Canadian, Japanese and U.S ships will participate in a Task Group Exercise (TGEX) off the coast of Southern California Oct. 20-31.
Participating units from the Royal Canadian Navy include Canadian Fleet Pacific, Halifax-class frigates HMCS Calgary (FFH 335) and HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338), Kingston-class coastal defence vessels HMCS Brandon (MM 710) and HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706), and a Royal Canadian Navy submarine. Japanese Ship (JS) Teruzuki (DD 116) will participate as well.
U.S. Navy units include Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 11, Commander, Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 23, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided missile cruisers USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and USS Chosin (CG 65), guided missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS William P Lawrence (DDG 110), and littoral combat ships USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), USS Freedom (LCS 1), and a submarine.
U.S. 3rd Fleet will lead the exercise that serves to train independently-deploying units in air defense, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare and maritime interdiction operations, while also building cooperative relationships. This exercise is similar to Koa Kai, an annual certification exercise that typically takes place in the Hawaii operating area.
Canada, Japan and the U.S. regularly participate in exercises together, the most recent being the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise.
Joint, interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. Third Fleet’s ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.