MTMC supports Marine LOTS operation in Qatar
The call came to Capt. John Kotzman, Commander, Qatar Detachment, on March 4. The defense attaché for the U.S. Embassy, Qatar, requested assistance of the 831st Transportation Battalion, Bahrain, Southwest Asia, in Operation Eastern Maverick. Now in its third year, the operation is a rigorous exercise involving a U.S. Marine task force and the Qatar military. In all, three Navy ships would be involved-U.S.S. Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Bonhomne Richard and U.S.S. Ogden.
With the operation beginning in two days, we got right to work. One of our key missions was planning and facilitating the re-deployment through the port of Mesaieed. This included the prior movement of some 200 vehicles to Camp As Sayliyah for steam cleaning.
Kotzman got a plan together. The Marines were so impressed by its detail and completeness that they incorporated him into the development of the beachhead concept of operations for logistics and timeline. Kotzman's excellent networking contacts with local military and civilian officials were invaluable.
The operation began March 6 when the Marines and their equipment arrived at the port of Mesaieed via Navy landing craft utility vessels and amphibious assault vehicles, shuttled from the Ogden. This Logistics over the Shore operation was the first of its kind in Qatar. Over the next 14 days, the Marines performed joint training with the Qatar military in the Northern Training area.
We began assisting the redeployment of forces March 19. The Marines brought their equipment in convoys to the port for wash down and overnight marshalling. We began a Logistics Over the Shore operation the first thing next morning.
In a separate operation called Eastern Washdown beginning March 26, the three ships anchored in stream and discharged over 200 vehicles via Landing Craft Air Cushion to a beach head six kilometers south of Mesaieed. The vehicles went to Camp As Aayliyah for steam cleaning and were then returned to ship.
The operation ended April 4 when the last of the vehicles was returned to its ship and the Marines steamed away.
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