The technical visit marks the first demonstration of expeditionary maintenance capabilities for the rotationally deployed Littoral Combat Ship independence-class variant.
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“This technical visit advances our expeditionary maintenance capabilities and further strengthens our partnership with Vietnam,” said Rear Adm. Donald Gabrielson, Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/Task Force 73. “Technical visits benefit both nations and increase our geographic flexibility in repairing and maintaining a high state of readiness in our ships. We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Vietnam and look forward to working together to enhance stability and create mutually beneficial relationships.”
During the technical visit, contractors and ship’s force will execute more than 450 preventive maintenance requirements. To conduct the maintenance at locations outside the normal Littoral Combat Ship supply and maintenance hub in Singapore, ship maintenance staff from Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific coordinated closely with the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, contractors, and local authorities at the international port.
“There is significant planning and coordination that goes into expeditionary preventive maintenance availabilities,” said Cmdr. Fernando Maldonado, Assistant Chief of Staff for ship maintenance and repair. “We approached this maintenance availability very methodically and we had great support from our contractors, the country team, and our Vietnamese partners.”
The ability to conduct expeditionary preventive maintenance availabilities at ports across the region enables flexibility in Littoral Combat Ship operations.
“The Littoral Combat Ship was built with agility in mind, so the more flexible we can be with our expeditionary maintenance, the higher the state of readiness, and we get these ships out to sea and on mission for longer periods of time.”
Commander, Task Force 73 and Destroyer Squadron 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of NEA Vietnam in addition to maritime exercises such as the bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) series and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
