• Salvage crews dismantle grounded US Navy ship piece by painstaking piece

    Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders / U.S. Navy

    Feb. 8, 2013: The USS Guardian sits aground on Tubbataha Reef in the Sulu Sea 22 days after it was grounded.

    Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim / U.S. Navy

    March 2: The second deck level is guided onto the U.S. Navy contracted vessel M/V Jascon 25.

     

    Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim / U.S. Navy

    March 9: Contractors remove an exhaust pipe section.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    The USS Guardian, a U.S. Navy minesweeper that ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary off the Philippines on Jan. 17, has been painstakingly taken apart, piece by piece, over the past two months.

    The Navy has been working alongside the Philippine coast guard and a contracted crane vessel to dismantle and extract the ship from the Tubbataha Reef, a World Heritage Site in the Sulu Sea.

    The Navy said in January that the 224-foot Guardian was "beyond economical repair." They decided that the only supportable salvage option was to dismantle it in sections due to the deteriorating integrity of the ship, its weight, and where it was grounded on the reef.

    Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Anderson Bomjardim / U.S. Navy

    March 12: The M/V Jascon 25 and the tugboat Archon Tide are positioned next to the Guardian during salvage operations.

    Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonah Stepanik / U.S. Navy

    March 11: Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Brandon Berry, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, grinds through steel in the engine room compartment in preparation for removal of machinery.

    Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonah Stepanik / U.S. Navy

    March 13: A civilian crew member of the M/V Jascon 25 guides an engine salvaged from the Guardian.

    Aaron Favila / AP

    March 18: Filipino protesters shout slogans during a rally near the U.S. Embassy in Manila in protest at the alleged destruction of the coral reef by the USS Guardian.

    The ship's bow was lifted on to a barge on Tuesday and the remaining sections of the wood and fiberglass hull are expected to be removed over the next few days, according to a report in Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper. The salvage operation has had to be suspended several times due to adverse weather.

    The incident damaged at least 1,200 square yards of coral reef, according to an initial, conservative estimate by the Philippine coast guard, leading to protests outside the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

    -- The Associated Press contributed to this report 

    Philippine Coast Guard via EPA

    March 26: The bow of the ship is raised.

    Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonah Stepanik / U.S. Navy

    March 21: Navy Diver 2nd Class Matthew Costa, assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, guides a piece of equipment being lifted from the engine room compartment.

    Philippine Coast Guard via EPA

    March 26: A view inside the bow.

    Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kelby Sanders / U.S. Navy via Getty Images

    March 26: The bow is raised by a crane on the M/V Jascon 25.

    Related:

    Rachel Maddow updates the reporting on the USS Guardian, a U.S. Navy minesweeper stuck on an ecologically significant and fragile coral reef in the Philippines, being chopped into pieces to avoid further damage to the reef (and further incursion of fines for damage already done).

  • Report: Reef-bound Navy ship takes on water

    AFP - WESCOM via EPA

    A photo released on Jan. 20, 2013 by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (AFP-WESCOM) shows the US Navy ship USS Guardian remaining stuck in the vicinity of the Tubbataha Reef, western Philippines, on Jan. 19.

    By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News

    The U.S. Navy ship USS Guardian remains stuck on a reef off the Philippines four days after the minesweeper ran aground.

    In a statement, the U.S. Navy said preliminary findings of a review by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency found that digital navigation chart data was inaccurate and had "misplaced the location of Tubbataha Reef." This "may have been a factor in the Guardian grounding."

    "While the erroneous navigation chart data is important information, no one should jump to conclusions," U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Darryn James was quoted as saying in the statement. "It is critical that the U.S. Navy conduct a comprehensive investigation that assesses all the facts surrounding the Guardian grounding."

    Wescom via AFP - Getty Images

    The USS Guardian remains trapped on the Tubbataha Reef in a photo taken on Ja. 19, 2013 and released on Jan. 20.

    Photographs showed the ship had moved on the reef. Initially it was pointed bow first into the reef, but it has now turned 90 degrees.

    The Navy Times reported that areas of the ship were flooded, and cited the Navy as saying there had been a "slight increase to a port list" Saturday.

