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Coalition Forces Complete Goalkeeper III Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080516-20
Release Date: 5/16/2008 4:33:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs

PERSIAN GULF (NNS) -- Coalition Forces, led by Royal Bahrain Navy Brig. Gen. Abdulla Saeed Al Mansoori commander, Task Force (CTF) 152 conducted Exercise Goalkeeper III (GK III) in the Persian Gulf, May 12-14.

The three-day exercise focused on maritime security operations (MSO) and provided coalition forces an opportunity to work together and exercise their ability to locate and track various contacts, conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations as well as command and control functions. GK III included partners from Bahrain, New Zealand, the U.K., the U.S. and other regional countries.

Al Mansoori said GK III gave coalition navies an opportunity to improve interoperability and training proficiency.

"We are working together, continuing operations that counter illicit activities in the maritime arena – to create a lawful maritime order," explained Al Monsoori who oversees all maritime operations in the central and southern Persian Gulf region. "Coalition maritime forces conduct maritime security operations under international maritime conventions to build security, which promotes stability and global prosperity in the maritime environment and complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations."

Units participating in GK III included Bahraini Navy frigate RBNS Al Manama (FPBGH 50), Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Mana (F 111), the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), the fleet ocean tug USNS Catawba (T-ATF 168), members of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 9 and various U.S. maritime patrol aircraft.

Capt. Jim Loeblein, commander, Task Group 152.0, explained the exercise's key event was coalition team members handling command and control of a specific vessel of interest that could pose a threat to one of the coalition nations in the gulf region. The exercise allowed coalition boarding teams to board the vessel of interest, locate and take control of a person of interest and practice the procedures for turning them over to Coast Guard ships.

Loeblein said that building security is not the only advantage of these exercises.

"While helping to build regional security, exercises like GK III also allow us to maintain our open sea lanes," Loeblein said. "This is a very important area of the world for merchant traffic and regional Navy traffic, and exercises like this allow us build confidence in our regional partners and provides a combined opportunity to provide security."

Loeblein said the exercise was a tremendous success noting GK III was the most complicated exercise CTF 152 has conducted to date.

"I'd like to see more coalition member states participating," said Loeblein. "I think the more you get involved with bilateral and multinational exercises, the more it improves the ability of the Coalition and regional partners to work together towards a common security objective."

For more news from the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/esg8/.