Combat Logistics – 173 Tanker Taskforce is on the job!

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Gwendelyn Ohrazda | PACIFIC OCEAN (July 24, 2022) U.S. Navy Gunner's Mate Seaman Hayden Bannditini fires a shot line from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Chafee (DDG 90) as it conducts a replenishment-at-sea with Royal New Zealand Navy auxiliary oiler replenishment ship HMNZS Aotearoa (A 11) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gwendelyn L. Ohrazda)  

HAWAII, UNITED STATES

07.28.2022

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kylie Jagiello 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

“You can’t kick ass without bombs, beans, or gas”—informally known as the “Tanker Task Force”, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 Command Task Force (CTF) 173 is more than support and replenishment.

With diversity on show, the combat logistics task force is constructed of nine vessels crewed by commercial, contracted, and uniform personnel from three different nations.

Meanwhile, the task force headquarters includes staff from Australia, United States, New Zealand, Canada, and France.

For the first time, CTF 173 is commanded by a foreign nation and Royal Australian Navy officer Captain Michael Oborn holds that responsibility.

“In some circles, combat logistics is not important until a ship runs out of fuel. If that happens, then my team and I have failed and I’d better start looking for a new job,” Captain Oborn said.

“It is important, and during RIMPAC we have worked hard to build strong relationships across a diverse ship-type, crew model and nationality, ensuring the task force was collegiate in its support to all RIMPAC ships,” he said.

The task force capabilities range from towing, salvage and dive support, to at sea underway transfer of fuel, munitions, and stores.

U.S Command Task Force 33, CLF scheduler Mike Howell said without fuel or food we can’t fight with our ships.

“Logistics wins the battle at the end of the day, and combat logistics is the last line supporting those war-fighters,” Mr Howell said.

Royal Malaysian Navy corvette KD Lekir (F-26) Commanding Officer Commander Mohd Asri bin Dasman said sea evolutions with CTF 173 were conducted safely and professionally.

“To conduct an underway replenishment on the high seas in rough weather conditions was a challenge for the crew but we were able to successfully complete it,” Commander Asri said.

“I am happy with the professionalism shown by my crew and the 173 task force during refuelling,” he said.

Vessel’s part of Combined Task Force 173
• HMAS Supply
• HMNZS Aotearoa
• MV Ocean Valor
• USNS Grasp
• MV Goodwill
• MV Maersk Peary
• USNS William Chambers
• USNS Pecos
• USNS Henry J Kaiser

Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

• Date Taken: 07.28.2022
• Date Posted: 07.28.2022 23:57
• Story ID: 426044
• Location: HAWAII, US