U.S. and Coalition Forces Bring Global War on Terrorism to the Enemy at Sea
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS030829-02
Release Date: 8/29/2003 12:00:00 PM
By Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Brackenbury, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, 5th Fleet Public Affairs
MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- While much of the public's attention remains focused on security and reconstruction operations in Iraq, the U.S. 5th Fleet continues to develop innovative strategies to fight terrorism as part of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).
International maritime forces recently demonstrated this capability to reach out and touch the terrorist network with Sea Cutlass - a unique operation involving eight ships from five nations, Navy SEALs (SEa, Air, Land) and long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
Coordinated by a Royal Navy Commodore on land at 5th Fleet headquarters, and led by a German rear admiral at sea aboard the German frigate FGS Brandenburg (F 215), Sea Cutlass quickly surged a broad maritime interception force designed to interrupt terrorist operations, by denying nefarious use of the seas in the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea.
Maritime Interception Operations (MIO) has become an important mission for U.S. and coalition forces. Since more than 95 percent of the world's commerce moves by sea, it is likely that terrorists use merchant shipping venues to move cargo and passengers for their purposes, including escaping prosecution or even carrying out terrorist attacks. What makes Sea Cutlass unique is the focus of effort, intensity of operations, and the bringing to bear of enormous power inherent in naval forces.
"Sea Cutlass widens the net we use to capture terrorists, like al-Qaeda and the Taliban, should they attempt to escape by sea," said Royal Navy Commodore Richard Leaman. "This operation demonstrated that if we receive intelligence indicating that terrorists may be planning to escape from a certain area using merchant vessels, the coalition has the ability to quickly surge a variety of elements, including ships, special forces, and reconnaissance aircraft, in order to detain and arrest these individuals."
Alongside Brandenburg were the German supply and medical support ship FGS Frankfurt Am Main (A 1412), the Spanish frigate SPS Santa Maria (F 81), Italian frigate ITS Grecale (F 571), French destroyer FS Dupleix (D 641), French frigate FS Nivose (F 732), U.S. Navy cruiser USS Chosin (CG 65), and USNS Concord (T-AFS 5), employed as an afloat forward staging base. Complementing these ships were U.S. Navy SEALs and reconnaissance aircraft from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and New Zealand. This impressive task force operated under the command of Rear Adm. Manfred Nielson of the Federal German Navy.
"In addition to demonstrating our flexible surge capability, Sea Cutlass proved that multiple navies can come together, formulate a plan, and execute it with great precision," said Nielson. "The OEF MIO maritime coalition's ability to deny and disrupt the plans of terrorists in the region is key to not only enhancing regional stability, but more importantly, to saving people's lives. The recent worldwide terrorist attacks demonstrated just how vital this capability is."
The range, mobility and endurance of coalition naval forces are a potent weapon against terrorists seeking to disrupt international efforts at peace and stability. While the war on terror will not be won overnight, operations like Sea Cutlass serve notice to terrorists that their days are numbered, as it vividly demonstrates that the coalition against terror remains vital, committed and capable.
As Vice. Adm. Timothy J. Keating, U.S. 5th Fleet commander said, "Sea Cutlass demonstrates to the bad guys that navies from around the world are coming together to find them. Our ships are everywhere - not only in the Arabian Gulf, but also the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and in the Horn of Africa area. We want the terrorists to know that our ships are on station looking for them 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If they're out there, we'll find them, capture them and bring them to justice."
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