Blue water port proves excellent exercise site.At Mare Island For the South Pacific island near New Caledonia, see . For an island in Indonesia, see . Mare Island is a peninsula in Vallejo, California, about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco. , Calif., the 1397th Terminal Transportation Brigade has a window on the world. We think our facility is unique among Army Reserve transportation units. The 1397th is the sole occupant of a former U.S. Navy deep-water port. It is a superb location for us, and the perfect place for joint forces training. That is what we were doing July 27-28 for Operation Bay Warrior 2001, held for the first time at Mare Island. Our blue water location proved to be great for the operation--the largest of its kind ever. The annual exercise involved more than 200 service members from the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Landing craft mediums from the 481st Transportation Co. (Heavy Boat), Mare Island, Calif., performed a wide variety of transportation missions. This was one exercise where the table was turned: normally, the Navy and Coast Guard work the small boats and the Army provides defense. This operation was the opposite. During the exercise, the Navy and Coast Guard defended the shore and protected the Army landing craft utility Landing Craft Utility (LCU) are used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers. vessels! For training purposes, we used "demonstrators" and "protesters," courtesy of the 481st. "These vessels are our ace-in-the-hole," said Chief Warrant Officer Robert Tillish, of the U.S. Army Vessel Matamoros, 481st Transportation Co. "If the planes aren't able to land and the Navy can't dock at the port," said Tillish, "we can deliver equipment and supplies to any beach in the world." Other units in the exercise included the Coast Guard's Harbor Defense The defense of a harbor or anchorage and its water approaches against external threats such as: a. submarine, submarine-borne, or small surface craft attack; b. enemy minelaying operations; and c. sabotage. Command Unit 111, Alameda Alameda (ăləmē`də, –mā`də), city (1990 pop. 76,459), Alameda co., W central Calif., on an island just off the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay; settled 1850, inc. as a city 1884. , Calif.; and Mobile Inshore in·shore adv. & adj. 1. Close to a shore. 2. Toward or coming toward a shore. inshore Adjective in or on the water, but close to the shore: Unit Warfare 104, San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif. "This was an excellent opportunity for joint training with the Navy and Coast Guard Reserve," said Capt. Steve McLaughlin For the musician and producer, see . Steve McLaughlin (born October 2, 1971) was an American football player. Born in 1971 in Tucson Arizona, Steve McLaughlin had a long career growing up playing soccer. , Commander, 481st Transportation Co. Our distinguished visitors included Vice Adm. Ernest Riutta, Commander of the Coast Guard's Pacific Area, and Rear Adm. Mary O'Donnell. |
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