Military

DATE=11/14/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/WEST AFRICA (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-309850

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: One of the United States Navy's newest and fastest vessels may soon become the first ever to make a port visit to the West African island nation of Sao Tome. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: Defense officials say no final decisions have been made and the visit has not yet been formally scheduled. But they indicate the Navy's high speed vessel "Swift", may sail to Sao Tome as part of this year's West Africa Training Cruise.

It would be the first ever visit to the island nation by a U-S Navy ship. The Pentagon has shown increasing interest in deepening security ties with Sao Tome since vast quantities of oil were discovered off its shores.

The "Swift" began its series of bilateral interactions with African militaries earlier this month in South Africa and traveled this past week (Eds: on Nov. 13) to Cameroon.

The vessel, carrying about 50 American sailors and some 100 Marines, is also scheduled to visit Ghana, Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Morocco before ending its mission early next month.

Some of the planned joint activities include small boat training, coastal operations, amphibious raids and live-fire exercises.

Army Colonel John Schnibben of the Operations Staff of the U-S military's European Command, responsible for activities in most of Africa, says such programs demonstrate pro-active American support.

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You can't demonstrate support in a telephone call or an e-mail or a message. You demonstrate support by showing up.

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In addition to providing an opportunity for joint operations with African forces, defense officials say the West Africa Training Cruise enables U-S forces to experiment with new equipment and concepts.

The high speed vessel "Swift" joined the U-S fleet this past August. It is a wave-piercing, aluminum-hulled commercial catamaran which has been modified for military operations. It includes a helicopter flight deck, special ramps for military vehicles and other enhancements. It is capable of speeds over 35 knots, or some 65 kilometers per hour.

U-S vessels have conducted training cruises in West Africa since 1978. Some of the past cruises have had special themes. The 1999 cruise, for example, focused on preventative medicine training, including H-I-V/AIDS awareness. In the year 2000, Navy construction specialists participated in the cruise, helping to build medical and dental clinics. (Signed)

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