USS Guardian has run aground

asif iqbal said:

Are they going to put it back together again?

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By Lt. Brian Wierzbicki, CTF 76 Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Avenger Class Mine Countermeasures ship USS Guardian (MCM 5) concluded 23 years of service to the Navy during a decommissioning ceremony March 6 at Naval Base Sasebo, Japan.

The 79 Guardian crewmembers participated in the event held to signify the end of an era and to honor the legacy that Guardian has left behind.

"Today, we honor the service of our ship and of your service to our nation," said Lt. Cmdr. Mark Rice, commanding officer, USS Guardian.

Guardian, which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the Philippines on Jan. 17, is beyond economical repair and is being dismantled.

"I am particularly proud to be here amongst the Guardian crew, who performed heroically, guarded by their namesake, to save each other," said Rear Adm. Jeffrey A. Harley, commander, Amphibious Force U.S. Seventh Fleet "It's Sailors like you who made success possible. The hard work behind the scenes, your inspiring confidence, espirit de corps and your pride in your ship did not go unnoticed."

Over the years, Guardian played an integral role in conducting several real-world mine neutralizations and search and rescue missions in the Arabian Gulf. The ship was also involved in several bi-lateral exercises with the navies of Japan and the Republic of Korea throughout the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility, since becoming a forward-deployed Naval asset in 1996.

While assigned to 5th Fleet, Guardian was the first mine countermeasure ship to perform a crew swap. That swap established standards still in practice today. As a 7th Fleet Forward Deployed Naval asset, Guardian was one of the four mine countermeasure ships to have a permanent crew.

"The memories that we shared together on Guardian are ones that I will always hold dear as I remember this fine crew and what we were able to accomplish together," said Rice. "This has been the most rewarding tour that I've had during my short time in the Navy and that is a tribute to these Sailors standing here today."

Guardian's awards include a Navy Unit Commendation, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, a Combat Action Ribbon, the Southwest Asia Service Medal and six Battle Efficiency awards.

USS Warrior (MCM 10) will deploy to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility to replace Guardian.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit

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Latest photos of the dis-mantling of the ex-USS Guardian

SULU SEA (March 11, 2013) U.S. Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 disassemble the mine countermeasures ship ex-Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17. The U.S. Navy and contracted salvage teams continue damage assessments and the removal of equipment and parts to prepare the grounded ship to be safely dismantled and removed from Tubbataha Reef. The U.S. Navy continues to work in close cooperation with the Philippine authorities to safely dismantle Guardian from the reef while minimizing environmental effects. (U.S. Navy photos/released)

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(March 30, 2013) The U.S. Navy contracted crane vessel M/V Jascon 25 removes the stern section from the mine countermeasure ship Ex-Guardian (MCM 5), which ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef Jan. 17, and places it onto the barge Seabridge. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders/Released)

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Final Hull Section of Ex-Guardian Removed From Reef

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders, Commander U.S. Seventh Fleet, Public Affairs

SULU SEA, The Philippines (NNS) -- U.S. Navy and contracted salvage personnel embarked onboard the U.S. Navy contracted crane vessel M/V Jascon 25 completed on March 30th the removal of the grounded mine countermeasures ship Ex-Guardian from the Tubbataha Reef.

The final section of the hull, the stern section, which weighed approximately 250 tons, was safely lifted from the reef.

"As the hull has been removed, the team is now shifting their effort to collecting minor debris that remains on the reef. We also have a collaborative team from the U.S. and the Philippines beginning to assess the condition of the reef," said Matthews.

Since Guardian's grounding, the Navy has been working meticulously to salvage any reusable equipment and remove any potentially harmful materials including petroleum-based products, human wastewater and other wreckage debris.

"Every salvage operation presents unique challenges. It has been difficult to extract the Guardian without causing further damage to the reef, but the U.S. Navy and SMIT salvage team with support from other companies and the government of the Philippines have really done a superb job. I could not be more proud," said Supervisor of Salvage, Capt. Mark Matthews.

No fuel has leaked since the grounding and all of the approximately 15,000 gallons aboard Guardian were safely transferred off the ship in the early days of the salvage operation.

"We continue to work closely with the Philippine Coast Guard, Navy and Tubbataha Reef Park Rangers, and we are grateful for the support we have received to remove Guardian and minimize further damage to the reef," said Matthews.

Along with the Jascon 25, the USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50), the SMIT Borneo, the Trabajador, the Intrepid and the Archon Tide remain on scene supporting the cleanup operation.

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Equation said:

Wow, the propellers were severely damaged alright.

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SteelBird said:

The undersea rock is so visible, how could they hit it? Imagine if that was not rock but water mine, what would happen? They would not have had to hire entire fleet to cut and remove it!!!

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