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German Navy Assumes Command of Task Force 150

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041206-06
Release Date: 12/6/2004 12:11:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- German Rear Adm. Henning Hoops assumed command of multinational Task Force (TF) 150 from British Royal Navy Commodore Tom Cunningham Dec. 6, during a ceremony at the U.S. Navy Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150 currently consists of eight ships from six coalition nations, operating under U.S. 5th Fleet in and around the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, covering more than 2.4 million miles of ocean and 6,000 miles of coastline bordering 12 countries.

Coalition maritime forces continue operations in the region to counter the illegal movement of weaponry, people and other materials in international waters that support terrorists and other extremists.

"I appreciate the German navy, the German military and the German government for volunteering to do this mission," said Commander, U.S. Navy Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Vice Adm. David Nichols. "Task Force 150 makes a difference, and I am very happy to have Rear Adm. Hoops as the new commander."

Coalition forces supporting TF 150 work to deny international terrorist organizations the opportunity to plan and execute terrorist attacks against key maritime infrastructure in the region, including oil and shipping industries.

Under the leadership of Cunningham, both technical and rescue assistance has been provided to vessels in the Persian Gulf, including the provision of fuel, tows and helicopter assistance. The French ship Surcouf assisted 16 members of a ship grounded off the Yemeni coast, safely handing the crew over to Yemeni Coast Guard authorities. The U.S. ship USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), also provided assistance by towing a dhow that had been adrift in the North Arabian Sea for 17 days. French ship FS Cdt. Ducuing assisted a French yacht that was grounded off the coast of Eritrea. The yacht was eventually able to continue transit to Djibouti.

CTF 150 ships have also conducted exercises with many regional nations, including Yemen, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, personnel from Djibouti, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Comoros Islands have also been hosted aboard CTF 150 ships, contributing to wider regional engagement.

"It has been a tremendous experience commanding CTF 150," said Cunningham, who assumed command from French Rear Adm. Jean Pierre Tuele Sept. 19. "The coalition nature of this task force is exciting and adds significantly to our capability. It signifies international intent to defeat terrorism. It also allows us to use the bilateral contacts within the coalition force to develop our relationships across the region and to support the regional nations in establishing the rule of law in the maritime arena."

"We have a very important role in this anti-terrorism campaign," said Hoops. "My staff and I are very prepared to carry on the good work of our predecessors from the U.K. staff."