This
was created before the September 11 attacks
dated
Aug 15 2001
DALO-FPP
15 Aug 01
SUBJECT: Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS)-3/Army Prepositioning Afloat (APA)
1. PURPOSE. To provide information on the APS-3 Afloat program.
2. FACTS:
a. The APS-3 end-state program will utilize 15 ships that will respond to multiple requirements across the range of operations. Currently, APS-3 consists of an interim package of 14 ships with four capabilities for the unified commanders that include:
(1) An Army armored brigade (4,500 soldiers) unit equipment (UE) set with 15 days of critical sustainment;
(2) Theater opening CS/CSS (5,300 soldiers) UE sets;
(3) The contingency corps’ first 30 days of critical sustainment; and
(4) Port opening UE and watercraft.
b. Interim APS-3 ships include:
(1) Seven new construction LMSRs that carry the Army armored brigade and theater opening CS/CSS sets.
(2) Two ammunition container ships and two general cargo container ships that carry the contingency corps' first 30 days of critical sustainment.
(3) The T-ACS and two HLPS ships that carry watercraft, unit equipment and MHE to support port opening capabilities.
c. Three ships (LMSR/T-ACS/HLPS) have been stowed to also support a rapid response to humanitarian operational requirements, if required.
d. APA is COCOM to USCINCPAC with Army APS-3 responsibility limited to load configuration, cargo maintenance and equipment readiness.
e. During an APS-3 deployment in support of Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR, brigade equipment downloaded was reconfigured into four BN Task Forces (TF). Each BN TF was re-organized from a pure configuration to a balanced infantry/armor 2X2 mix and uploaded on a ship. Ship discharge packages were enhanced by additional MHE to facilitate off-load operations.
f. Since Aug 95, several APA LMSR ships have been deployed to modified locations within the USCENTCOM AOR in support of Operations Vigilant Sentinel and Desert Fox.
g. Yearly APS-3 exercise participation is planned on an
alternating basis between USCENTCOM and USPACOM. The next
CONUS based
exercise planned is in
conjunction with
Native Atlas and NTC rotations during FY 02.
In FY-03, an OCONUS pier-side download of a BN TF is
planned in
SWA. Additionally,
Brigade Inspection
and DALO-FPP
SUBJECT: Army Prepositioned Stocks (APS)-3/Army Prepositioning Afloat (APA)
Reconnaissance Exercise Programs
(BIREP) are being
performed by the warfighter in conjunction with LMSR downloads at
CEG-Afloat, Charleston, SC.
h.
The Army is planning to preposition an additional 1X1
(Armor X
Mechanized) Brigade afloat as part of APS-3 on two LMSRs (USNS
Dahl/USNS
Sisler) in Apr and Jul 02 consecutively based on Defense Planning
Guidance
(DPG) directives.
i.
The
transload of cargo from converted LMSRs
to new construction LMSRs that began in Dec 98 has been completed. One additional new
construction LMSR (USNS
Pomeroy) will be uploaded in Dec 01.
Additionally, the USNS Bob Hope will be replaced by the
USNS Soderman in
Feb 03 which will pure fleet the APS Afloat program.
j. The
Army began uploading corps and theater
CS/CSS sustainement on new construction LMSRs during the Apr 99-Jan 00
timeframe at Antwerp, Belgium.
The majority of cargo positioned on these
ships was drawn from USAREUR re-distributable stocks.
k.
APS-3 previously used three LASH ships to carry
approximately 59.4K
STONS of munitions. Munitions
equate to
three combat loads supporting the contingency corps.
In Oct 00-Jul 01, the Army converted the
configuration of these munitions to accommodate upload on two container
ships
(M/V Page and M/V Carter). Ammunition is loaded on PLS-compatible
Container
Roll-in Roll-out Platforms (CROP) and placed within containers to
expedite
throughput. Ammunition
is also assembled
into strategic configured loads that are tailored to warfighting
requirements. Munitions
loads are
cross-leveled on both ships to preclude shortfalls in specific types of
ammunition. On 13
Jul 01, the MV Carter
experienced an engine room fire and will require 120-180(+) days to
repair
ship. The 2,500
containers of munitions
that were to be uploaded on the MV Carter are temporarily stored on the
USNS
Bob Hope (anchored CONUS East Coast vicinity of MOTSU) and on the
ground at MOTSU,
NC.
m. APS is part of the solution to achieve Army Vision objectives. APS remains a key enabler in achieving the transformation deployment timeline objectives of a BDE TF in 96 hours, one Division in 120 hours and five Divisions in 30 days. APS remains the pivotal power projection force required to meet DPG and CINC OPLAN requirements within established timelines.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2001/07/IP-APS-3_Info_11-JUL-01.doc