US Navy concludes Middle East drills

US Navy and coalition assets completed the US 5th Fleet Theater Counter Mine and Maritime Security Exercise on September 18.

As explained, the multi-faceted exercise was conducted to ensure maritime stability and security in the US Central Command area of responsibility, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points.

“These collective exercises conducted with our partners and allies allow us to practice the full spectrum of naval operations,” Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, commander, US Naval Forces Central Command and US 5th Fleet, said.

“This demonstration of naval maneuver, posture and partnership reassures the international community that we will ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, anywhere, anytime,” he added.

US 5th Fleet assets lead Theater Amphibious Combat Rehearsal (TACR) 18, Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) 18-3 and a MK-60 Griffin surface-to-surface missile and naval gun exercise. US 5th Fleet assets also participated in the US Central Command (CENTCOM) led exercise Bright Star 18 in Egypt.

Taking place in Djibouti, TACR enhanced readiness for littoral and mine countermeasures capabilities inherent to the US Navy and Marine Corps team to preserve freedom of movement through the critical choke point of the Bab al Mandeb.

Approximately 4,500 US marines and sailors participated in the integrated amphibious training, which included simulated air defense training, mine countermeasure training, quick-reaction force drills, deck landing qualifications, tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel rehearsals as well as visit, board, search and seizure exercises (VBSS).

MCMEX 18-3, an exercise conducted between the US and United Kingdom quarterly, enhanced cooperation, mutual mine countermeasure capabilities and interoperability, demonstrating the shared commitment of ensuring unfettered operations of naval, support and commercial vessels throughout the maritime domain. The exercise allowed the two nations to incorporate all aspects of the MCM ‘triad’, using airborne, surface and underwater assets.

Five coastal patrol ships forward-deployed to Bahrain conducted surface warfare training in the Arabian Gulf to enhance their ability to defend minesweepers and other coastal patrol ships by executing a MK-60 Griffin missile exercise and gunnery exercise led by US 5th Fleet’s Task Force (TF) 55.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team (FASTCENT), a Task Force 55 VBSS team and a Task Force 56 expeditionary mine countermeasures company participated in Bright Star 18, centralized around joint regional security and cooperation in conventional and irregular warfare scenarios near the critical choke point of the Suez Canal.

US 5th Fleet also welcomed the arrival of the F-35B to theater, as part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group.