USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) returned to Norfolk, V.A on 17 January 2014, having finished her brief underway within the ship’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
The INSURV was established 130 years ago to inspect US Navy’s ships and to report on their readiness.
The ship’s inspection comes after the ship completed both ARGMUEX and COMPUTEX exercises and is getting ready for the upcoming deployment as part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).
She also assisted in recovery of the US Navy’s MH-53E helicopter that crashed off the coast of Virginia Beach, Va. on 8 January.
Crewmembers of USS Mesa Verde have been preparing for the ship’s deployment for a few months. The preparation included extensive and exhaustive checks, equipment testing and cleaning.
USS Mesa Verde is the third San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship of the US Navy, designed to deliver a fully equipped battalion of up to 800 marines.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 21, 2014; Image: Wikimedia