USS Columbia visits Chinhae

USS Columbia visits Chinhae By Submarine Group Seven Public Affairs Posted: March 23, 2010

CHINHAE, Republic of Korea – The fast attack submarine USS Columbia (SSN 771) officers and crew enjoyed a warm reception from the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) during a March 18th to 22nd scheduled port visit in Chinhae, Republic of Korea (ROK). The ROKN band was on the pier to greet the Columbia with music and friendship. Officers and crew of the Columbia and ROK’S Choi Museon (SS 063), Columbia’s host ship for the visit, participated in numerous events designed to foster camaraderie and cooperation. one event was a soccer game that took place only hours after arrival. Although the scoreboard indicated that Columbia lost the game, the event was a considered a win for the U.S. Navy and ROK Navy because of the strengthened friendship and understanding gained. During the second day of the port visit the crews of the Columbia and Choi Museon spent time to exchange tours of their submarines. Both crews came away with a much better idea how each live and operate their submarines. During the visit Columbia’s commanding officer Cmdr. Craig Blakely and officers, hosted a luncheon aboard for several ROK submarine commanding officers and squadron commanders and were later treated to a Korean meal of Kalbi Barbeque hosted by the commanding officers of ROK’S Choi Museon. After departing Chinhae, the Columbia will be participating in the combined military exercise Foal Eagle 2010. During the exercise an officer from Columbia will deploy on Choi Museon; while an officer from Choi Museon deploys on Columbia. The exercise is designed to improve the manner in which our two navies operate together. The lessons learned and exchanges during both the port visit and underway will contribute to the goals of the exercise and strengthen the ability of the U.S. Navy and ROK Navy submarines to operate together.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2010/03-march/29.htm

 

 

 

 

Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit onE Dives with ROK Navy By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Det. Japan Posted: April 9, 2010

YELLOW SEA - Sailors of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit onE (MDSU-1), based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 Platoon 501 (EODMU-5) based out of Sasebo, Japan are diving in the Yellow Sea in support of the recovery and salvage of the ROKS Cheonan, the Republic of Korea (ROK) corvette which sank in the Yellow Sea near the western sea border with North Korea.   YELLOW SEA (April 7, 2010) Lieutenant Matthew Lindsey, diving officer of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) onE, explains functions of the dive helmet to Republic of Korea (ROK) observers aboard the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) before diving operations. U.S. Navy forces are supporting the ROK in recovery and salvage efforts for the ROK Navy frigate Cheonan, which sank in the Yellow Sea near the western sea border with North Korea. The forces include the USNS Salvor, USS Harpers Ferry, and USS Curtis Wilbur. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder) | Download “We’re here to offer all the help we can. We’re ready to step in any time and dive or assist hands-on in any way we can,” said Navy Diver 3rd Class Andrew Kornelsen, a Madison, Wis. native. “I’ve been training for something like this for over two years.” Navy Diver 1st Class (DSW) Quentin Felderman, assistant lead petty officer for MDSU-1, explained the challenging nature of the dives. “We found out the current is rougher than we expected, and we’re learning to work with the EOD guys. But we’ve been preparing for this for a while now, and we’re working together well.” On April 9, five ROK divers from the Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit (SSU) came aboard the Salvor to perform joint diving operations. Felderman explained the benefits of working face-to-face with their counterparts. “We get to learn about how they do things, and there’s a lot both sides can learn. Their techniques are different than ours. They do scuba dives almost exclusively, and we do surface-supply dives,” Felderman said. ROK Chief Jong Suk Kang, an SSU diver, expressed his appreciation for the ability to work with MDSU-1. “I have done many dives, but I have worked with the U.S. divers only once before. I am glad to have them to help with our diving,” he said. MDSU-1, EODMU-5 Platoon 501, USNS Salvor, USS Harpers Ferry, USS Curtis Wilbur and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 Detachment 6 are currently supporting ROK salvage efforts at the site under the direction of on-scene commander for US support, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt, Commander, Amphibious Force Seventh Fleet.

 

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2010/04-april/05.htm

 

 

 

Salvor supports recovery of South Korean navy ship By Edward Baxter, SEALOGFE Public Affairs; Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Navy Public Affairs Support Element Det. Japan, contributed to this article Posted: April 14, 2010

YELLOW SEA - Twenty-six civil service mariners assigned on board Military Sealift Command’s rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor joined U.S. divers in support of the Republic of Korea Navy recovery and salvage operations of a South Korean navy ship which sank March 26 in the Yellow Sea. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.   YELLOW SEA (Apr. 11, 2010) USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) rests in the Yellow Sea on the morning of April 11. Salvor, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit one and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit Five Platoon 501 are supporting Republic of Korea Navy efforts to salvage a ROK Navy ship which sank Mar. 26. (US Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Denver Applehans) | Download The 1,200-ton Pohang-class corvette Cheonan broke apart, into two large pieces about a mile off South Korea’s Baengnyeong Island— just south of the Northern Limit Line— the often tense, U.N.-mandated, defacto maritime boundary dividing south from north Korea. Fifty-eight crewmembers were rescued but 46 others were not recovered. Aboard Salvor, 16 Sailors from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit one, based out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and a six-person team from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five, based out of Sasebo, Japan arrived to support the ROK dive operations. Up to 20 divers from the Republic of Korea’s Sea Salvage and Rescue Unit have also visited Salvor to participate in dive operations. “Everyone aboard Salvor fully understood the significance and importance of this operation,” said Salvor’s civil service master Capt. Williams Wiggins. Salvor, along with USS Shiloh, USS Curtis Wilbur and USS Lassen, arrived on scene the next day, joining an armada of 15 South Korean navy ships. The ships were operating nearby having just completed exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle, a major Korean peninsula defense exercise. USS Harpers Ferry, serving as the command and control ship for U.S. support of the rescue and salvage operation, arrived on scene April 2. Cheonan’s bow was located in about 20 meters of water while the stern was located in 40 meters of water. Smaller pieces of wreckage were scattered over a four-kilometer part of the seabed, moved by strong underwater currents. On April 7, U.S. and ROK divers went to work conducting side-scan sonar operations from a rigid hull inflatable boat, or RHIB, as well as surface-supplied dives at nine designated sites in the debris field. “We found out the current is rougher than we expected,” said Navy Diver 1st Class Quentin Felderman, assistant lead petty officer for MDSU-1. “But we’ve been preparing for this for a while, and we’re working well together.” Civilian mariners were involved in launching, recovering and operating the embarked RHIBs. ROK navy Chief Jong Suk Kang, an SSU diver, expressed his appreciation for the ability to work with MDSU-1. “I have done many dives, but I have worked with he U.S. divers only once before. I am glad to have them help with our diving operations.” Mariners also conducted ship to ship cargo operations with an LCU deployed from Harpers Ferry to ensure Salvor remained well supplied and could support the additional 28 persons onboard for the mission. “Meal hours were extended so everyone onboard had adequate time to get a hot meal,” Wiggins said. South Korea also brought in a commercial, heavy-lift 4,000-ton capacity crane used to lift large pieces of the wreckage to the surface. Salvor remained on site throughout the operation, assisting wherever they were needed. Salvor is one of four rescue and salvage ships operated by MSC to render assistance to disabled ships and provide towing, salvage, diving, firefighting and heavy lift capabilities to the fleet. Salvor is acting as Seventh Fleet rescue and salvage ship while permanently-assigned vessel USNS Safeguard undergoes repairs in the Philippines. The work is expected to be completed in early May.

