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U.K. Navy Turns Over Multinational Task Force Command to France

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS040602-04

Release Date: 6/2/2004 10:53:00 AM

From Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- British Royal Navy Rear Adm. Tony Rix turned over command of the multinational Task Force (TF) 150 to Rear Adm. Jean-Pierre Teule of the French Navy here June 1, aboard HMS Cumberland (F 85).

The ceremony's guest speaker, Vice Adm. David C. Nichols, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, was on hand to congratulate Rix on the continuing commitment of the task force to their mission of denying terrorists use of the sea.

"The deterrence, disruption and destruction of international terrorist networks remains our top priority in support of the global war on terrorism in the 5th Fleet region," said Nichols. "Our combined effort and the strength of our coalition is key to success. Nowhere is that success more evident than in Task Force 150."

TF 150's operating area includes the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Horn of Africa and Somalia Basin, as well as the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Straits of Hormuz, with a mission of prosecuting and deterring the movement of terrorists and materials to sustain their networks.

To accomplish this mission, the task force maintains a constant U.S. Navy and coalition maritime presence to curb illegal activity, such as piracy, armed robbery, illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

"The size of the area in which we now operate in is about 2 million square miles," said Rix. "We have ships, equipment and above all determination to deter illegal activities in this area."

In March, a TF 150 vessel seized a dhow with illicit drugs. The crew was arrested and returned to a country in the region. Task force vessels also recently seized an arms shipment bound for Somalia, carrying more than 500 rifles and more than 30,000 rounds of ammunition.

TF 150 also periodically responds to humanitarian emergencies. In April, the German frigate Augsburg (F 213) airlifted a crew member with appendicitis from an Iranian dhow and conducted immediate medical treatment.

"We have conducted a wide range of operations that have been appreciated worldwide," said Rix, who took command of TF 150 last February. "Task Force 150 is a multinational force for good."

Teule reported aboard from Deputy Commander of Naval Action Force in Brest, France.

Rix will return to the U.K. Maritime Battle Staff to lead national and international operational commitments, including major NATO, U.K. and other exercises.