U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) headed out to sea from Changi Naval Base, Singapore, on January 31.
The underway follows an in-port maintenance availability that was completed in November 2016. The ship conducted corrective maintenance as well as more than 900 preventive maintenance checks throughout the ship.
While at sea, Coronado sailors will conduct flight operations, small-caliber action team training and engineering operational testing.
The crew will conduct training in multiple warfare areas while underway in preparation for operations, theater security cooperation exercises and maritime security engagements scheduled during the ship’s rotational deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific in 2017.
“We will use this underway period to capitalize on the opportunity to flex the ship and all of its systems across multiple mission areas, ensuring technical and tactical proficiency,” said Cmdr. Scott Larson , commanding officer, USS Coronado. “These sailors have risen to meet and overcome every challenge put in front of them. I couldn’t be more proud of the positive energy and focus that this team continues to bring to their jobs on a daily basis.”
The ship’s maintenance availability began in December and included a D-phase maintenance procedure and a material condition inspection (MCI) on the embarked MH-60S helicopter.
Lt. Cmdr. Thanh Nguyen, officer in charge, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 detachment 5, talked about the importance of the procedure, which looks at all aspects of the helicopter including the engines and rotors.
“The maintenance is important to ensure we have an up and ready aircraft for any tasking that may come,” said Nguyen. “The D-phase is very time consuming and requires a lot of tools and parts. By doing it in port, it allowed us to maximize the space in the hanger and gave us a more stable platform to perform the work.”
Currently on its maiden deployment, Coronado is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region’s littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future.
On behalf of Commander, Task Force 73, Destroyer Squadron 7 conducts advanced planning, organizes resources, and directly supports the execution of maritime engagements such as the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam, and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise with Bangladesh, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.