U.S. Navy Ships Arrive at Changi Naval Base

USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS Halsey (DDG 97) are in port Singapore July 28 in advance of the 2014 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)exercise with the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Under the command of Destroyer Squadron 7, the two ships will participate in a number of in port exchanges and underway evolutions with their Singaporean counterparts.

“The RSN is one of the world’s most capable navies and a terrific partner in this incredibly important maritime region of the world,” said Capt. Fred Kacher, DESRON 7 commodore and co-commander of the exercise’s task group. “Over the next week, our two navies will execute one of the most advanced underway programs in the CARAT exercise series and I can’t wait to see our navies working together again at sea.”

Singapore has partnered with the U.S. Navy since CARAT began in 1995. This year’s iteration covers a broad range of naval complexities to include surface gunnery and air defense exercises, search and rescue, shipboard helicopter operations and maritime interdiction. The highlight of this year’s sea phase will be an anti-submarine warfare exercise involving USN and RSN helicopters, as well as RSN ships, where torpedoes will be launched against an underwater target.

Wayne E. Meyer, on a routine deployment from San Diego, arrived in Singapore last week following operations in the East China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

“We are honored to be able to participate in CARAT Singapore with the RSN, as part of the premier naval exercise series in Southeast Asia,” said Cmdr. Randy J. Van Rossum, commanding officer, Wayne E. Meyer. “This exercise provides our armed forces an opportunity to work together to sharpen our skills and learn from each other to continue our shared vision of regional security and stability.”

Currently on the first half of its 2014 deployment, Halsey arrived in Singapore yesterday to finalize exercise preparations.

“The 300 proud destroyermen of Halsey are excited to be training with DESRON 7, Wayne E. Meyer and the RSN for our first official exercise of our deployment,” said Cmdr. Linda C. Seymour, Halsey commanding officer. “Partners like the Singaporeans are absolutely crucial to maintaining stability and freedom of navigation in the Pacific, something our namesake so dearly cherished.”

CARAT Singapore officially begins July 29 and continues through Aug. 8, 2014. In its 20th year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

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Press Release, July 29, 2014; Image: Wikimedia