(Feb. 24, 2013) Mine countermeasure ships USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Warrior (MCM 10) rest atop merchant vessel Super Servant III as it slowly rises to the surface during a heavy lift operation. U.S. Navy Photo.
Today’s ship photos actually come to us from back in February when the mine countermeasure ships USS Pioneer (MCM 9) and USS Warrior (MCM 10) were loaded onto Dockwise’s heavy lift ship, Super Servant III, after successfully completing eleven-month deployments to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
USS Pioneer Returns to San Diego
The U.S. Navy said Thursday that the USS Pioneer arrived safely at Naval Base San Diego on May 5 aboard the Super Servant III.
While in the U.S. 5th Fleet, Pioneer conducted mine warfare operations and exercises, including the first International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) September 2012, and training mineshape recovery operations in the Gulf of Aden.
“They were tremendous ambassadors. In their execution of IMCMEX ’12, they not only integrated smoothly with partner nations at sea, but during the in-port phase, they hosted the entire international officer delegation to discuss U.S. mine warfare capabilities,” said Mucklow. “It was truly an outstanding deployment by an outstanding MCM crew.”
Pioneer will remain in San Diego to prepare to meet 3rd Fleet AOR mine warfare mission requirements.
The Warrior was delivered to her new homeport, Sasebo, Japan, as the replacement for the decommissioned USS Guardian (MCM 5).
The Pioneer and Warrior, along with the USS Sentry (MCM 3) and USS Devastator (MCM 6), were transported from San Diego to Bahra in June 2012 to support a U.S. Central Command request for additional MCM assets in the 5th Fleet. Sentry and Devastator remain deployed.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Russia is providing Iran with targeting information that includes locations of U.S. warships and aircraft in the Middle East, the Washington Post reported on Friday, citing three officials familiar with the intelligence.
The US sinking of an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka’s coast expands the deepening Middle East war to India’s doorstep, unsettling New Delhi’s calibrated approach to the conflict as Iran vowed to avenge the attack.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
