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UNITAS Builds Up Multinational Force Interoperability

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031103-13

Release Date: 11/3/2003 2:54:00 PM

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

PUERTO BELGRANO, Argentina (NNS) -- UNITAS 45-04, conducted Oct 16-28 in the South Atlantic, brought together naval forces from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and the United States to conduct coalition operations in a highly technical training environment.

USS Stump (DD 978), USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and their embarked detachments from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 42 and 46 joined a task force of two submarines and 11 ships to engage in two-weeks of intensive training.

UNITAS developed the force's interoperability through a series of training evolutions during a one-week work-up phase, and later tested the forces' ability to operate as a multinational coalition during a three-day final battle problem. The pace and complexity of the UNITAS exercises follow closely the training undergone by U.S. ships preparing for deployment.

"UNITAS has evolved over the years and now encompasses many of the same operational exercise requirements accomplished during U.S. strike group pre-deployment work-ups," said Capt. Mark Klatt, commander, Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 14 and commander of the U.S. Task Group participating in UNITAS Atlantic Phase. "UNITAS 45-04 takes advantage of new systems, equipments and processes to better prepare U.S. and South American ships and crews to be ready to rapidly form a functional war-fighting multinational force."

One of the major innovations introduced for the first time in UNITAS was the use of the Ship Deployable Surface Target (SDST) during surface gunnery exercises. This system consists of a jet ski outfitted with electronics that enable remote-control operation. The SDST is operated through a data link system that sends information back and forth from the jet ski to a portable command and control unit, allowing the jet ski to dip and zigzag at the will of the operator.

"Because the SDST is a dynamic target, it simulates more closely an actual threat coming at your ship," said Chief Electronics Technician (SW/AW) Michael Paige from Afloat Training Group in Mayport, Fla. "The training is more realistic and complex, because the ships now have to consider many other variables that normally do not come into play with regular stationary targets."

Besides the incorporation of high-tech training tools, UNITAS 45-04 encompasses the same deliberate planning process and final battle problem concepts practiced during U.S. strike group training today, including the integration of the Sea Combat Commander warfare organizational concept, a relatively new scheme in U.S strike groups. Additionally, tactical aids developed at Tactical Training Group Atlantic and war-fighting tactics developed at Surface Warfare Development Group are being used to refine the scheme of maneuver and operations contained in UNITAS events.

"UNITAS has continued to improve RGB's readiness by allowing us to participate in several exercises in the anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare areas. We were the surface action unit commander for an exercise with four ships tracking underwater mobile targets and fired a recoverable exercise torpedo. We have been alongside oilers four times in six days honing our proficiency in underway replenishments," said Cmdr. Michael A. Strano, RGB commanding officer. "The entire crew has come together and is becoming quicker, more efficient, more accurate and a stronger team because of UNITAS."

The exercise participants utilize UHF, HF and Battle Force Email to provide immediate and communications supporting the execution of events around the clock, from air operations exercises to refueling-at-sea evolutions.

"During UNITAS, each new day was the most challenging," said Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Oliver D. Simon, from Stump's deck division. "We'll go from flight quarters to an underway replenishment then directly to small boat operations, all before most people in the world had their lunch break."

From the weather deck to the combat information center and the bridge, UNITAS' pace was felt throughout the ship. Several transits under threat, including combat maneuvers and tactical formations, put the skill of the officers of the deck to the test.

Moving ships in a battle group into position is like "driving down the Beltway, in a traffic jam, in the rain, with everyone going 80 mph," said Lt. j.g. Brad Long, RGB combat information center officer, and frequently Officer of the Deck. "We have been screen commander, putting other ships around us and maneuvering them, and we've had other ships do that to us . and we're making it work. We are able to operate in a multicultural environment."

The SH-60 detachments from HSL 42 and 46 also had their share of action during UNITAS Atlantic Phase. The squadrons brought into play a myriad of sensors, ranging from radar and underwater acoustics, to simulated Penguin and Hellfire weapon deployment.

"We received invaluable training for both the helicopter aircraft commanders and helicopter second pilots during the past 10 days. Working closely with the different ships and aircraft from Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Spain has provided the pilots with the opportunity to land on different types of ships and conduct anti-submarine warfare against foreign submarines," said Lt. Cmdr. Vic Raspa, HSL-46 Detachment 6 officer-in-charge. "It's not everyday that we get to train in a battle force environment with such a large number of assets from so many different countries at the same time. "

The evolutions conducted during UNITAS are designed by a multinational team of expert naval planners, who translate each participant navy training objectives and the requirements of conducting coalition operations into a robust schedule of events, which is agreed upon by all participants.

"It (UNITAS) gives a realistic, joint training environment, with multinational operability, so when there is a multinational task force, as over in the Persian Gulf, there can be a seamless transition into the fleet," said Master Chief Operations Specialist Osvaldo Elsasser, from the Argentine ship ARA Espora (P 41).

UNITAS is conducted under the direction of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Adm. Vinson E. Smith, headquartered in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Throughout the three phases conducted during the current calendar year, UNITAS has brought together more than 35 ships, six submarines and several fix and rotary wing aircraft form 13 nations. After 45 years of existence, UNITAS continues leading the way of multinational coalition building in South America as it develops professional understanding and security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere.