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British Mine Countermeasures Ship Welcomes US Navy Admiral

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100824-22
8/24/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cassandra Thompson, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- The commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces visited British mine countermeasures (MCM) ship HMS Chiddingfold (M37) and U.S. MCM USS Gladiator (MCM 11) Aug. 18, to observe a mine countermeasures training evolution in the Arabian Gulf.

"This was a great opportunity for me to see firsthand how we conduct mine countermeasures together as a coalition maritime force," said Vice Adm. Mark Fox. "It was a great demonstration of how we work together to protect critical waterways."

Under the direction of British Cmdr. David Bence, commander, U.K. Mine Countermeasures Force, nine ships are currently engaged in a mine countermeasures training evolution to improve interoperability between the Royal Navy and United States Navy.

Fox visited HMS Chiddingfold for a demonstration of the ship's underwater mine disposal system, called the "Seafox," a remote-controlled vehicle that is used to locate, identify and destroy sea mines.

"We were extremely proud to be able show Vice Adm. Fox the capability of one of the Royal Navy's mine hunters based in the region," said Lt. Cmdr. Adam Northover, HMS Chiddingfold's commanding officer.

"We were able to incorporate a wide range of activities in the short time he was with us, including the firing of a live Seafox combat round against a simulated mine target. The crew has worked very hard over the past 12 months generating the operational capability to operate effectively in the region and were delighted to be able to show their skills to such an important guest."

The training evolution, held from Aug. 15-25, hones skills such as ship handling, rafting, force protection, dive training, mine hunting and mine neutralization. Four British MCM ships permanently stationed in Bahrain, four U.S. MCM ships, as well as British and U.S. explosive ordnance disposal teams and aerial assets, are involved in the exercise.

"As commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, I think it was very important for [Adm. Fox] to see the coalition working together towards a common aim, to try and improve our mine countermeasures capability," Bence said. "He was also able to compare and contrast how the U.K. does its business with how the U.S. does its business, and he will be able to better make an opinion on whether the U.S. needs to invest in MCM in the near to immediate future."

Fox also embarked aboard USS Gladiator, one of the four U.S. MCM ships permanently stationed in Bahrain, to speak with crew members.