USS Cape St. George, HMS Daring Complete Four-Day Training Exercise

Sailors from guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) took part in a four-day training exercise with the royal navy destroyer HMS Daring (D32) that concluded June 7.

The first event between the ships was a weapons exercise. Cape St. George delivered a firepower demonstration firing on several targets at different distances with its Close-In Weapon System (CIWS). Daring also demonstrated its capabilities by firing its weapons.

During the training exercise, Daring assumed the duties as air defense commander. The teams demonstrated Daring’s air defense capabilities and provided useful insights toward future coalition operations with the new royal navy destroyers.

The highlight of the exercise was the personnel exchange between the ships, which allowed the ships to learn and share new techniques and traditions.

“The trip to Daring was very informative,” said Operations Specialist 1st Class Derrick Jones. “I learned a lot about their air warfare systems. Their sailors were very eager to integrate into our everyday mission and took the duties with a great sense of pride.”

Capt. Guy Robinson, commanding officer of Daring, toured Cape St. George for the first time to gain a better understanding of her capabilities.

“Having worked closely with Capt. Gabrielson and his crew over the last four months, it was a great opportunity to finally get aboard Cape St. George,” said Robinson. “Cape is an impressive ship, and it was very beneficial to compare her capability with that of Daring.”

After visiting Daring, Lt. j.g. Jennifer Floyd, Cape St. George’s fire control officer, gained a new perspective on her cruiser.

“Daring is the first ship in her class. Being able to compare our long-standing procedures with their newly developing system of warfighting gave me a new viewpoint with ideas on how to self-assess and improve our own tactics,” said Floyd.

Cape St. George and Daring also conducted an underway replenishment-at-sea.

Cape St. George is currently deployed as part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 with aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 and Destroyer Squadron 9. CSG-9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Naval Today Staff , June 29, 2012