The Military Sealift Command (MSC) rescue and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) successfully towed USAV Port Hudson (LCU 2035) attached to the U.S. Army 10th Regional Support Group (RSG) from Sattahip, Thailand, to Okinawa, Japan, arriving May 19.
Hudson supported exercise Cobra Gold 2015 in March. Cobra Gold is a Thailand/United States, co-sponsored multinational and joint theater security cooperation exercise, conducted annually in the Kingdom of Thailand.
According to Cmdr. Rob Brodie, Commander Task Force (CTF) 73 assistant operations officer, after Cobra Gold, Hudson was to support Combined/Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (C/JLOTS) Korea at the end of June, with a stop in Japan for supplies. Hudson could not sail under her own power due to engine and generator problems.
The 10th RSG contacted MSC and CTF 73 to determine if there were any naval assets in the region that could support the tow. Salvor was identified as the platform to tow Hudson and the ground ammunition she carried. Salvor prepared to tow Hudson 2,800 nautical miles with a rigged tow-bridle. The bridle consisted of two and half shots of approximately two-inch anchor chain. The transit was expected to take 13 days, but Salvor safely delivered Hudson in eight, hitting speeds of up to 12 knots.
Salvor is a forward-deployed rescue and salvage ship operating out of 7th Fleet and is part of Task Force (CTF) 73.
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Image: US Navy