Donald Cook Conducts Helo Ops with Moroccan Navy
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS071116-08
Release Date: 11/16/2007 2:35:00 PM
By Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
AGADIR, Morocco (NNS) -- USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) completed interoperability exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Mohammed V (FFL 611) Nov. 5, conducting helicopter operations between the two ships during the ship's six-day visit to the country.
The Theater Security Cooperation engagement saw the first landing of a Moroccan helicopter landing aboard a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class ship and allowed crew members from both countries an opportunity to build relationships with each other while working together to conduct two separate helo evolutions.
"The approaches on both evolutions were extremely professional," said Donald Cook Commanding Officer Cmdr. William J. Parker III. "The evolutions were flawless and were a fantastic opportunity to advance the interoperability between the U.S. and Moroccan navies."
In their AS-565 Panther helicopter, Moroccan Navy pilots Lt. Zakaria Bensalem and Lt. Isaam Laadel, who have each logged more than 1,100 flight hours and 500 deck landings, practiced basic communications drills, maneuvering exercises, simulated replenishments at sea, vertical replenishments, deck-landing qualifications, and helicopter approaches 35 miles off the Moroccan coast. In addition, a team from Mohammed also conducted a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure drill aboard Donald Cook.
"Morocco is critical to promoting maritime safety and security," said Parker. "The undeniable success of this underway exercise strengthened our military partnership and laid the foundation for more extensive security cooperation."
This Moroccan engagement capped a highly successful deployment for Donald Cook including 26 port visits to 13 countries and 17 underway exercises.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
