USNS Yukon takes starring role in exercise
The exercise provided prospective submarine commanding officers the opportunity to hone their skills in submarine warfare.
During the weeklong exercise, Yukon participated as a high-value unit, or target, requiring protection from the other ships and also providing refueling services for USS Lassen and USS Howard. As part of the script, both ships came alongside at the same time.
"It can get busy with two ships," said Cargo Mate Lee Apsley, who is responsible for the overall refueling operation.
"It's a great opportunity for the prospective commanding officers to get a feel for what it is going to be like to be in command during high-tempo operations," commented Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Cooper.
During the refueling operations, the high winds and difficult weather became a concern. It seemed at first that the conditions were ripe for a showstopper, but as the two ships took their positions on the port and starboard stations, it was business as usual.
"My guys are trained for almost any contingency," said Bosun Roland Blanchette, known as Bear for his formidable appearance on deck.
"Sometimes it takes one distraction, and the jig is up. I am all about the safety of the personnel first," stated Bear, a New Bedford, Mass., native, on his way to supervise the refueling operation.
The participants conducted the training events successfully and Yukon performed her refueling operations well beyond the required 50 nautical miles offshore.
The difficulties inherent with this type of training seemed to fade as all the participants played their roles and executed their tasked actions promptly and safely.
"The fact is that when Yukon gets called to action, we respond," said the ship's master, a Merchant Marine Academy graduate, Capt. Mark Wilson. "The Yukon's success is based on a very professional crew of civilian mariners and military department personnel that make things happen."
USNS Yukon is the middle Pacific duty oiler currently stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Military Sealift Command, the ocean transportation provider for the Department of Defense, operates about 110 noncombatant Navy ships. MSC ship missions vary from the transport and afloat prepositioning of defense cargo; to underway replenishment and other direct support to Navy ships at sea; to at-sea data collection for the U.S. military and other U.S. government agencies.
(FROM MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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