USNS Spearhead Ends Cameroonian Phase of APS

The Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners and U.S., Spanish and British marines concluded the Cameroonian phase of Africa Partnership Station (APS), March 16, 2015, in Douala, Cameroon.

U.S. special operators will work alongside Cameroonian Naval Commando Company (COPALCO) and Battalion d’Intervention Rapid (BIR) personnel to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training in support of Obangame Express 2015 in the Gulf of Guinea.

Cmdr. Matthew Flemming, Africa Partnership Station 2015 mission commander, said:

The Cameroonian phase of Africa Partnership Station was highly successful. This type of engagement and partnering strengthens regional cooperation and helps to address challenges that no individual nation is capable of tackling alone.

While in port, Spearhead functioned as a training platform for Cameroonian marines to practice maritime interdiction boardings in preparation for the upcoming multination maritime security and interoperability exercise Obangame Express 2015.

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Image: US Navy