Press Releases 2009
May 21, 2009
Press Release
USNS 2nd LT JOHN P BOBO arrived in Tallinn
USNS 2nd LT JOHN P BOBO arrived in Tallinn on May 18 and is making a routine port visit to Estonia for supplies and crew rest before participating in a combined military exercise in the Baltic Sea, co-hosted by the United States and Baltic Nations. Overall, five nations bordering the Baltic Sea, as well as the U.S., will participate in the exercise.
USNS BOBO is part of a squadron called “Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron ONE” (MPSRON ONE). Prepositioning is the strategic placement of combat equipment and supplies in various parts of the world. The goal of any prepositioning program is to deploy military equipment quickly in response to a crisis, be it conflict or a humanitarian disaster, and have the personnel join their equipment, which is already in theater. These ships are large commercial cargo vessels under long-term contract to the U.S. Navy or owned by the U.S. government. MPSRON ONE ships have made frequent port visits to Baltic countries in past years. These ships are deployed year-round and have no homeport; they rely on commercial ports throughout Europe to bunker for fuel, supplies, and to conduct repairs. The USNS BOBO is carrying general military cargo and supplies for the U.S. Marine Corps, to include wheeled and tracked vehicles, and containers carrying various supplies.
The USNS Bobo is named after Medal of Honor recipient, United States Marine 2nd LT John Bobo. For more information about the USNS BOBO and the Military Sealift Command, see the following internet site.
http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=15&type=ContainerRollonRolloffShip