New Simulator Installed at NSA Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain - Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 3, Detachment Bahrain, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Naval Support Activity, Bahrain to mark the installation of a $1.5 million Littoral Combat Laser Shot Weapons Simulator (LCLSWS).

The simulator is used to train and qualify Sailors in land and waterborne gunnery in support of security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

"We can use this particular simulator to qualify our Sailors," said Master Chief Master-at-Arms Wallace Pippen of Mobile Security Squadron 3. "To qualify on a boat at sea requires various weather conditions that don't happen often out here. We can create all of them on the simulator and we can simulate real life events that have actually happened here with dhows or other vessels."

LCLSWS consists of a boat crew and gunnery, and a vehicular convoy and gunnery simulator that is interchangeable. Each are fitted with mock-up crew stations and gun mount positions for crew-served weapons. They are mounted to a motion platform surrounded by eight large screens that provide realistic virtual environments. The control station attached to the LCLSWS allows instructors to create realistic training scenarios.

Prior to LCLSWS installation, Sailors were required to wait for specific weather conditions to complete their qualifications. This new trainer allows instructors to create all weather conditions, allowing qualifications to be completed in significantly less time.