     

  • Crew evacuated as US Navy minesweeper remains stuck on Philippines reef

    WESCOM via AFP - Getty Images

    A photo released on Jan. 18, 2013 by the Philippine Western Command (WESCOM) shows the US Navy minesweeper USS Guardian after it ran aground on the Tubbataha Reef in the western Philippine island of Palawan on Jan. 17.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    The crew of a U.S. Navy minesweeper that ran aground in a protected marine sanctuary off the Philippines was evacuated on Friday as the ship remained stuck on a reef. 

    The USS Guardian, an Avenger-class minesweeper, hit the Tubbataha Reef in the Sula Sea at 2:25 a.m. local time Thursday (1:25 p.m. Wednesday ET).

    Attempts to free the ship at high tide were not successful, the Navy said in a statement, and all 79 crew members were subsequently transferred to two nearby support vessels.

    "Seventh Fleet ships remain on scene and essential Guardian Sailors will continue conducting survey operations onboard the ship as needed until she is recovered," said Vice Adm. Scott Swift, U.S. Seventh Fleet commander. "Several support vessels have arrived and all steps are being taken to minimize environmental effects while ensuring the crew’s continued safety."

    The reason for the grounding remains under investigation, the Navy said.

     

    WESCOM via AFP - Getty Images

    The minesweeper pictured on Jan. 17, 2013 after it ran aground.

     

  • Two women share first kiss at US Navy ship's return

    Brian J. Clark / Virginian Pilot via AP

    Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, kisses her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta's ship returned from 80 days at sea. It ís a time-honored tradition at Navy homecomings - one lucky sailor is chosen to be first off the ship for the long-awaited kiss with a loved one. On Wednesday, for the first time, the happily reunited couple was gay.

    By Rich Shulman

    I'm sure this is not going to please some Navy veterans.

    AP reports: VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

    It's been one year since President Obama signed the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, and critics said changing the law would never work in the real world of combat. NBC's Jim Maceda takes one measure of the change, with some of America's troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

    Brian J. Clark / AP

    Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta, left, greets her girlfriend of two years, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Va., Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2011 after Gaeta's ship returned from 80 days at sea.

    Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta and Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell talk about the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule and becoming the first women to share the coveted "first kiss."

  • Nicholas A. Groesch / Reuters

    Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan conduct a counter-measure wash down on the flight deck to remove potential radiation contamination while operating off the coast of Japan while providing humanitarian assistance in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 22, 2011.

    Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan wash the flight deck to safeguard against radiation during their humanitarian mission to Japan

    AP reports:
    ABOARD THE USS RONALD REAGAN — When U.S. Navy helicopters returned from a humanitarian mission on the first weekend following Japan's earthquake and tsunami, Lt. j.g. James Powell felt a slight unease.

    Powell, the radiation health officer aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, knew there was a chance the choppers could have been exposed to radiation from the damaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant as they ferried relief aid to northeastern Japan, and even though "the Japanese had told us we'd be fine," he still wanted to be sure.

    "I was kind of nervous about it," the 30-year-old nuclear engineer said. "So I said, 'Let's just go check them, just in case. ... Let's just go check it out.'"

    That was Sunday, March 13 — two days after the earthquake and tsunami had hit the coast and one day after the first explosion from the nuclear plant.

    Thus began three days of mostly sleepless nights for Powell as he and others worked to contain contamination to the $4.5 billion nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and calm the nerves of its crew of about 4,500.

    Powell's first examination showed a level of radiation on the nose of a helicopter 50 times higher than the ship's standard. Further checks showed that helicopter crew members themselves were coming in contaminated.

    "I'd never seen it on a nuclear-powered ship before, I'd never seen any skin contamination, never seen any sort of contamination anywhere that it wasn't supposed to be," Powell said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press on the deck of the carrier as sailors cleaned the expansive surface to try to strip it of any residual radioactivity.

    Click here to read the full story.

  • The USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier gets washed to remove radioactive contamination

    Eugene Hoshiko / AP

    U.S. Navy crew members remove radioactive contamination from a fighter jet on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) Wednesday, March 23, in the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese coast after 10 days of rescue missions to transport supplies to survivors in an earthquake- and tsunami-devastated area.

