleet pushing the envelope and taking the fight to the enemy," Sinclair said. "The crew's around-the-clock performance was above and beyond the call of duty during all operations, exercises, drills and day-to-day conduct."

Aboard Carter Hall, the job of training Iraqi sailors and marines fell to the British-led naval transition team (NaTT). The NaTT, based in the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr, consists of sailors from the Royal Navy and Coast Guardsmen from a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET). As part of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, the NaTT works with Iraqis to ensure they are ready and able to provide security for the OPLATS and waters that surround them.

Each week, a platoon of Iraqi personnel arrived aboard Carter Hall to work with the LEDET and NaTT teams to prepare them to sweep the oil tankers and conduct other ship boardings. During the first phase of training, the NaTT team reviewed navigation and communication procedures and small boat handling techniques with the Iraqi sailors.

Simultaneously, the LEDET worked with Iraqi marines to review VBSS techniques, inspections and security sweeps. These lessons were designed to enable the Iraqis to react quickly and efficiently to any shipboard situations they may encounter as part of their operations.

"Most of the Iraqis were willing and eager to learn," said Royal Navy Lt. Alex Kopsahilis, the afloat NaTT operations officer. "Great strides have been made by the Iraqis toward autonomy."

Once initial training concluded, Iraqi sailors and marines performed a simulated boarding, during which Carter Hall served as a simulated merchant tanker to be boarded. The Iraqis were evaluated on techniques, professionalism and the ability to adapt to various situations. Successful completion of this exercise qualified the Iraqi sailors and marines to conduct actual boardings. Most of the Iraqi teams going through the training were working together for the first time. Frequently the teams had new members who had never performed this specific mission.

Kopsahilis said Carter Hall's role in training is extremely important for the Iraqi VBSS teams to operate at sea.

"Carter Hall's presence and willing participation has allowed coalition training, efforts to continue," he said. "The ship operated with extreme flexibility to adapt their plans to short-notice training, and I am very grateful for all the support offered in the form of engineers, communications and manpower [needed] to maintain this level of training."

Before the final training problem, Iraqi sailors and marines planned and conducted their security sweeps of ships and tankers entering the security zones surrounding the OPLATS using Carter Hall as a staging platform while members of the NaTT were on hand to advise Iraqi sailors and marines.

To make their transition living aboard an American warship as easy and comfortable as possible, the Iraqi teams stayed in berthing usually reserved for embarked U.S. Marines. They were also served halal meat and meals, that were specially prepared for them. The food was prepared in a specific way that makes it religiously acceptable to eat.

"I think it was very important for us to accommodate our Iraqi guests as best we can," said Lt.j.g. John Van Wagoner, one of Carter Hall's liaison officers for embarked Iraqi teams. "Riding on foreign ships surrounded by people you do not know can be an uneasy experience. When the Iraqis stepped aboard Carter Hall, it was our
privilege and responsibility to represent our country to the best of our abilities by making sure they had what they needed."

Culinary specialists aboard Carter Hall ensured the availability of halal items to help make the Iraqi members as comfortable as possible.

"The Iraqis were our guests while they conducted their training, and the halal food helped them feel a little more at home," said Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW) Kevin McShane. "Our guests have some different customs in their culture, and food is one
of them."

Lt. Robin Simon, Carter Hall's dental officer said while Carter Hall served as an AFSB, the medical department provided urgent care needs for personnel in the area.

"We treat service members with the highest standard of care," said Simon. "The benefit of Carter Hall's medical team is that we have an independent duty corpsman, in addition to a doctor and dentist on board."

"The hard work of my Sailors was critical to our success up there," said Sinclair. "The AFSB mission is one that has challenged every division to step up. Carter Hall's success in simultaneously carrying out their varied missions was only possible through the crew's hard work and the ship's versatility."

Simon said smaller vessels in the area are not as well-equipped to handle emergent medical needs. Carter Hall provided a higher level of medical care on station or coordinated with support clinics if necessary.

"We were able to save time and sometimes lives by providing treatment at sea instead of sending patients elsewhere for medical care," Simon said.

Carter Hall's deck department also played an important role in the ship's success as an AFSB and was responsible for executing an extremely rigorous and dynamic schedule. Daily mission requirements for the ship's deck department included frequently launching and recovering small boats from the well and boat decks. Most days, operations began before sunrise and lasted well into the night.

"The hours were long, but we always accomplished the mission," said first division's leading petty officer Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Kyle Luna. "Deck department understood this, and the team worked seamlessly to accomplish Carter Hall's mission. We handled many simultaneous evolutions each day."

Deck department also conducted crane operations, anchoring evolutions and helped refuel the ship as well as dozens of other essential operations that allowed Carter Hall to remain at sea as an AFSB.

The engineering department was equally challenged by Carter Hall's role in the North Arabian Gulf. Engineers kept the ship's diesel generators running to supply power throughout the ship, operated the ballast and well deck equipment and kept the small boats in peak operational condition.

"The constant evolutions and surrounding environment placed Carter Hall's engine equipment under tremendous strain," said Lt.j.g. John Horwath, Carter Hall's auxiliaries officer. "The Sailors did a great job maintaining the engines, periodically cleaned heat exchangers and ensured the engines did not overheat. Engineers were repeatedly called upon to manufacture ingenious and novel solutions to repair a variety of equipment throughout the ship."

As Carter Hall completed her deployment cycle and prepared to return home, the Sailors reflected on the significance and impact of their everyday jobs.

"This [was] a very unique mission, one that our Sailors are going to speak of with pride for years to come," said Van Wagoner. "To have an opportunity to assist in rebuilding the Iraqi infrastructure and Navy is awesome. I believe the Sailors share this sentiment to various degrees and are excited to have [had] the Iraqis on board."