Catchin' Up
Week 13- HOMECOMING!!!
On Sunday, August 13th, NORTHLAND finally made it home! Pulling in on the 13th was an unexpected bonus for everyone, as it was 2 days earlier than originally scheduled. After a long patrol and a particularly long week of training, our early and exciting homecoming was a welcome present.
The last week of our transit home was filled with drills and training, culminating in an entire day filled with training for helicopter operations including multiple day and night landings, vertical replenishment, and in flight refueling. Air Station Atlantic City, NJ was kind enough to loan us a helicopter and air crew for the day.
The transit through the Chesapeake Bay on our way to the pier seemed like it lasted forever, but when we made the final turn it was great to see the crowd of families and friends waiting for us. It is great to be home!
Stats from our patrol:
- MILES STEAMED: 14,921NM
- FUEL BURNED: 200,000 GALLONS
- AMIO: 1
- MEDEVAC: 2 (OUR OWN CREWMEMBERS WITH APPENDICITIS)
- ENGAGEMENTS: 2 (CAPE VERDE, ALGERIA)
- EXERCISES: 1 (BREEZE IN BULGARIA)
- PASSEX: 4 (USS BARRY, TURKEY, MALTA, ALGERIA)
- CHANGE OF COMMAND: 1
- HELO OPS: 1
- (1) DAY EVOLUTIONS:
- CRASH ON DECK DRILL: 1
- VERTREP: 4
- HIFR: 2
- LANDINGS: 20
- TOUCH AND GO: 5
- PRI-TIES: 15
- HOT REFUEL: 1
- STATIC REFUEL: 1
- (2) NIGHT EVOLUTIONS: 10
- LANDINGS: 10
- TOUCH AND GO: 5
PRI-TIES: 5
- (3) NVG EVOLUTIONS: 12
- LANDINGS: 12
- TOUCH AND GO: 8
- PRI-TIES: 4
- PORTS VISITED: 8 (MADIERA, CAPE VERDE, ROTA, SOUDA BAY, VARNA, GAETA, ALGERIA, AZORES)
- SOCCER MATCHES: 2
- BASKETBALL GAMES: 1
- DAYS UNDERWAY THIS PATROL: 90
The most exciting thing to happen on the way to the Azores wasn’t just the training though…we had our first big Search & Rescue (SAR) case! While standing a diligent lookout watch, SN Lheureux spotted a small sea turtle which was caught in a derelict fishing net. NORTHLAND sprang into action, turned around, dropped the small boat and rushed out to save the little sea creature. The little guy was quite exhausted when our small boat crew cut him free, but he was unharmed and swam away to safety. Thankfully, we found him before the sharks did!
After the turtle rescue excitement, we continued our transit and conducted a brief stop for fuel and supplies in the Azores, before resuming our transit back to Portsmouth. NORTHLAND is now on a straight track line leading directly home. We’re making use of our transit time to conduct training that we’ve been unable to do given our busy schedule for the past three months including helo ops just before we get home. While we would prefer to just take it easy our last week underway, we have a busy inport scheduled with two administrative and operational inspections including Shipboard Helicopter Standardization which means we need to be fully up to speed when it comes to helo ops. Bottom line, it looks like we’ll be arriving as scheduled and perhaps even a day early if the weather doesn’t slow us down too much…we can’t wait to get back and see everyone!
NORTHLAND approaches the pier in Portsmouth, VA
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Our families & friends eagerly await our arrival
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Welcome home Monty!
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ENS Tillman drives the ship alongside the pier
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The forecastle as we maneuver alongside the pier
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More families & friends on the pier
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Families & friends walking down the pier after the brow was put over
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ALL of our friends were there…even the four legged variety
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Everyone is so excited to see their loved ones!
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Welcome home!
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Families & friends come aboard
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COAST GUARD CUTTER NORTHLAND RETURNING FROM MEDITERRANEAN PATROL
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard Cutter Northland is scheduled to return home Sunday at approximately 10 a.m. following a historic 91-day deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.
The Northland departed Portsmouth May 15 for a three-month deployment where they operated as part of the Navy's Sixth Fleet. While on patrol the cutter conducted exercises and trained with the navies and coast guards of Europe and North Africa, and welcomed aboard foreign dignitaries.
The Northland was the first ever American asset to conduct maritime operations with the Republic of Cape Verde. They hosted a visit by the U.S. ambassador to Cape Verde, Hon. Roger D. Pierce, and embedded three Cape Verde officers to participate in the first ever combined patrol of Cape Verde's archipelagic waters and territorial sea
Northland crewmembers also provided a three-day maritime law enforcement course to 10 Cape Verde coast guard personnel with an emphasis on international law, use of force, and boarding practices and procedures. In addition, the cutter also distributed medical and recreational supplies to local hospitals and schools in Cape Verde as part of the U.S. Navy Project Handclasp, which is a Navy-sponsored program that collects donations of medical supplies, toys and school materials for to the needy on behalf of the United States.
The Northland rendezvoused with the USS Barry, an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer en route to Rota, Spain. The crews worked together during mock boarding exercises as they transited through the Straits of Gibraltar for a multi-national exercise in the Black Sea, hosted by the Bulgarian navy, and included the Greek and Turkish navies. Other highlights include participation in a combined exercise with the Maltese maritime defense forces.
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