THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020263
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
These Navy sailors dress like Army guys, perhaps to please their boss - Army Gen. Wayne A. Downing, who commands their ships.
They even roll the sleeves of their camouflage fatigues the Army way, not like Marines.
But they'll work for anybody, whether it's helping the Coast Guard with drug interdiction in the Caribbean, running coastal patrols off Haiti, or carrying Navy SEAL Team squads to some secret site.
The growing fleet of small coastal patrol ships - nine of 13 are now in operation - is making history almost daily now, with the Typhoon and Sirocco arriving this week in the Mediterranean Sea to cap the first trans-Atlantic crossing since the class was launched in 1993.
Only 170 feet long, with a crew of just 28, each of the two ships took three 12,000-gallon gulps of fuel from an accompanying supply ship to complete the 10-day cruise.
Downing, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command, was at the Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base on Monday to honor two other coastal patrol ships - the Cyclone and Tempest, plus Maintenance Support Team 2.
He presented them the Meritorious Unit Commendation on behalf of Navy Secretary John Dalton for ``unprecedented Naval Special Warfare operations, exercises and training'' that developed new capabilities for the special operation forces.
The ships are commanded by a lieutenant, or a recently selected lieutenant commander. They are the Navy's newest special operations concept.
Powered by four 3,350-horsepower diesel engines and four propellers, they are capable of speeds in excess of 40 mph. Their 7.8-foot drafts allow them to get close to shore. They can protect themselves with machine guns and Stinger missiles.
``It's like sitting on top of a Harley,'' said Senior Chief Petty Officer Joe Coulson of the Tempest. ``When you start her up, she rumbles.''
Adds Senior Chief Jerome Little, ``Think of it as a jet ski with guns.''
There is little doubt these small crews, where the mess cook also stands bridge watch, or becomes the officer of the deck in port, are proud of their ships.
``There is absolutely no doubt,'' said Downing, ``that as we go into this new world where we don't have these superpower confrontations, that they will help us face new challenges.
``To have the ability to have ships like this that can do a lot of the non-traditional missions is going to be increasingly valuable.''
Unique among Navy ships, the coastal patrol ship fleet actually is directed by the Naval Special Operations Command in Coronado, Calif., which in turn reports to Downing's command. Based in Tampa, Downing's command includes the SEALs, Green Berets and all the military's special forces.
``These ships were bought and paid for with special operations money that Congress budgeted for in 1986. They are not out of the Navy's budget,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Melo, acting chief of staff for Special Boat Squadron Two at Little Creek.
That's why commanders such as Downing are still deciding what new roles the ships might play.
``One thing these ships are going to do is give the fleet the capability to go into waters and do some things we're not prepared to do right now,'' Downing said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Gen. Wayne A. Downing
Color staff graphic by John Earle
Cyclone-Class Coastal Patrol Craft
For copy of graphic, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: U.S. NAVY U.S. ARMY by CNB