Army vessel departs in support of Pacific Pathways

Story by Staff Sgt. John Garver, 8th TSC Public Affairs

FORD ISLAND, Hawaii - Soldiers from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division loaded cargo and military vehicles on board the 8th Theater Sustainment Command's Logistic Support Vessel-2, the U.S. Army Vessel CW3 Harold A. Clinger, August 10 at Ford Island, Hawaii, in preparation for Pacific Pathways 16-3.

Pacific Pathways 16-3 is the third iteration of the U.S. Army Pacific concept for deploying of U.S. Army enablers in the Indo-Asia Pacific Area of Responsibility in existing security cooperation exercises and engagements linked together into a deliberate, sequenced operation partner.

"The LSV has a great reputation of being able to move equipment here in the Pacific," said Warrant Officer Miguel Flores, Mobility Officer, 3rd BCT, 25th Infantry Division. "The Soldiers are loading about 70 pieces of equipment, which will take up about 8500 square feet of the vessel.

"These Soldiers will become familiar with loading and pre-staging equipment for travel by sea and experience what capabilities are available to them," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kevin Willis, 605th Detachment Commander.

Willis also said that the LSV is an enabler for the Pacific Pathway mission and an available asset to the commander of U.S. Pacific Command.

During Pacific Pathways 16-3, the LSV, crewed by 31 Army mariners from the 605th Transportation Detachment, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th TSC, will provide sustainment support to the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd BCT by transporting cargo and equipment across the Pacific waters to Nagoya, Japan for Exercise Orient Shield 16.

Willis explained that when the LSV arrives in Japan, the cargo and equipment will be unloaded for 3rd BCT to participate in Orient Shield; once their mission is complete, the cargo will be loaded back on to the vessel.

"Army Watercraft are a heavily used resource in moving personnel, equipment and supplies where they are needed, when they are needed, throughout the region, "said Sgt. First Class Tim Carman, 605th Detachment Sergeant.

Carman says that the LSV is a unique, self-sustaining vessel with a shallow draft enabling it to dock at almost any shore.

The vessel's cargo deck is designed to hold any vehicle in the U.S. Army inventory, to include M1 Abrams main battle tanks or 82 standard containers, which is the equivalent of 17 C-17 aircraft loads.

It has both bow and stern ramps for roll-on and off operations and can also beach itself to load or discharge cargo over the shore in as little as four feet of water.

The LSV-2 is one of the Pacific's 26 Army watercraft assets providing over-the-water transportation of equipment and personnel to increase maneuverability and readiness throughout the region.

The logistical support can often be a complex and lengthy part of a Pacific Pathways deployment. While the exercise itself may only be a couple of weeks, the Army mariners can expect their role to take up to two months to deliver the equipment and return. It will take the crew approximately 20 days to arrive in Japan and can self-sustain at sea for approximately 45 days.