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CARAT Exercise Addresses Small Craft Threats to Naval Vessels

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080630-04
Release Date: 6/30/2008 1:52:00 PM

By Lance Cpl. Andrew S. Avitt, USS Tortuga Public Affairs

USS TORTUGA, South China Sea (NNS) -- Marines with 3rd Marines Combat Assault Company (CAC) -- 18 in all -- and 19 Sailors from USS Tortuga (LSD 46) participated in a crew-served weapons exercise, June 27, during the Singapore phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008.

The exercise tested the accuracy and patience of the Marines and Sailors, many of whom qualified to use their weapons in the event of a small water craft attack or other hostile situations.

"The goal was to see if we could track something small," said Aviation Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Aren D. Painter. "We have to count small crafts as a high security risk."

The Marines and Sailors fired on a ship-deployed service target -- a tri-marine raft no longer than 15 feet -- pulled at 10-30 knots behind a remote controlled watercraft commonly referred to as a "roboski."

While the Sailors prepped and loaded the roboski with the raft, Platoon Commander Lt. Kyle Johnson briefed the Marines about the target and the challenges they would face hitting it.

"We are going to have a window anywhere from 30 to 40 seconds," Johnson explained. "It will be hard to hit, though. You're better off tracking it than going right for it," he cautioned, explaining that the rounds would take a few seconds to reach the raft.

"We all have a chance to get that target. Let's nail it," Johnson challenged.

The roboski-pulled raft made 10 passes by Tortuga, whose crew responded by firing more than 4,000 rounds from deck-based, crew-served weapons. The Marines added 2,000 more rounds of fire.

The roboski also passed the five other aligned ships in the joint flotilla -- USS Ford (FFG 54), USS Jarrett (FFG 33), USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and two Republic of Singapore Navy ships -- which fired rounds at the target.

After the exercise, while inspecting the target, crew members were surprised that only six direct hits were scored on the pontoons with minor shrapnel damage to the surface of the raft. There were no hits on the flag.

Navy personnel have to qualify once a year on crew service weapons. CARAT has provided six gunnery exercises this year.

During CARAT, the gunnery target exercise is scheduled to run once during each phase with host countries.

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral military training exercises between the United States and several Southeast Asian nations designed build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/clwp/.