• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Coalition Forces Train To Keep Sea Lanes Open

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080309-02
Release Date: 3/9/2008 2:25:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Schaeffer, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

PERSIAN GULF (NNS) -- U.S., U.K. and Kuwait forces completed a mine countermeasures exercise (MCMEX) March 6 in the Persian Gulf.

The exercise demonstrated the ability of Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) to counter potential mine-laying and maintain open sea lanes, as well as to increase interoperability between coalition partners.

Commander, Mine Countermeasures Division 31, USS Scout (MCM 8), HMS Ramsey (MN 110), HMS Blyth (M 111), the "Blackhawks" of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, Commander Task Force (CTF) 56 Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) divers and Kuwaiti divers located, identified and destroyed four dummy mines planted in a simulated mine threat area.

Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr. John Craig, Blyth's commanding officer, emphasized the importance of the exercise.

"It's important that we're out here, not just to find mines after they've been laid, but to do exercises like this with our American and Kuwaiti partners," he said. "It acts as a deterrent to those who would consider laying mines. Freedom of the seas is what we're all about."

Throughout the exercise, Kuwaiti navy observers embarked Scout, Ramsey and Blyth as the coalition forces demonstrated their MCM capabilities.

Kuwaiti divers also performed joint dives with the Royal Navy and discussed EOD tactics with CTF 56 EOD divers, which they found to be a valuable training opportunity.

"It's really important to work with both the U.K. and U.S. to learn from their experiences with mine hunting and to train with their EOD teams," said Kuwaiti navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Khalid Mohammed Ashad. "I want to thank the U.K. and U.S. It's a great honor for us to be here."

The mine countermeasures capability is an element of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). Coalition forces conduct MSO under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that all commercial shipping can operate freely while transiting the region.

MSO help set the conditions for security in the maritime environment, which promotes stability and global prosperity. These operations complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.