Four-nation drill Khunjar Haad concludes in Gulf of Oman

Ships and personnel from the navies of Oman, UK, France and US concluded the international exercise Khunjar Haad in the Gulf of Oman on February 8.

Overall 11 vessels, including US Coast Guard ships, took part in the exercise.

Khunjar Haad featured a variety of evolutions consisting of air-defense, surface, helicopter, officer-of-the-watch, expeditionary warfare, screen and naval communication exercises.

“The purpose of this exercise at sea was to conduct multi-threat training with a multi-national task group that operated together at sea to enhance maritime security by strengthening our capabilities of our surface, air and explosive ordnance disposal forces,” said Lt. Cmdr. Richard Mayer, commanding officer of USS Hurricane (PC 3).

Participating ships included: coastal patrol ships USS Hurricane and USS Firebolt (PC 10); island-class patrol boats USCGC Wrangell (WPB 1332) and USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309); French Navy Horizon-class air defense destroyer Chevalier Paul (D 621); United Kingdom’s Royal Navy ships RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009), HMS Ledbury (M30) and HMS Bangor (M109); and Royal Navy of Oman ships Al Dhafirah, Al Muazzar and Al Bat’nah.

“The Omani’s did a fantastic job planning and executing all missions,” said Lt. John Beal, commanding officer of Aquidneck. “My crew was very pleased to be a part of it.”