US, Singapore Navies Play Hide and Seek

The U.S. Navy and the Republic of Singapore navy conducted a surface action group exercise (SAGEX) during the 2014 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, Aug. 4.

Two multinational teams faced off as part of the exercise, with the goal of finding the other team first using various shipboard and aviation sensors, and then conducting simulated engagements with weapons systems. USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and Singapore’s RSS Formidable, RSS Victory, and an S-70B helicopter represented one team, while USS Halsey (DDG 97) and Singapore’s RSS Stalwart, RSS Vigor and an F-50 Fokker maritime patrol aircraft made up the other team.

“SAGEX is a combined US and Singapore effort with two teams facing off against each other,” said Lt. Kurt Albaugh, USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) tactical action officer. “Each team works together to simulate an attack on the other team.”

The SAGEX is one of many complex surface, air and undersea warfare serials taking place during the five-day sea phase of CARAT Singapore, which commenced Aug. 3 and continues through Aug. 7. The Republic of Singapore Navy has participated in CARAT since the exercise series began in 1995, and this year’s convening continues to strengthen professional relationships and enhance interoperability across the spectrum of naval operations.

“The SAGEX helped us better understand the way our navies work together as well as the terminology used to communicate during exercises like this one,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Darnell Hall, a Combat Information Center watch officer during the SAGEX. “It was challenging because we do things a bit differently than the RSN, but we were able to quickly establish common procedures to get the job done.”

In its 20th year, CARAT, is a bilateral exercise series between the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The CARAT 2014 exercise series commenced in May and will continue through November.