Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Thomas | Mineman 1st Class Levi Schmid assigned to the Independence-variant littoral combat...... read more read more
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NAVAL BASE GUAM (July 18, 2023) — The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Manchester (LCS 14), with an embarked detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 and a law enforcement detachment from U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, departed Guam in support of the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) July 18.
OMSI is a Secretary of Defense program aimed to diminish transnational illegal activity on the high seas in the Pacific Island Nations of Oceania's exclusive economic zones and interoperability with partner nations.
The objective of OMSI is to reduce and eliminate illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing, as well as combat transnational crimes and enhance regional security.
“Manchester Gold Crew and HSC-21 detachment five are excited to partner with U.S. Coast Guard District Fourteen to support this important mission,” said Manchester Commanding Officer Cmdr. Collen Moore. “USS Manchester is uniquely suited to support the enforcement of maritime fishing rights; with a shallow draft and our embarked MH-60S and MQ-8C aircraft, Manchester’s ability to patrol large swaths of littoral seas are unrivalled.”
Manchester’s Gold Crew has been aboard the ship since March 2023, promoting partnership in the region through patrols and exercises with allies and partners and engaging in humanitarian efforts post-Typhoon Mawar on Guam.
“This is another great opportunity for the Navy and the Coast Guard to work side by side in support of OMSI to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing,” said U.S. Coast Guard Chief Maritime Enforcement Specialist Javier Serrano, deployable team leader for Law Enforcement Detachment 102 from Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific. “Together we will remain committed to advancing the regional security and strengthen our partnership with the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”
Littoral combat ships boast interchangeability of its mission sets, exemplified by the embark of the U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment and associated equipment. The detachment will be embarked aboard USS Manchester for the entire duration of the assigned OMSI mission.
In addition, HSC-21’s detachment five plays a key role during OMSI, providing manned and unmanned aerial support by extending the range of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard’s search for illegal and unreported fishing vessels.
“HSC-21 detachment five is excited to be working with the Coast Guard in support of the OMSI mission,” said Lt. Cmdr. Paul Hassell, the ship’s air boss. “It is always exciting to have a clearly defined, real world mission set – but especially so when given the opportunity to work alongside our partner services.”
Together, Manchester and HSC-21 are the first to employ the unmanned MQ-8C Fire Scout in support of the OMSI mission.
“Through the execution of OMSI, the MQ-8C is a reliable maritime [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] asset to deter and prevent various threats to maritime security and transnational crime,” said Lt. Angelo Lonero, HSC-21 MQ-8C unmanned aircraft commander. “HSC naval helicopter squadrons highlight the Navy’s Unmanned Campaign Framework as a force multiplier in the Indo-Pacific region.”
USS Manchester, based out of San Diego in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, is one of many littoral combat ships that are fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. The ship serves as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
An integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to execute our Navy's role across the full spectrum of military operations - from combat operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 08.17.2023 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 451110 |
| Location: | NAVAL BASE GUAM, GU |
| Web Views: | 384 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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