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Seafarers-Crewed LMSRs Carry Vital Materiel for ‘Big Red One’

March 2004

Seafarers are tackling the giant sealift component of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2, crewing dozens of ships in support of U.S. troops. By mid-February, at least 57 SIU-crewed vessels had mobilized for a mission that’s expected to last at least into summer. The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) early this year announced that an estimated 23 million square feet of cargo will be moved by sea to support the armed forces as nearly a quarter-million military personnel rotate into and out of the Middle East. An early highlight of the mission involved five Seafarers-crewed large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) ships loading out more than 70,000 tons of Army hardware in Antwerp, Belgium for the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division— better known as Big Red One. From Jan. 25 to early last month, the LMSRs (USNS Brittin, USNS Red Cloud, USNS Dahl, USNS Charlton and USNS Watkins) took on a wide range of materiel for delivery to an area northwest of Baghdad, where Big Red One is relieving the 4th Infantry Division. The cargo included M1-A1 Abrams heavy battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, Bradley fighting vehicles, heavy trucks, humvees, fuel trucks and containers loaded with various supplies. During a ceremony aboard the Red Cloud in Antwerp, Col. Susan Sowers, USA, commander of the Army’s 37th Transportation Battalion, told the crew members, “It makes a difference in the world, what you do. We couldn’t get there without you.” SIU members are embracing the mission. Bosun William Dowzicky, helping ready the Cape Wrath last month in Baltimore, said, “The major combat may be over, but it’s still very important that we resupply our troops. We’re going to do our part. This is still serious— we still have soldiers over there.” Jim Porter, making his first trip as third engineer after sailing as a QMED with the SIU, noted, “The first trip (last year) was smooth, and I expect the same thing this time.” Among the SIU-crewed ships sailing in OIF2 are SL-7s operated by AMSEA; Ready Reserve Force vessels operated by Crowley, Keystone, Mormac, Marine Transport Lines, Pacific Gulf Marine, and Patriot Contract Services; and LMSRs operated by Maersk Line, Limited.