PANAMAX 2007 Begins

As the USS Wasp (LHD 1) is preparing for its deployment to ferry 10 MV-22 Osprey of VMM-263 to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, I'd first like to ask whoever puts out press releases not to give out locations of bases in Iraq with your announcements. I understand you are excited the MV-22 actually works, but telling everyone on the planet where it works isn't helping.

Before she deploys to the Middle East, the USS Wasp (LHD 1) is taking part in Panamax 2007.

PANAMAX sea, air and land forces will promote interoperability to counter threats to the waterway through maritime interdiction operations, mine countermeasures and visit, board, search and seizure procedures. Simultaneously, land-based training at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, among other missions.

“The time for planning is done,” said Ortiz, as he spoke amongst the flags of the nations in PANAMAX. “Now we execute.”

The U.S. Navy has sent USS Wasp (LHD 1) to lead the naval armada, along with USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), USS Mitscher (DDG 57), and USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58). The USCGC Thetis (WMEC 910) will join the maritime force along with ships from the navies of participating nations.

The participating nations are Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, the United States and Uruguay.

Three other nations will act as observers: El Salvador, Mexico and Paraguay.

It is unclear if the USS Wasp (LHD 1) will be replacing the USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) which departed on April 10th earlier this year. There are already 2 ESGs currently operating in the 5th Fleet area of operations with the entire Kearsarge ESG transiting the Suez Canal this past Monday. The US Navy has operated 3 Strike Groups almost consistently in the Gulf since formulating the Fleet Response Plan, mostly with the makeup of 2 ESGs and 1 CSG, but since 2005 the Navy has also operated an individual expeditionary ship somewhere near the Horn of Africa. With the delays to the USS San Antonio (LPD 17), the sale of the USS Trenton (LPD 14), the retirement of the USS Saipan (LHA 2), and the upcoming Global Fleet Station deployment of the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), I think she will stay in the region.