Iranian Sailors Saved by Great Satan

Coalition Ship Aids Iranian Mariners – US Central Command (H/T Starbuck, and here.)

The San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship, USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) assisted six stranded Iranian mariners early Friday morning May 14th while conducting routine Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the Arabian Gulf. Mesa Verde is currently assigned to Combined Task Force (CTF) 152, part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

The ship received a faint mayday call over the radio just before 4 am and shortly after, the lookout spotted a signal fire coming from a dhow in the direction of the received distress call.

Mesa Verde sent an Approach and Visit (AAV) team to assess the needs of the vessel and to provide assistance if required. Once on scene, the AAV team discovered that the dhow’s propulsion, electrical and steering systems had failed and that the crew had been adrift for four days at sea and dangerously low on food and water.

The Mesa Verde provided these necessities for the distressed mariners as well as medical attention for two of the crew members with burn injuries. Furthermore, engineers from the ship replaced the battery and fixed the steering so the crew of the dhow could continue their journey safely.

“It’s well trained boat crews and Mesa Verde’s skilled engineers that made this difficult task look easy,” said Cmdr. Larry LeGree, Commanding Officer, USS Mesa Verde. “While conducting maritime security operations, it was rewarding to be able to assist mariners in trouble.”

CTF 152 was established in March 2004 and operates in the international waters of the Arabian Gulf. The task force coordinates Theatre Security Cooperation (TSC) activities with regional partners and conducts Maritime Security Operations, as well as being prepared to respond to any crisis inside the Arabian Gulf…