Enterprise completes joint exercises in Med
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News
This image taken from the website of the US Navy (www.navy.mil) shows USS Enterprise and accompanying frigates from Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Spain.
The Carrier Strike Group (CSG), including U.S. aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, the world’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, completed a series of training exercises with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG) during a passing exercise (PASSEX) in the Mediterranean Sea March 24-25.“During the two-day exercise, nine ships from multiple navies were provided the opportunity to work together to promote communications, interoperability and partnership for the shared goal of maintaining the safety and security of the region’s sea lanes,” a statement from the official website of the U.S. Navy said.
“PASSEX allows the Enterprise CSG to train with our coalition partners, build on relationships and maintain our interoperability,” said Commander Richard D. Brawley, surface operations officer for Carrier Strike Group 12. One of the evolutions conducted was a link exercise (LINKEX), which employed the Link-11 and Link-16 tactical data link systems to trade communications, intelligence and other data directly among all the ships in the exercise. The ships used these systems during an air-defense exercise to increase self-defense and create better situational awareness.
“During the exercise we’re tracking the other NATO ships, merchant vessels in the area and several contacts playing the role of hostiles all at the same time,” said Operations Specialist Seaman Recruit Sarah Fowler, an assistant surface watch stander.
This PASSEX involved aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Nitze, USS Porter, USS James E. Williams and the guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg, all part of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. SNMG 1 is comprised of the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate HNLMS De Ruyter (F 804), the Spanish Navy frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F 101), the German Navy frigate FGS Rheinland-Pfalz (F 209), and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339).
