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 News from Around Banderas Bay | November 2005 
Shiloh Steams with Mexican Ship
 Shiloh Public Affairs - PVNN
| | The guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) recently participated in a passenger exercise with the Mexican navy. The exercise allowed a handful of officers from each ship trade places to see what their counterparts experienced doing their jobs. (Patrick M Bonafede) |
Puerto Vallarta - The USS Shiloh (CG 67) recently participated in a passing exercise with the Arm Hermenegildo Galeana (F 202), a Mexican frigate, off of the Western Coast of Mexico. Both ships demonstrated their respective Navy’s high standards of seamanship and professionalism during various communications, maneuvering, flight operations and gunnery exercises.
Several of Shiloh’s officers and crew members also had the opportunity to cross-deck and observe the exercises from a unique point of view. The events highlighted and stressed the importance of the U.S. Navy’s goal of foreign navy interoperability.
Shiloh spent Oct. 28 to 31 anchored next to Galeana in Banderas Bay, while her crew enjoyed a well-deserved port visit in the beautiful city of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Both ships weighed anchor the morning of Nov. 1 and spent the next two days participating in various exercises. Galeana’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Ricardo Meillon, visited Shiloh’s wardroom to exchange plaques and words of welcome with Shiloh’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Craig Faller, and the rest of the ship’s wardroom.
Shiloh also welcomed aboard six Mexican naval officers who stayed onboard overnight: Lieutenant Rosales Maldonado, Lieutenant Rodolfo Diaz, Lieutenant Carlos Quinones, Ensign Sergio Fourzar, Ensign Pichal Sario, and Ensign Julio Garcia. For most of the officers, it was the first time aboard a U.S. warship. “The officers were extremely knowledgeable and professional,” commented Lt. j.g. Jason Osborne, Shiloh’s Electronic Materials Officer and host to one of the officers. “They were eager to learn and were duly impressed by all of the training and demonstrations that took place. I think it is something they will all take back to their home ships.” Ensign Julio Garcia, stationed onboard ARM SIERRA (PO 141) agreed. “This has been the best experience. What I have learned only in one day onboard the great ship Shiloh will be important for my career.”
Lieutenant Junior Grade Jim Hagerty, Training Officer, Ensign Ryan Gonzalez, Ordnance Officer, Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class (SW) J. Pacheco, Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class (SW) Robert Reed, and Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) 3rd Class (SW) Travis Ethredge spent the same period of time onboard Galeana. “They were very hospitable,” commented Ethredge. “I enjoyed my time on board.” “It was an invaluable experience to be able to compare their capabilities and organization to ours,” commented Ensign Gonzalez. “The food was also delicious.”
To kick off the exercises, Shiloh and Galeana first established communications and then executed a divisional tactics maneuvering drill. Shiloh’s Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Team then boarded Galeana, giving their Mexican Navy counterparts a demonstration of U.S. navy VBSS techniques and tactics. Following recovery of the VBSS team, BO-105, a helicopter attached to Galeana conducted several approaches and deck landings on Shiloh. Later in the evening the ships completed Leapfrogs, a maneuvering drill where ships practice approaches that are used during underway replenishments, then steam abreast of one another at a speed of 13 knots with a lateral separation as small as 50 yards. This was a first for Galeana, since she normally refuels inport. Shiloh’s crew manned the rails and rendered honors in honor of her impressive shiphandling. After sunset, Shiloh and Galeana quartermasters participated in a flashing light drill, exchanging messages at a distance of 5000 yards.
The following morning, Galeana and Shiloh conducted a combined gunnery exercise GUNNEX). Not only did it give both crews the chance to exercise their main batteries and crew-served weapons, but also another opportunity to practice close-in ship handling skills, as both ships performed high speed racetrack turns to simulate actual surface engagements. Following the GUNNEX, the ships returned their honorary crewmembers to their own ships and Shiloh steamed back to San Diego, and Galeana to her homeport of Manzanillo, Mexico.
“Operating with the Galeana has been a memorable experience for both crews,” said Capt. Faller. “We learned valuable lessons and established a basis for future endeavors that will further the U.S. Navy’s goal of interoperability, but as important, we were able to share and appreciate each country’s culture and naval traditions.”
The Galeana was commissioned in the Mexican navy in 1994. She was originally built in 1961 as the first Bronstein-class frigate and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy as the USS Bronstein (FF 1037). Approximately 250 crew members serve onboard. Her primary mission is coastal interdiction. |
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