Coalition Warship Conducts Counter-terror Operations in Gulf of Oman
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050111-03
Release Date: 1/11/2005 12:44:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class Elton Shaw, Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs
ABOARD MECKLENBURG-VORPOMMERN, At Sea (NNS) -- The German frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (F 218) departed Muscat, Oman, Jan. 7 to conduct maritime interception operations (MIO) off the coast for the next week, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the flagship of Commander, Task Force (CTF) 150, a coalition maritime counter-terrorism task force currently led by German Rear Adm. Henning Hoops.
"We want to stop terrorists from moving any cargo that they may contribute to terrorist attacks against key infrastructures in the region," said Hoops. "Securing the sea ways is very important to the economic stability of the surrounding nations."
CTF 150 operates under U.S. 5th Fleet in the 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.
At present, the multi-national force is comprised of ships from France, Italy, Germany, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States working together to prevent terrorist attacks against key maritime infrastructures in the region.
"Together with the other coalition ships, we want to make the waters in the region safe for all ships passing through," said Hoops.
Prior to its port visit to Oman, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern responded to a request relayed by the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, to provide aid to Somalis on the Xaafuun peninsula after their village was destroyed by the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Germany has been a member of the coalition task force since its inception December 2001.
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