Posted:
January 27, 2011
Three Military Sealift Command vessels, including the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, are delivering equipment, supplies and personnel in support of exercises Freedom Banner 2011 and Cobra Gold in Thailand, MSC reported.
Freedom Banner 2011 is a multiple command exercise to offload maritime prepositioning force vessels USNS Lummus, operated by American Overseas Marine Corp. and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers, and the USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin while they are anchored off the coast.
The exercise involves the offload and assembly of the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS), which allows for transfer of equipment and supplies from vessels when port facilities are damaged or nonexistent.
The equipment will be used for the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise, which brings together more than 11,000 personnel from Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the United States to conduct computer-simulated and field exercises and participate in civic assistance projects in Thailand.
A third vessel, the MSC-chartered high-speed vessel HSV Westpac Express, carried 246 marines from Okinawa to Chuk Samet Jan. 22. The vessel will return to Okinawa in February.
The USNS Lummus will remain in Thailand until the completion of Cobra Gold.
The exercise provides valuable training to all involved, allowing for non-emergency experience with critical Navy infrastructure. Both vessels are assigned to Pacific-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three. Their mission is to respond to military or humanitarian emergencies by quickly delivering cargo and supplies.
"Freedom Banner not only offers participants valuable, hands-on training, but has the added benefit of supporting a real-world, vital exercise," said Navy Capt. Herman Awai, MPS Squadron Three commander.
MSC vessels support joint exercises in Thailand
Three Military Sealift Command vessels, including the USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, are delivering equipment, supplies and personnel in support of exercises Freedom Banner 2011 and Cobra Gold in Thailand, MSC reported.
Freedom Banner 2011 is a multiple command exercise to offload maritime prepositioning force vessels USNS Lummus, operated by American Overseas Marine Corp. and manned in all licensed positions by American Maritime Officers, and the USNS 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin while they are anchored off the coast.
The exercise involves the offload and assembly of the Improved Navy Lighterage System (INLS), which allows for transfer of equipment and supplies from vessels when port facilities are damaged or nonexistent.
The equipment will be used for the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise, which brings together more than 11,000 personnel from Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the United States to conduct computer-simulated and field exercises and participate in civic assistance projects in Thailand.
A third vessel, the MSC-chartered high-speed vessel HSV Westpac Express, carried 246 marines from Okinawa to Chuk Samet Jan. 22. The vessel will return to Okinawa in February.
The USNS Lummus will remain in Thailand until the completion of Cobra Gold.
The exercise provides valuable training to all involved, allowing for non-emergency experience with critical Navy infrastructure. Both vessels are assigned to Pacific-based Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Three. Their mission is to respond to military or humanitarian emergencies by quickly delivering cargo and supplies.
"Freedom Banner not only offers participants valuable, hands-on training, but has the added benefit of supporting a real-world, vital exercise," said Navy Capt. Herman Awai, MPS Squadron Three commander.