International Flotilla Conducts SINKEX, Joint Ops
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS041116-18
Release Date: 11/16/2004 4:13:00 PM
From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs
WESTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Ships from the USS Saipan (LHA 2) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), several units of NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), and a variety of aircraft successfully completed a live-fire exercise, sinking ex-USS Hayler and ex-Research Vessel Gosport Nov. 12-14.
Hayler, a Spruance-class destroyer, and Gosport, a Navy-owned 210-foot research vessel operated by Norfolk Naval Shipyard - both decommissioned ships - were used as targets in support of weapons testing, as well as readiness training in naval gunnery and missile systems.
Since September, a variety of warships from the United States, Canada, and STANAVFORLANT have sailed and operated along the Eastern seaboard of North America. In addition to a host of exercises and port visits from Florida to Canada, many of those ships demonstrated their lethality and readiness during the "Sink-Ex" - or sinking exercise.
"It always hurts to see beautiful ships sink, and my sympathy goes to all Sailors who sailed on them, but the important thing is that the weapons fired did their job. That's the thing it's all about in the end," said Rear Adm. Leon Bruin, commander, Standing Naval Force Atlantic.
Upon completion of the firing exercises, Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 2, Det. 26, assisted in sinking the ships through detonating positioned explosives along the hull.
The Navy had satisfied environmental preparation of the ships in accordance with EPA guidance prior to sinking them.
The Saipan ESG ships participating included Saipan; USS Trenton (LPD 14); and USS Oak Hill (LSD 51). The STANAVFORLANT ships participating included the Netherlands ship HNLMS Witte de With (F 813), the Canadian ship HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH 332), the Spanish ship SPS Navarra (F 85) and USS Simpson (FFG 56). Participating aircraft included Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Anti-Submarine (HS) Squadron 3, and P-3C Orion aircraft from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 1. Weapons used included the Hellfire missile, 76mm guns, 57mm guns, 30mm guns and 25mm guns.
"It's reassuring to know that when you pull the trigger, the weapons system is going to perform as advertised. I wouldn't want to be staring down one of these weapons if they were fired at my vessel," said Cmdr. Eric Whiteman, the Saipan Strike Group operations officer.
The STANAVFORLANT ships immediately departed upon completing their portion of the exercise to rendezvous and exercise with a group of nine Canadian ships operating in Canadian Readiness Operations (CRO) off the coast, led by Rear Adm. Tyrone H.W. Pile, commander, Canadian Fleet Atlantic, embarked in his flagship, HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282). The ship is specially outfitted with advanced electronics and communications that enable the command staff to manage multiple tasks from a single vantage point.
During CRO, the ships will face a wide variety of scenarios. Interoperability and communications will be a priority focus throughout.
"This major exercise will afford us the rare opportunity to practice as a large, cohesive unit and will allow us to test our communications, information management, seamanship and tactical warfare skills," stated Pile. "As well, our large Canadian presence in this exercise clearly demonstrates our ability to integrate fully with coalition forces."
USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and USS Carr (FFG 52) were previously supporting operations with the Canadians, while the Saipan ESG ships joined the rest of these ships once they witnessed the ships' sinking.
This exercise was a major highlight of the Saipan and STANAVFORLANT deployments, one that marks the first time in more than four years that those units have conducted a deployment in the Western Atlantic (WESTLANT). The deployment, which began Sept. 1, presents a unique opportunity for U.S. Navy forces to operate in a combined, joint environment with a certified NATO Reaction Force.
The WESTLANT deployment supports STANAVFORLANT's commitment to NATO's operations in the Mediterranean, known as Operation Active Endeavour - NATO's response to the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. During Operation Active Endeavour, more than 50,000 vessels have been hailed, and more than 55 compliant boardings have taken place. Additionally, several hundred allied non-combatant ships have been escorted successfully through the Strait of Gibraltar. These accomplishments have demonstrated that this operation will continue to play a key role in NATO's fight against terrorism.
The STANAVFORLANT force comprises Task Force Active Endeavour, which conducts surveillance and monitoring of shipping in the Mediterranean, and is currently conducting exercises and making port visits to cities in the United States and Canada.
Commanded by Royal Netherlands Rear Adm. Léon Bruin, the STANAVFORLANT force consists of five frigates: the force flagship HNLMS Witte de With (Netherlands); FGS Luebeck (Germany); HMCS Ville de Quebec (Canada); SPS Navarra (Spain); USS Simpson (U.S.); and the German tanker FGS Spessart (A 1442).
Six to 10 ships (destroyers, frigates and tankers) are normally attached to the force for up to six months, and the force command rotates on an annual basis among the nations contributing ships to STANAVFORLANT. Canada, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States are the six permanent contributors to this standing force.
The STANAVFORLANT WESTLANT deployment is slated to end in mid-December.
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