• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

UNITAS Force Completes Full Speed Work Up Phase

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030305-11
Release Date: 3/6/2003 2:25:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. Ligia Cohen, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Public Affairs

ABOARD USS O'BANNON (NNS) -- The ships participating in UNITAS 44-03 Caribbean phase just finished an intense work-up phase that started immediately after leaving Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, Feb. 18.

During their first week at sea, the Navy and Coast Guard units from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, the Netherlands, Venezuela and the United States completed more than 150 training events, including refueling at sea, gunnery exercises, quick reaction and communications drills, maritime interdiction operations, torpedo and missile launches, and undersea warfare exercises.

"Much has been accomplished, but we are only half done," said Capt. Bernard Jackson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14 and UNITAS Caribbean Phase Task Group Commander. "We just completed the work-up phase of the exercise, which is designed to fine tune the ships' ability to operate as part of a multinational force and prepare them for the final battle problem."

As one cornerstone of the multinational training operations, tactical maneuvers generated a great deal of activity in the pilothouses of USS O'Bannon (DD 987) and USS Boone (FFG 28). During these type of events, the ships position in close formations to conduct a variety of operations, including evasion maneuvers, search and rescue missions, and air defense.

"Tactical maneuvers are like synchronized swimming," said Chief Gunner's Mate (SW) Ralph Moore, O'Bannon's conning officer. "You have to know at all times where you are and where the other ships are. It takes a lot of coordination and a concerted team effort."

The level of coordination required for the safe performance of each evolution is achieved during UNITAS by linking all participating units through a high-tech secure communications system installed and operated by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO).

"We have a communications assistance team embarked on all the participating ships," said Senior Chief Interior Communications Electrician Jeff Couick, COMUSNAVSO communications supervisor. "They maintain a real-time tactical data sharing system that provides each participant an up-to-the minute picture of the battle space."

Even with advanced technology, the traditional means of communication and navigation are still necessary, and the role played by visual communications is as important as ever.

"Signalmen are the expert lookouts of the ship. If the radio goes dead, all messages will come from us," said Signalman 1st Class (SW) Bryan Campkin, leading petty officer of the navigation division aboard Boone. "As for the (quartermaster) side of the house, they plot the courses, get bearings and can do celestial navigation."

Because the ships are operating at close distances, sometimes as little as 250 yards, monitoring safety is a constant activity during the operations. On the ships' bridges, officers of the deck, junior officers of the deck, conning officers, helmsmen and boatswain's mates of the watch are always looking after each other, double-checking contact information and plotting the course of each participant.

UNITAS' schedule stretches working days into late nights. Moonless nights have only added to the challenging anti-submarine warfare training opportunities presented by USS Springfield (SSN 761) and Colombian submarine ARC Tayrona. The crews on participating surface combatants, P-3C Orion aircraft and SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters are tasked to detect and neutralize the submarines.

Since 1959, UNITAS has presented an unequaled opportunity to improve the operational readiness and interoperability of U.S. and Latin American partner naval forces, while enhancing hemispheric security and professionalism.

After completing the work-up phase, the 10 ships, two submarines and several aircraft participating in UNITAS Caribbean Phase moved on to the final battle problem. This phase is designed as a final realistic opportunity for the ships to demonstrate their interoperability while prioritizing missions and executing no-notice tasks.