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Kitty Hawk, Allies Participate in Malabar Photo

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070910-08
Release Date: 9/10/2007 4:28:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jarod Hodge, Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- The USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group participated in its second group photo opportunity this deployment, joining USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the Indian aircraft carrier INS Viraat (R 22) and 10 other ships in the Indian Ocean’s Bay of Bengal during Exercise Malabar which began Sept. 4.

“We started planning the formation for the photo exercise in July,” said Destroyer Squadron 15 Operations Officer Lt. Michael Williams. “The final revisions to the plan were completed approximately one week prior to the photo exercise and the plan was then distributed to all participants.”

It takes a lot of precision navigation on the part of each ship to maintain the formation for several hours, Williams said. There was about 500 yards between each unit, so this was definitely a demanding evolution.

In addition to the three aircraft carriers, other ships taking part in the photo were: the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers JS Yuudachi (DD 103) and JS Oonami (DD 111), Republic of Singapore Navy frigate RSS Formidable (68), Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Adelaide (FFG 01), Indian Navy destroyers INS Ranvijay (D 55) and INS Ranjit (D 53), Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31), guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USS Higgins (DDG 76), and fast attack submarine USS Chicago (SSN 721).

“We were really excited to have some many different navies get involved with this exercise,” said Kitty Hawk Photo Officer Lt. Gregory Messier. “The photo for this exercise is very important because it shows the awesome power that we have with five navies working together.”

During the exercise, a force of more than 20,000 personnel from five countries is taking part in the exercise, which is designed to strengthen military ties and increase operating capabilities between the nations.

“The photo provides a message to other militaries, and our own, that we are capable of operating together and that we work together with our regional partners to ensure stability in the region,” said Williams.

The USS Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group is on its summer deployment in the Western Pacific. The strike group is the U.S. Navy’s largest and includes the carrier, seven ships of Destroyer Squadron 15, two Aegis weapons system equipped guided-missile cruisers and Carrier Air Wing 5. The ships operate from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, and the air wing operates from Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Together, they serve as the 7th Fleet’s combatant force.