USS Guardian (MCM-5)
 The USS Guardian underway in November 2002.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Guardian |
| Builder | list error: <br /> list (help) Peterson Builders Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Laid down | 8 May 1985 |
| Launched | 20 June 1987 |
| Commissioned | 16 December 1989 |
| Decommissioned | 15 February 2013 |
| Stricken | 15 February 2013 |
| Motto | "Forerunner of Freedom" |
| Status | Struck, pending disposal |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship |
| Displacement | 1,367 long tons (1,389 t) |
| Length | 224 ft (68 m) o/a |
| Beam | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Draft | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion | list error: <br /> list (help) 4 × Isotta-Fraschini diesel engines 2 × controllable/reversible pitch propellers 2 × rudders 2 × light-load electric motors |
| Speed | 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Complement | 6 officers and 75 enlisted |
| Sensors and processing systems | list error: <br /> list (help) • AN/SLQ-48 (V) Mine Neutralization System • AN/SQL-37 (V) 3 Magnetic/Acoustic Influence Minesweeping Gear • Oropesa type 0 size 1 Mechanical Sweep Equipment • MDG 1701 Marconi Magnetometer Degaussing System |
| Electronic warfare & decoys | list error: <br /> list (help) • AN/SSN-2 Precise Integrated Navigation System (PINS) • AN/SQQ-32 Mine-hunting sonar • AN/SPS-55 Surface Radar • AN/WSN-7 Gyro Compass |
| Armament | list error: <br /> list (help) • 2 × M2 Browning .50-cal machine guns • 2 × M240 7.62 mm machine guns • 2 × Mk 19 grenade launchers |
USS Guardian (MCM-5) is a former U.S. Navy Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship. The second ship to bear that name, she was laid down on 8 May 1985 by Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; launched on 20 June 1987; and commissioned on 16 December 1989. She was decommissioned as a result of running aground and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 February 2013. She is currently pending disposal.
History
In late November 2007, the USS Guardian and fellow minesweeper USS Patriot (MCM-7) sought refueling and refuge from an approaching storm in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour, but were denied entry without explanation by the People's Republic of China.[1] Both ships were eventually refueled at sea and returned safely to their homeports in Japan.[1]
In February 2010, the USS Guardian became the first MCM in the Seventh Fleet to receive the Women-at-Sea modification, which is intended to allow the small vessel to accommodate a mixed-gender crew. The modification adds no additional rack space, but does provide for separate head and shower facilities for female crew members. However, with the exception of a very few officers, all MCMs in the Seventh Fleet are still manned by all-male crews.
January 2013 grounding
On 17 January 2013, following a port call and fuel stop in Subic, Guardian proceeded across the Sulu Sea and entered the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park.[2]where she grounded at 2.25am. About 90 minutes after the grounding she was seen on park radar, at approximately 0400 hours local time[3]. Guardian was radioed a warning by park officials that the vessel had entered a restricted area.[4] Park officials claim their warning was met with disregard by Guardian, which radioed back to "bring [their] complaint to the U.S. Embassy." Guardian ran aground on Tubbataha Reef about 130 kilometres (70 nmi) south east of Palawan in the Philippines.[5][6] At the time of the accident the ship was travelling from Subic Bay in the Philippines to Indonesia.[7] The extent of any damage to the reef was unknown, but there was no evidence that there was a fuel oil leak.[8] Philippines officials later estimated the damage to the reef at 1,000 square meters.[9] The U.S. Navy evacuated all 79 crew members from the minesweeper to the USNS Bowditch and MV C Champion on 18 January.[7] On 19 January, an assessment team was deployed to plan and execute the vessel's extraction.[10] On 20 January 2013, Navy Times reported the ship was taking on water in multiple places and was experiencing a slight list to port.[11]
Guardian now rests about 20 to 30 meters from the edge of the reef. Originally, only its bow was on the reef, but waves have now pushed the entire ship onto it. The guided missile destroyer USS Mustin, the oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch and the rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor arrived in the area to help in the intended extraction, as well as tugboats and Philippine navy and coast guard vessels. It was intended the Guardian would be removed from the area by crane ships from Singapore to then be placed on a barge or other ship since the ship is too damaged to be towed due to multiple hull penetrations.[12][13] During the time that the cranes made their journey from Singapore to the Philippines, preparations were made for the lift. 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel were extracted from the tanks in the Guardian to other ships that were on station and refilled with seawater to keep the vessel stable. Dry food stores and the personal effects of the Guardian's crew were removed as well. Salvage experts began to reinforce the wood-and-fiberglass hull of the minesweeper with Kevlar lines to mitigate stresses from waves hitting the vessel.[14]
On 29 January 2013, the United States Navy announced that the ship will be cut into three pieces on the reef prior to removal, resulting in the total loss of the ship to the Navy. USS Guardian was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 February 2013 and is currently pending disposal.[15] Philippine officials are examining whether fines will be levied against the United States, as it may be fined $300 per square meter of damaged reef, and the Philippine Senate has called for an investigation into the incident.[16] On 27 February 2013, salvage crews began to disassemble the USS Guardian, a process that will take about a month. [17]
See also
References
- ^ a b "China's Port-Visit Denial Troubles Navy Admirals", The Washington Post, pp. A04, 28 November 2007, retrieved 2007-11-29
- ^ Elena L. Aben (17 January 2013). "US War Ship Runs Aground in Philippines". Manila Bulliten. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
The Guardian arrived last 13 January for a port call and fuel stop in Subic and was transiting the Sulu Sea on Thursday when she ran aground.
- ^ Bob Couttie (23 January 2013). "USS Guardian Not Warned Before Grounding". Maritime Accident Casebook. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ Tubbataha Management Office (19 January 2013). "Tubbataha Demands Justice for the Reefs". TMO News. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (17 January 2013). "US minesweeper stuck on reef off Philippines". ABC News. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Ian Johnston (17 January 2013). "US Navy ship stuck on reef nearly a day after running aground off Philippines". NBC News. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ a b Brad Lendon (18 January 2013). "Crew evacuated from Navy minesweeper stuck on Philippine reef". CNN. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (17 January 2013). "U.S. Minesweeper Runs Aground in Philippines". Defense News. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ Brad Lendon (25 January 2013). "U.S. warship must be lifted off Philippine reef Minesweeper grounded on reef last week, has taken on water". CNN. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "US Navy sends assessment team for extraction of marooned minesweeper". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ^ Christpher P. Cavas (20 January 2013). "Stranded Navy Minesweeper Taking on Water". Navy Times. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
- ^ Brad Lendon (25 January 2013). "U.S. Navy warship will have to be lifted off Philippine reef". CNN. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Manila Bulletin (25 January 2013). "Grounded 'USS Guardian' Transferring Hazardous Materials; Fuel Draining Complete". Yahoo news. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ Brad Lendon (28 January 2013). "Seawater pumped into U.S. warship to keep it stable on reef". CNN. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ^ Luis Martinez (29 January 2013). "Stuck Minesweeper to Be Cut into Pieces". ABC News. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ Floyd Whaley (1 February 2013). "U.S. Navy to Scrap Vessel Stuck on Philippine Reef". TheNew York Times. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
- ^ "SALVAGE CREWS BREAK UP US NAVY SHIP IN PHILIPPINES". Yahoo News. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
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