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Safeguard II (T-ARS-50)

1985–

The second U.S. Navy ship named for the general word classification.

II

(T-ARS-50: displacement 3,181; length 255'; beam 51'; draft 17'; speed 15 knots; complement 99; armament 2 .50 caliber machine guns; class Safeguard)

Safeguard (T-ARS-50) was laid down on 8 November 1982 at Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., by Peterson Builders, Inc.; launched on 12 November 1983; sponsored by Mrs. Dornell Kilcline, wife of Vice Adm. Thomas J. Kilcline Sr., Commander Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet; and was commissioned on 17 August 1985, Lt. Cmdr. Kenneth D. Harvey in command.

Safeguard was decommissioned and placed in service with the Military Sealift Command (MSC) at Sasebo, Japan, on 26 September 2007.

Safeguard II (T-ARS-50) 1985-090726-N-4124C-058
Safeguard sailors depart as the ship’s decommissioning flag is lowered to transfer her to the MSC at Sasebo, Japan, 26 September 2007. Safeguard serves forward-deployed to Japanese waters for nine years before being transferred. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam R. Cole, U.S. Navy Photograph 070926-N-4124C-058, Navy NewsStand)

A magnitude 9.0 (Mw) undersea megathrust earthquake occurred off the Tōhoku region of Honshū, Japan, at 1446 on 11 March 2011. The earthquake triggered tsunami waves that reached more than 100 feet in height at places, and caused nearly 25,000 casualties, including more than 15,000 killed. The United States initiated Operation Tomodachi (from the Japanese Tomodachi Sakusen — Operation Friend(s) to provide humanitarian relief to the victims. A total of 24,000 U.S. servicemembers, 189 aircraft, and 24 ships -- including Safeguard -- served in Tomodachi (12 March–4 May 2011).

Safeguard II (T-ARS-50) 1985-110325-N-MU720-064
Safeguard assists in the salvage recovery efforts in support of Tomodachi in the waters of Hachinohe, Japan, 25 March 2011. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Devon Dow, U.S. Navy Photograph 110325-N-MU720-064, Navy NewsStand)
Safeguard II (T-ARS-50) 1985-110329-N-5716H-632
The ship anchors near the port of Miyako in northeastern Japan during Tomodachi, 28 March 2011. The ship flies both the Japanese and U.S. flags, and LCU-1627 ties up alongside. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Huebner, U.S. Navy Photograph 110329-N-5716H-632, Navy NewsStand)

Safeguard, with Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit1 embarked, took part in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2013, a multi-threat exercise also involving Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, as part of Task Group (TG) 73.1 (15-23 June). Commander Destroyer Squadron 7 broke his flag in guided missile destroyer Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54), and TG 73.1 also comprised: littoral combat ship Freedom (LCS-1), dock landing ship Tortuga (LSD-46), with India Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines embarked; Lockheed P-3C Orions of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26; Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5; medical professionals and visit, board, search and seizure evaluators from Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command; and Orient Express, the Seventh Fleet’s band.

Detailed history pending.

Mark L. Evans

7 December 2015

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Published: Mon Jan 11 15:03:21 EST 2016