From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Will Gaskill,
USS Germantown Public Affairs
SATTAHIP NAVAL BASE, Thailand (NNS) -- The amphibious dock
landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) completed their third phase of Cooperation
Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Sattahip, Thailand on Sept.
2.
From July to September, Germantown traveled to Indonesia,
Malaysia and Thailand to participate in CARAT exercises with embarked elements
of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3 Marines), Coastal Riverine Squadron
(CORIVRON) 3 and 4, Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Far East Detachment,
Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD MU) 5
and elements of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7.
"CARAT exercises allow our forces to continue enhancing
our interoperability while addressing shared maritime security
priorities," said Capt. H.B. Le, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7.
"The exercise demonstrates our commitment to our regional partnerships and
stability and security in the Asia-Pacific."
Making their first appearance in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of
responsibility (AOR) CORIVRON 3, from San Diego and CORIVRON 4, from Virginia
Beach, participated in multiple patrol exercises during CARAT. Their
participation in CARAT was unique, as their missions typically take them to the
U.S. 5th Fleet AOR in support of special operations, high value asset escort
and insertion/extraction in combat zones.
"This was all new to us and it was a logistical
challenge because we had to carefully plan transport and joint training
exercises with our partner nations," said Lt. Nathaniel McLaughlin,
officer in charge of CORIVRON 4. "We have many capabilities, and we had to
coordinate how to best exchange our subject matter experts' knowledge and
provide training, as well as learn from our partner nations."
For a ship built around its amphibious well deck
capabilities, this experience was a first for Germantown as well.
"Working with the riverine control boats (RCBs) was a
new experience for everyone," said Cmdr. Gary Harrington, commanding
officer of USS Germantown. "This was the first time they have been
utilized on Germantown, as well as in the 7th Fleet AOR."
The Marines participated in numerous beach landing exercises
and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) training with each of
the participant countries.
"The joint training we did with our partner forces
really paid off, and this mission was a resounding success," said Lt. Col.
Brian Coyne, commanding officer of the 2/3 Marines. "Our mission is to
train to be able to fight tonight, and we can't do that without our partnership
with the Navy."
Germantown's full amphibious capabilities were well
utilized, having launched landing craft air cushion (LCAC) craft, amphibious
assault vehicles (AAV), combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) and RCBs throughout
each CARAT. The ship also completed flight qualifications during the exercise,
landing SH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters during touch-and-go operations.
As part of a different type of aerial demonstration, BQM-74E
target drones were launched from Germantown's flight deck. These slender orange
missiles were used during CARATs Indonesia and Thailand for those countries to
test out their self-defense targeting systems. Leaving the deck at speeds
approaching 300 knots, the drones flew a course simulating an inbound hostile
missile, allowing other ships to target and fire upon them.
"I could not be more pleased with the performance
during CARAT, not just on the U.S. side, but also with the armed forces of
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand," said Harrington. "The credit goes
to every Sailor involved in these events. Each individual plays a key role in
safety and mission success."
In its 21st year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise
with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner
nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
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