    Eugene Hoshiko / AP

    The island on the deck is sprayed for radioactive decontamination aboard USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) in the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese coast Wednesday, March 23. The carrier is off the Pacific coast of Japan to supply relief supplies to the people suffered from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

    Eugene Hoshiko / AP

    U.S. Navy crew members mop up the flight deck to remove radioactive contamination from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) Wednesday, March 23, in the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese coast after 10 days of rescue missions to transport supplies to survivors in an earthquake- and tsunami-devastated area.

    By John Makely, NBC News

     For the latest images of the recovery efforts in Japan click here.

  • Filipinos angered by USS Blue Ridge goodwill visit

    By Robert Hood

    The Philippines has been militarily valuable since before WWII. The United States and Japan fought bloody battles for possession of the islands during that war. Japan forced General MacArthur to retreat to Australia during the early days of the war, but MacArthur vowed to return before he left. The American soldiers who were left behind endured bloody fighting and brutal POW treatment at the hands of the victorious Japanese.  The United States spent untold blood and treasure to recapture the island nation and liberate its people.

    (Left) Captured U.S. soldiers endure the “Death March” from Bataan to the prison camp in Cabanatuan in 1942. (Right) U.S. General Douglas MacArthur returns to the Philippines as the American military begins to recapture the island in Oct. 1944.

    Through it all, the Filipino people have suffered, first in war and now, some believe, in peace. The agreement that allows the U.S. military to retain jurisdiction of U.S. military personnel accused of committing crimes in the Philippines is viewed by some locals as diminishing the nation’s sovereignty. They also claim that it treats Filipinos as second class citizens, and that’s why they are angered by the USS Blue Ridge’s routine port call and four-day goodwill visit.

    Bullit Marquez / AP

    The USS Blue Ridge prepares to dock to start its goodwill visit, Feb.13, 2011 at Manila's South Harbor in Manila, Philippines.

    Dennis M. Sabangan / EPA

    Filipino protesters clash with anti-riot police as they try to march closer to the U.S. embassy in Manila, Feb. 16 2011.

    Bullit Marquez / AP

    Protesters burn a mock American flag during a rally near the U.S. Embassy in Manila on Feb. 16 to protest the visit of USS Blue Ridge. The protesters are calling for the scrapping of the Visiting Forces Agreement, which allows U.S. troops on Philippine soil.

    Val Handumon / EPA

    U.S. Navy sailors paint the Sto. Nino Elementary School near Manila on Feb. 14. The USS Blue Ridge arrived in Manila on Feb. 13 for goodwill visit that highlights the historic, community and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

    Jay Directo / AFP - Getty Images

    Sailors from the USS Blue Ridge and the Philippine navy pose with students before painting and repairing classrooms at an elementary School in Manila on Feb. 14. The USS Blue Ridge is the mobile command center of the U.S. 7th Fleet.

    Bullit Marquez / AP

    Protesters display heart-shaped props during a Valentine’s Day protest near the U.S. Embassy in Manila.

    Mylene R. Ligutom / EPA

    A Filipino protester shouts slogans in front of anti-riot police as they try to march closer to the U.S. embassy in Manila. Protesters called for the abolition of the Philippines-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), as they protested the presence of officers and crew of the USS Blue Ridge which the flagship of the US Seventh Fleet which arrived on Feb. 13.

     

  • U.S. Navy attacks suspected pirate skiffs in the Arabian Sea

    HTC John Parkin / U.S. Navy via AP

    In these photos provided by the U.S. Navy, a small boat being towed by a suspected pirate mothership is destroyed, Feb. 2, 2011, by weapons fire from the guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen after Momsen disrupted an attack on a commercial oil tanker in the Arabian Sea. Momsen and the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill came to the aid of the merchant vessel simultaneously in a coordinated rescue and assist effort after receiving a distress call. Momsen and Bunker Hill are deployed supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

    HTC John Parkin / U.S. Navy via AP

    HTC John Parkin / U.S. Navy via AP