Underwood, Curts Replenish Underway with Sacagawea

By Lt. Stephanie Homick, Southern Seas 2012 Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS Curts (FFG 38) conducted vertical replenishments at sea with USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2), July 5.

During the six-hour evolution Underwood took on 60 pallets of stores, supplies and ammunition.

The original plan called for Underwood to complete a connected replenishment (CONREP), but because of engineering issues, Cmdr. Peter Mirisola, commanding officer of Underwood, decided it was safer to do a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) utilizing an SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the "Vipers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 48.

"Right now we only have control of one of our gas turbine engines," said Lt. Michael Hellard, chief engineer aboard Underwood. "It's not safe to go alongside a ship in such close proximity at 150 to 180 feet away from them with one engine. We've had to cancel our CONREP and move it all to VERTREP so we're farther away from the UNREP [underway replenishment] ship. It's a safer distance, and it gives us more time to stop [the ship if needed]."

Two HSL 48 crews flew between Underwood and Sacagawea during stormy conditions to load palletized cargo.

"The weather is obviously playing a big role in today's events, causing us to have to turn, but the ship is doing a good job at keeping us out of it as much as they can," said Lt. j.g. Lance Herndon, HSL 48 pilot.

The aircrew was able to establish a steady pattern in conjunction with the helicopter from Curts.

"Both ships are doing the VERTREP with the Sacagawea at the same time," continued Herndon. "You get into a rhythm when one aircraft is there picking up a load; you have the other aircraft back at their own ship dropping off a load. So you just rotate back and forth, and it requires a lot of communication between both aircraft, as well as an understanding of how our inter-aircraft operations work."

On board Underwood, it was an all hands evolution as Sailors lined the centerline passageway to haul pallets from the flight deck, break down supplies and distribute them to their appropriate locations aboard the ship.

"Since we've been out to sea, we haven't done [an UNREP]," said Chief Logistics Specialist (SW) Laking Brooks, the supply chief of Underwood. "This allows for the whole ship to get together to bring on everything from food, toilet paper, consumables; the whole nine yards. I'm surprised because the atmosphere right now is very uplifting. Everybody's happy to have received all their parts. That's what we look for when we do operations like this."

Underwood is deployed to Central and South America, and the Caribbean in support of Southern Seas 2012.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) support USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Underwood Sailors Play Soccer with Partner Nation Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Frank J. Pikul, Southern Seas 2012 Public Affairs

CALLAO, Peru (NNS) -- Sailors from Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Underwood participated in a soccer match and barbecue with sailors from foreign navies during UNITAS Pacific (PAC) at Callao Naval Base, May 14.

The event was organized to bring sailors from the different navies together to interact with each other to build friendships and foster good will between them.

"We were here today to see what sailors from other navies are like and to develop a better relationship with these other navies through sports and food," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Kevin Wilson, assigned to Underwood.

Sailors from the United States, Peru, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico participated in the event.

"I like to hear about different places and where fellow sailors are from," said Armory Mate 2nd Class Allen Angulo, a Peruvian sailor. "I like the atmosphere surrounding this event. It gives us a chance to relax and get to know each other."

The day concluded with an awards ceremony with medals presented to the top two teams. The team representing Underwood won first place and received gold medals.

"It felt good to win, but more importantly I believe that soccer is a world sport that brings everyone together, no matter what kind of differences people have in other countries," said Wilson.

After the awards ceremony, the sailors enjoyed a barbecue of roast pig and had the opportunity to get to know one another.

"I felt like I made a difference in other sailors' lives by participating in this event, and it was an opportunity to exchange cultures with each other," said Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Stephen McGiverin. "I really think it helps relations with these countries."

Underwood is participating in UNITAS Pacific as part of Southern Seas 2012, an annual deployment to Central and South America and the Caribbean.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports USSOUTHCOM joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.

Mayport-based Frigate Departs on Final Deployment for Southern Seas 2012

From Naval Station Mayport Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Underwood (FFG 36) departed on its final deployment in support of Southern Seas 2012, April 23.

The deployment will begin by participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX) with the Eisenhower Strike Group as part of their pre-deployment training. The ship and crew will then deploy to the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) May 2 to conduct Southern Seas 2012. Southern Seas will include the multinational exercises UNITAS Pacific (UNITAS PAC), Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) and UNITAS Atlantic (UNITAS LANT).

"Underwood completed our final basic phase training back in February and we've been working for well over a year in preparation for Southern Seas 2012. As we head out the door we'll finish our integrated phase training with Eisenhower Strike Group COMTUEX, which will be our certifying event allowing us to move out on deployment to Fourth Fleet," Cmdr. Peter T. Mirisola, commanding officer, USS Underwood (FFG 36) said.

Underwood will also support Operation Martillo, a joint, interagency and multi-national collaborative mission among Western Hemisphere and European nations to deny Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) air and maritime access to the littoral regions of the Central American isthmus. Operation Martillo targets narcotics, precursor chemicals, bulk cash, weapons and humans being transported via maritime and air domains.

Southern Seas is an annual collaborative deployment to conduct a variety of exercises, missions and multinational subject matter expert exchanges. The focus is on enhancing interoperability, increase regional stability, and building and maintaining regional relationships with countries throughout the hemisphere through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation.

"It is going to be quite a privilege and an honor to go down there. I know the crew's excited. We're going to have a lot of great visits. We're looking forward to the multi-national engagement with our Central and South American and Caribbean nation hosts," Mirisola said.

Formally known as the Partnership of the Americas, Southern Seas gives a distinct name to one of the United States' marquee deployments. This is the seventh such deployment and falls under U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) Partnership of the Americas initiative.

"There's no better way for Underwood to deploy than to support Southern Seas and UNITAS. This is the United States' longest standing annual exercise and the crown jewel of naval exercises for the U.S. Navy. There's no better way to end the ship's service life than to finish with UNITAS deployment," said Mirisola.

Underwood will return to Mayport in November 2012 and be decommissioned in March 2013. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate was commissioned January 29, 1983 and conducted her maiden deployment in 1985. Underwood participated in numerous counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea in her 29 years of service to the fleet.

After the devastating earthquake in Haiti, Underwood and her crew deployed immediately to the island and provided critical medical assistance in support of Operation Unified Response.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet (COMUSNAVSO/C4F) supports U.S. Southern Command joint and combined full-spectrum military operations by providing principally sea-based, forward presence to ensure freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain, to foster and sustain cooperative relationships with international partners and to fully exploit the sea as maneuver space in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions.