American Submarine Tender Frank Cable Docks at Chennai Port
Chennai:
Port Wings News Network:
The USS Frank Cable (AS-40), a Emory S. Land-class submarine tender and mobile repair platform that provides intermediate-level maintenance, logistics, and support to submarines and surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific, currently forward-deployed to the U.S. Naval Base on Guam, has arrived at Chennai Port for a brief halt.
Commissioned in 1979, USS Frank Cable is equipped to repair, rearm, and re-provision other ships and has a mixed crew of approximately 350 to 400 US Navy sailors and 150 civilian mariners. On 26 August, US Consulate in Chennai organized a guided tour for local media personnel to showcase the facilities in the vessel.
It may be noted that Frank Cable docked in an Indian port after a gap of three years. In August 2022, the vessel arrived in the Indian territorial waters and berthed at Vishakapatnam for a few days.
As part of the on-board tour, Executive Officer of the vessel, Commander Michael Rodriguez, briefed the media personnel. Commander Michael Rodriguez said: “Our job is to repair, rearm and resupply submarines in their home port or in other ports. We anchor away from the home port of a submarine and help them restore.”
“This is a great opportunity to reinforce our partnership with the Indian Navy,” he added.
Speaking about the presence of civilian mariners in the vessel, Commander Rodriguez said, “They go to another submarine or vessel when it is difficult to navigate in high sea. They are licensed by the US Coast Guard and inspect that submarine onboard and come back in order to take measures to restore it.”
The ship is also equipped to provide medical services on board with the appointment of two physicians and 18 individuals.
Briefing about the medical facilities to the visiting media contingent, Senior Medical Officer, Commander Kenneth Willaert, said, “We have various support staff to run the show. Some of the services offered are fixed x-rays, laboratory, pharmacy. We also have capabilities like blood bank as some have volunteered to donate blood in case we require blood transfusion.”
Repair Officer Jordan Klein and Supply Officer Michael Dausen also elaborated about the facilities available on-board Frank Cable.
According to information available on social media, Frank Cable docked at Ketapang Port, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia, two weeks ago for a scheduled port visit, and set sail towards Chennai Port on 22 August.
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