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Frank Cable Receives Battle "E"

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120120-08
1/20/2012

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Christopher Salisbury, USS Frank Cable Public Affairs

POLARIS POINT, Guam (NNS) -- Submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) earned its sixth consecutive Battle Efficiency, or Battle "E", award, Jan. 7.

The Battle "E" is awarded annually to ships with the "best in class" performance.

Frank Cable is one of two submarine tenders that competed for the award.

As well as tending submarines and surface ships, Cable also performs expeditionary manning for her sister ship and competitor, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39).

"The hard work by each department played a key role in the ship's receipt of the Battle 'E'," said Capt. Pete Hildreth, Frank Cable's commanding officer. "The entire team worked really hard all year, from the repair and supply services provided to the submarines and surface ships in the 5th and 7th Fleet area of operations, to successful community service projects in four countries."

Hildreth said the hard work and dedication of every Sailor and civilian service mariner to improve the ship's mission readiness was a supporting factor in receiving the Battle "E" this year.

"Particularly noteworthy were the continued improvements in the management and execution of continuous maintenance availabilities and the handling of the vertical launch weapons on Guam," said Hildreth.

Receiving the Battle "E" means every department must strive for the highest standards. The repair, weapons, logistics, health services, supply, executive, religious ministries, training, safety, operations, and legal departments all contributed to the hard work needed to complete each mission.

"The Battle "E" recognizes the ship's crew for their success and accomplishments over the year; we have performed superbly," said Cmdr. Timothy Sparks, USS Frank Cable's executive officer.

"MSC navigation and deck departments took the ship into Malaysia and brought the USS Houston alongside allowing the engineering department to provide services in a foreign port. The ship went to Hong Kong; anchored and brought USS Hampton alongside and the ship hosted the first ever Chinese press tour of a submarine and a submarine tender. Then we transited to Republic of Philippines for some maintenance, bringing USS Santa Fe alongside."

Sparks said it was a great honor to receive the award and it rewards the crew for a year of outstanding service to the nation.

"The crew is enthusiastic about it, after all it's their award and a ribbon to add to their uniform they can be proud of," said Sparks.

Frank Cable is temporarily relieved from conducting maintenance of submarines and service vessels deployed in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility by sister tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and is in the Pacific Ocean headed to Portland, Ore. for a regular overhaul and dry-docking.

Following the dry-docking and maintenance, sea trials will be conducted before Frank Cable makes her transit back to Guam.