Combined Task Force 151

Combined Task Force 151 or CTF-151 or Combined Task Force One Five One is an international naval task force, set up in response to piracy attacks in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia. They are part of the 25 nation coalition Combined Maritime Forces based in Bahrain.

CTF 151 operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia covering an area of approximately 1.1 million square miles.

CTF 151 is a multinational task force established in January 2009 to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.

CTF 151 has previously been commanded by members of the United States Navy, the Republic of Korea Navy, the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Turkish Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy. The command staff is composed of personnel from a number of coalition countries, and it manages daily operations from on board a CTF 151 Ship.

Formation

Between 2002 and 2004, a first naval coalition in charge of fighting terrorism in the area was dubbed Task Force 151.

On January 8, 2009, at the United States Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, Vice Admiral William E. Gortney, USN, announced the formation of CTF-151 to combat the piracy threat off Somalia, with Rear Admiral Terence E. McKnight in command.^[1] The USS San Antonio (LPD-17) was designated as the first flagship of Combined Task Force 151, serving as an afloat forward staging base (AFSB) for the following force elements:

• 14-member U.S. Navy visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team.^[2][3]
• 8-member United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 405.^[2][3]
• Scout Sniper Platoon, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU) cross-decked from the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7).^[2]
• 3rd platoon of the 26 MEU 'Golf' Infantry Company, a military police detachment, and intelligence personnel.^[3]
• Fleet Surgical Team 8 with level-two surgical capability to deal with trauma, surgical, critical care and medical evacuation needs.^[3]
• Approximately 75 Marines with six AH-1W Super Cobra and two UH-1N Huey helicopters from the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 264 (HMM-264) of the 26th MEU cross-decked from the USS Iwo Jima.^[4]
• Three HH-60H helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 3 (HS-3) cross-decked from the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71).^[3][5]

Initially, CTF-151 consisted of the San Antonio, USS Mahan (DDG-72), and HMS Portland (F79), with additional warships expected to join this force.^[6] Twenty countries were expected to contribute to the force, including Republic of Korea, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all of which have already pledged participation.^[7]

On April 5, 2009, United States Rear Adm. Michelle J. Howard, assumed command of CTF-151 and Expeditionary Strike Group 2.^[8] On the 29 May, the Australian Government pledged its support, re-tasking Australian Warship HMAS Warramunga (FFH 152) from duties in the Persian Gulf to the taskforce.^[9]

Actions

The United States Navy's Combined Task Force 151 caught the first pirate in 50 years in the Gulf of Aden on Feb. 11, 2009. 16 Somalis were captured in two separate incidents. The actions by the United States Navy were authorized by the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff via a Counter Piracy Execute Order that authorized the task force to capture pirates in the Horn of Africa region. The actions were covered by an ABC News team that was embedded with the Combined Task Force 151 including Lara Setrakian.^[10][11]

Commanders

• Rear Admiral Sinan ERTUĞRUL, TN
• Rear Admiral Lee Beom-rim, ROKN
• Rear Admiral Bernard Miranda, RSN
• Rear Admiral Harris Chan, RSN
• Rear Admiral Terence E. McKnight, USN
• Rear Admiral Michelle J. Howard, USN
• Rear Admiral Caner Bener, TN
• Rear Admiral Scott E. Sanders, USN
• Capt. Jim Gilmour, RNZN

Flagships

• 

  ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH-976)

• 

  USS San Antonio (LPD-17)

• 

  USS Vella Gulf (CG-72)

• 

  USS Boxer (LHD-4)

• 

  USS Gettysburg (CG-64)

• 

  USS Anzio (CG-68)

• 

  USS Chosin (CG-65)

See also

• Piracy in Somalia
• Maritime Security Patrol Area
• Combined Task Force 150
• Operation Atalanta
• Maersk Alabama hijacking

References

1. ^ "New Counter-Piracy Task Force Established". Navy NewsStand (GlobalSecurity.org). 2009-01-08. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2009/01/mil-090108-nns02.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Hilley, MC1 Monique K. (2009-01-20). "Navy, CG Training to Combat Piracy". Navy News (Military Advantage). http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-news/navy-cg-training-to-combat-piracy.html?col=1186032311124. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Goodwin, Brian (2009-01-19). "San Antonio Key to Counterpiracy Mission". Defence Professional. http://www.defpro.com/news/details/4953/. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
4. ^ Mills, Cpl Jason D. (2009-01-09). "Skids Fly to San Antonio". Marine Corps News. Military Advantage. http://www.military.com/news/article/marine-corps-news/skids-fly-to-san-antonio.html?col=1186032366495. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
5. ^ Gibbons, Timothy J. (2009-01-28). "San Navy helicopter squadron helps fight pirates". The Florida Times-Union. http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-01-27/story/navy_helo_squadron_helps_fight_pirates. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
6. ^ Viscusi, Gregory (2009-01-27). "Pirate Attacks Cut Dramatically by Navies, U.S. Admiral Says". Bloomberg News. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aXR8.j52hcpo&refer=uk. Retrieved 2009-01-28. 
7. ^ "US to lead new anti-pirate force". BBC News. 2009-01-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7817611.stm. Retrieved 2010-04-30. 
8. ^ Lt. John Fage (April 5, 2009). "Admiral Howard Takes Command of ESG-2 and CTF 151". Release #057-09. U.S Fifth Fleet. http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/articles/2009/057.html. Retrieved 2009-04-16. 
9. ^ McPhedran, Ian (2009-05-29). "Navy warship and RAAF spy planes join fight against Somali pirates". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25554700-421,00.html. 
10. ^ "Pirates Captured". ABC NEWS. http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/International/fight-piracy-spreads-indian-ocean/story?id=8524867. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 
11. ^ "US Navy Apprehends Pirates". ABC NEWS. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2009/02/us-navy-apprehe/. Retrieved 2011-08-31. 

External links

• Official Web Site