USS Carr Conducts Underway Replenishment with USNS Sacagawea

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120625-05
6/25/2012

By Ensign Joshua J. Stewart, USS Carr Public Affairs

USS CARR, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Carr (FFG 52) conducted an underway replenishment (UNREP) with USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) June 23, while deployed to the Caribbean Sea.

Both ships are part of a coalition effort to conduct operations in support of countering transnational organized crime (CTOC).

Typically a ship deployed to the Caribbean must routinely go off station and pull into port in order to receive fuel, food, and repair parts; however, naval assets conducting operations in the Caribbean are receiving support from Sacagawea, while at sea.

"It is a huge force multiplier to have Sacagawea operating in the Caribbean," said Lt. Quentin Lease, Carr supply officer. "She allows us and other assets to remain on station to execute our mission. If we had to pull into a port for fuel, food, and parts we would be pulled off our mission for a couple of days instead of a couple hours."

Sacagawea is capable of providing diesel fuel used by ships, and jet fuel for use by the helicopters. Sacagawea also provides dry, refrigerated, and frozen cargo.

In addition to providing increased time on station to conduct CTOC, the presence of Sacagawea allowed Carr's crew to remain proficient at refueling and vertical replenishment operations at sea.

"Having a replenishment ship on station down here has dramatically improved logistics and it has kept my Deck Division proficient," said Cmdr. Patrick Kulakowski, Carr commanding officer. "Sacagawea is a great asset to have in theater."

Carr is homeported in Norfolk, Va., and is currently deployed in support of Operation Martillo, under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and C4F (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) while conducting CTOC operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force - South, U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM), and U.S. Coast Guard District 7.

COMUSNAVSO/C4F supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.