Multinational search and rescue exercise Argonaut 2016 concludes

U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) completed the multinational search and rescue exercise Argonaut on May 31.

Stout worked in conjunction with naval forces from host nation the Republic of Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the State of Israel and the United Kingdom to test each country’s search and rescue capabilities.

The SAR exercise scenarios dealt with maritime (passenger ship – day scenario) and air (civilian passenger aircraft – night scenario) severe accidents at the open sea. In this framework, 2 large full-scale day and night SAR exercises were carried out under the operational control and coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Larnaca.

The exercises began with boat and helicopter exercises as Stout’s deck department and medical team recovered and treated simulated casualties alongside staff nurses from the Cyprian Department of Defense.

The exercises concluded with a nighttime medical evacuation simulated exercise in which a Cyprian search and rescue helicopter dropped off and picked up a casualty on Stout’s flight deck.