FORT EUSTIS, VA. –
The U.S. Army vessel Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott (LT-805), a large ocean-going tug boat, returned home to Third Port on Monday, Jan. 5 after two years of floating from Joint Base Little Creek Fort Story and the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown.
The tug has been displaced from Third Port due to sediment buildup over the past several years. A joint dredging effort between the 633rd Air Base Wing and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in December made way for the LT-805 to once again return home to Fort Eustis.
"The large tug being able to come home illustrates a collective win for joint basing," said Col. Randal Nelson, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) commander. "We've seen this effort come to life over the past couple of years. The Army and Air Force have come together in a way that will provide better support to our mission overseas and our training mission here at Fort Eustis."
The dredging operation cost $4.1 million, and was essential to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) water-based mission which has a worldwide impact in rapid sustainment operations.
"The watercraft community has a saying here," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tim Turner, 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) marine operations chief. "'We're the last 20 miles.' The Army's mission is to deploy the combat power farther inland. The 7th Transportation Brigade acts as the sustainment piece or the move and maneuver piece."
The return of the LT-805 to port was contingent on dredging operations. With a draft of about 19 feet, the tug could not clear parts of the Third Port channel. The dredging effort in December deepened the 4-mile channel from 13 feet to 20 feet, making way for the tug to return.
The 128-foot, 500-ton tug has the ability to deploy anywhere in the world from its current location. The ocean-going vessel can act as an independent unit, with a crew of 23 members, 30 days of rations and a tank of gas.
Lt Col Kim Nash, 10th Transportation Battalion Terminal battalion commander stated the tug's importance to the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) mission.
"This boat has the capability and the horsepower to pull an aircraft carrier. It can tow anything in the Army fleet, if given the opportunity," she said. "Having the tug back is also vital for training. The watercraft community must be versatile on a number of platforms. The ability to cross-train on this tug boat is a valuable addition to our members' qualifications."
Roughly 75 percent of the Army's mariner community is trained at Fort Eustis. Joint operations will continue to deepen the channel next year. The continued efforts of both the Army and Air Force are expected to save countless man hours in travel time and maintenance.
"It's good to be home," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Bill Sherman, 7th TBX vessel master, who brought the now-returned LT-805 into port.