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CARAT Singapore Closes To Accolades

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050613-18
Release Date: 6/13/2005 11:57:00 AM

By Chief Journalist Melinda Larson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The Singapore phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005 ended June 13 at the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) Changi Naval Base.

CARAT, a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and several Southeast Asian nations, is designed to enhance the interoperability of those navies in a variety of mission areas of mutual benefit, including skills directly applicable to combatting seaborne terrorism threats and transnational crimes at sea.

“Terrorism, piracy, natural disasters, and distressed mariners present threats that must be met, missions that must be completed with both military competence and humanitarian care,” said Capt. Buzz Little, commander of Destroyer Squadron 1, who leads the CARAT task group, during closing ceremony remarks. “By working together in CARAT to expand our mutual capability, and to train our Sailors to use the productivity and innovation which are hallmarks of our respective nations, we ensure that Singapore and the United States will continue to act together to provide maritime security and freedom of commerce within the Southeast Asian region, and on the sea lanes of the world.”

A video montage of images captured during the two-week long exercise focused on some of the exercise’s highlights, including maritime security training, anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface tactical free plays, and a combined missile exercise.

“This year, we have continued to push the envelope on increasing our interoperability, said Col. Ng Chee Peng, commander of the RSN’s First Flotilla and its CARAT task group commander. “Throughout our 11 years of interaction, the synergies that we have gained from this series of exercises have been significant and forward-looking.”

During the three-day at-sea phase of the exercise, Commodore Little and members of his staff embarked the Republic of Singapore Ship (RSS) Endeavour, which served as the flagship at sea. With the RSN’s new tactical communication system “ACCESS” aboard, commanders had a comprehensive strategic picture.

“ACCESS was ordered, produced, and brought online for use at sea within just six months, a true reflection of Singapore’s ability as a nation to use advanced technology to surmount challenges and, more importantly, to make prudent decisions that continually bolster both her own and Southeast Asia’s security posture,” Little noted.

ACCESS, coupled with the U.S. Navy's Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS), allowed the task group at sea to share the sea situation picture with CARAT headquarters ashore on a real-time basis, while CENTRIXS offered real-time chat.

In addition to the debut of ACCESS, this year’s 11th annual event featured other “firsts,” including the joint CARAT headquarters ashore.

“A joint headquarters group was established not just to monitor the exercise, but to inject new tasking for our at-sea force, responding to emerging events and requirements that may challenge our maritime security forces in the near future,” Little said.

In a test of the RSN’s defensive force, surface to air missile firings of the RSN’s Barak and Mistral missile exceeded all previous successful aerial drone target firing parameters.

“The drone detachment flew the drones superbly, and I know for a fact that at the point of impact, the drones were at the exact altitude and speed that they were planned to be,” said Ng.

The showcase of efforts at sea was lauded by both commanders, as they complimented each other’s navy for its competence and capabilities while meeting challenges together.

“No analysis of CARAT effectiveness can be relevant without observing how our cross-decks of personnel at sea, and the friendships between our Sailors ashore, bolster the trust and respect necessary for our navies to act as true allies, able to work together to anticipate and conquer the many challenges at sea in our 21st century,” Little said.

The CARAT task group, under the leadership of Little, is made up of the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), the frigate USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), and the rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50). Other elements, including P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, a Commander, Fleet Activities Okinawa drone detachment, and a U.S. Coast Guard training team took part in the Singapore phase, as well.

Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific in Singapore, is responsible for overall CARAT coordination for U.S. participants in his executive agent role as Commander, Task Force 712. Little’s staff is based in San Diego. Paul Hamilton is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Rodney M. Davis in Everett, Wash. Fort McHenry and Safeguard are forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

CARAT exercises remain to be conducted in Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. The exercise series will continue through late August.