 

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2010/04-april/09.htm

 

 

 

 

Continued U.S. Support to ROK Salvage Operations By Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs Posted: April 19, 2010

YONGSAN GARRISON, Seoul, Republic of Korea - Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao, in the operational role as Commander, Task Force 78, assumed the duties as the officer in tactical command of U.S. Navy forces assisting the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the salvage of ROKS Cheonan on Apr. 17.   YELLOW SEA (April 14, 2010) - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 Platoon 501 personnel in a rigid hull inflatable boat pass a salvage crane to return to the Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) following a personnel transfer. U.S. Navy forces are supporting the Republic of Korea (ROK) in recovery and salvage efforts for the ROK Navy frigate Cheonan, which sank in the Yellow Sea near the western sea border with North Korea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder) | Download The stern of the ship was raised on April 15 and then taken to Pyeongtaek. With this change in focus and location, CNFK/CTF 78 assumed the duties of on scene commander, relieving CTF 76, Rear Adm. Richard Landolt. Gumataotao is in charge of USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) and the U.S. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit onE and Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit FIVE, Platoon 501 who are supporting Vice Adm. Kim Sung-Chan with salvage of the remainder of the Cheonan where it sank near Baengnyeong Island. The ROK Navy has hired contractors to raise the bow of the ship as they did the stern. U.S. divers plan to continue to support ROK led diving efforts to search the debris field between the bow and stern as well as use side scan sonar to search any other areas of interest. In support of U.S. and ROK divers, Salvor has a compression chamber aboard as well as a U.S. Navy doctor who specializes in medical diving issues. Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea is the regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and U.S. Forces Korea.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2010/04-april/13.htm

 

 

 

 

Helo squadron returns to Guam after Korean salvage operations By Oyaol Ngirairikl Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs Posted: June 7, 2010

TALOFOFO, Guam –  Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25 welcomed back Detachment 6 from a six-month deployment during a homecoming ceremony on Guam June 3.   ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (June 3, 2010) Aviation Electronics Technician 2ndClass Joseph Topasna, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25, Detachment 6, is welcomed home from a six-month deployment by his family on Andersen Air Force Base on Guam June 3. Detachment 6 was embarked for six months on USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). The 33 returning Sailors of the detachment assisted the Republic of Korea's salvage of the ROKS Cheonan, which sank March 26 in the Yellow Sea. HSC-25 flew more than 600 hours to complete more than 350 sorties, while providing search and rescue capabilities for the Navy ships’ amphibious operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corwin Colbert) | Download Detachment 6 was embarked on USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). The 33 returning Sailors assisted the Republic of Korea's salvage of the ROKS Cheonan, which sank March 26 in the Yellow Sea. The detachment flew more than 600 hours to complete more than 350 sorties, while providing search and rescue capabilities for the Navy ships’ amphibious operations. This was also the detachment’s first mission flying the MH-60S — a HSC-25 helicopter modified to include a weapons system. Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Harris, maintenance officer for Detachment 6, praised Sailors for their hard work. “These maintenance professionals always kept a good attitude, kept the helicopters flying and the detachment mission was an overall success,” Harris said. Lt. Cmdr. Dewon Chaney, HSC-25 acting executive officer, said the type of support they performed in South Korea enhances relations between the U.S. and allied forces and improves coordination for future missions. “Our detachments not only portray positive images in the U.S. Navy, but we’re also doing a lot of really great things—not only in the local community here, but in the international community,” Chaney said. “This detachment in itself was a bunch of superstars. The detachment performed as expected. They were expected to perform really well and they did.” Lt. Christopher Hines, a Detachment 6 pilot, said he is proud to have been a part of a great team. “Just to be called upon and be able to do your mission and to do it well, that’s probably the most rewarding part of being in HSC-25, and, of course, being forward-deployed here on Guam,” he said. “Overall, 100 percent success. I couldn’t see it going any smoother.” HSC-25 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed MH-60S expeditionary squadron. As part of Helicopter Sea Combat Wing Pacific (HSCWINGPAC), it provides an armed helicopter capability for 7th and 5th Fleets, as well as detachments to various commands covering a diverse mission set. It is also the Navy’s only squadron that maintains a 24-hour search and rescue and medical evacuation alert posture directly supporting U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Guam and Joint Region Marianas.

http://www.c7f.navy.mil/news/2010/06-june/05.htm