U.S., Indonesian Navies Increase Operability at Sea
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060717-08
Release Date: 7/17/2006 3:25:00 PM
By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Melinda Larson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs
ABOARD USS TORTUGA, Java Sea (NNS) -- Seven ships, two helicopters and two maritime patrol aircraft from the U.S. and Indonesian navies operated together for five days in the Java Sea beginning July 13 during the longest at-sea portion of the six-phase Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006 exercise series.
CARAT Indonesia at-sea was directed by a combined U.S./Indonesian afloat staff from aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46), where Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1 and the U.S. CARAT task group commander, Capt. Al Collins, is based. His Indonesia counterpart, navy Col. Aru Sukmono, commander of the Indonesian navy’s Fast Patrol Boat Squadron, and three Indonesian naval officers embarked Tortuga for the at-sea phase. The commander and his officers swiftly and surely integrated into the CARAT staff
“The Indonesian navy staff that came aboard were very engaged with the staff operations on board Tortuga,” said Lt. Chris Greller, DESRON 1’s CARAT coordinator, who has spent the last year planning CARAT 2006 with his counterparts throughout Southeast Asia.
“What speaks volumes of our interoperability is that we were able to conduct the numerous events safely," he added. "The Indonesian navy has very effective ship handlers and we’ve worked well together.”
Interoperability is key to the success of CARAT, a sequential series of bilateral exercises held annually throughout Southeast Asia. The enhancement of regional cooperation, promotion of understanding between participating military forces and the continuing development of their operational readiness are the primary goals of the exercise.
CARAT Indonesia has grown in scope during its 10-year history, and the Indonesia at-sea phase more than doubled from last year when the combined task group spent two days together underway. According to Collins, increasing the size and complexity of the exercise ensures the success of future operations between the two navies.
“By bringing more people and ships into the exercise, we can increase our interaction and enhance our ability to operate effectively at sea, whether it be contingency operations, disaster relief or search and rescue,” said Collins.
When senior Indonesian naval leadership can operate together at sea with their U.S. Navy counterparts, it builds confidence, Collins added.
“By having the colonel and other leaders come aboard, it adds to confidence building. He can feel comfortable and confident that he can come aboard a U.S. Navy warship and fully integrate his staff and understand the expectations,” Collins said.
Collins and his counterpart spent many hours together on the bridge observing their task group as it carried out orders.
“Being aboard added an element of clarity working together as a combined staff,” said Sukmono, a 21-year veteran of the Indonesian navy.
From the bridge and the CARAT watch floor, the combined staff oversaw practical exercise events, such as helicopter deck landing qualifications and crossdeck operations that help the navies work on ship to shore movements together.
“Interoperability is often about the little things,” Greller added. "Small boat ops is a good example. Some navies come to all stop, others keep headway on. None of this seems like a big deal until you’re the one climbing the pilot’s ladder. They are important lessons and we’re learning them during CARAT."
Small boat operations from Tortuga, USS Crommelin (FFG 37) and the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Sherman were conducted during combined at-sea boarding exercises. Small boats were dispatched to ferry visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) teams between the other ships for at-sea boardings.
VBSS training is a staple of exercise CARAT because transnational maritime threats such as terrorism, piracy, illicit narcotics, and trafficking in persons and weapons pose a significant risk to the security of the Asia-Pacific region. One of CARAT’s goals is to build skills directly applicable to the combat of those threats. Those goals were accomplished during a series of complex scripted and unscripted boardings and maritime interdiction operations.
“We had scripted pierside and at-sea boardings that provided good training for both of our VBSS teams,” Greller explained. “On the last day at sea, we conducted a maritime interdiction operation serial that involved identifying, locating and tracking a mock rogue ship. The event ended in an unscripted boarding on the Sherman. It’s that type of real-world training that will help us to become even more proficient at working together.”
Communicating with the ships and air elements to coordinate their actions, the combined CARAT staff manned the task group watch floor aboard Tortuga 24 hours per day. With only three staff officers, the Indonesians each stood watch twice a day for four hours. One of the officers, the commanding officer of an Indonesian fast patrol boat, said he will mimic the bridge routine of Tortuga when he returns to his ship.
“On the bridge of Tortuga, there is only a chair for the commanding officer and executive officer. The crew on Tortuga is tough, and they stay alert by standing up during their watches. I will now have my crew standing on the bridge instead of sitting,” said Indonesian Navy Capt. Dato Rusman Sultan Nurdin, commanding officer of KRI Kerapu (PDG-812).
While on watch, the combined staff communicated with the task group ships via the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) a real-time, secure information chat system. CENTRIXS is designed to be a global, interconnected, inexpensive, and easy-to-use information sharing system.
In addition to building military ties, creating personal relationships is important to developing rapport with other Navy professionals.
“I’d heard that the difference between a job and a profession is how it links across cultures. Working closely with these naval officers, I’ve realized that being a Sailor is one such profession," Greller said. "We may be from different countries, but we have something in common - standing watches, shipboard life, and the responsibilities that our billets entail.
"I think it’s great that we’re in a profession that promotes these types of cross-cultural experiences,” Greller said.
The four Indonesian CARAT task group ships involved during the at-sea phase included the corvettes KRI Fatahillah (FTH-361) and KRI Nala (NAL-363), the frigate KRI Karel Satsuitbun (KST-356), and the patrol craft KRI Pandrong (PDG-801).
For more on CARAT, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2006.
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