Military

SHip Antisubmarine Warfare Readiness / Effectiveness Measuring (SHAREM)

SHAREM means "Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement. This exercises measures how well surface ships and aircraft can detect and track submarines. The combined group trained with two submarines, using an arsenal of shipboard sensors including active sonar, passive sonar, towed arrays, and sonobuoys. Established by the Chief of Naval Operations in 1969, SHip Antisubmarine Warfare Readiness / Effectiveness Measuring (SHAREM) has conducted over 100 site-and threat-specific exercises to gather data, identify tactical problems, and produce tactical guidance/recommendations. As the Executive Agent for the SHAREM program, Commander, Surface Warfare Development Group designs each exercise to meet tasking set by the requesting Fleet Commander's direction and objectives.

SHAREM is especially important for Sonar Technicians (STs) because the exercise offers a great training opportunity for actual contact time with real submarines. It is a chance for the operators to put their wits to the test and locate the submarine before it locates their own ship. USW is extremely complex by its nature and the teams have to be able to work and think as one in order to understand what the water conditions, contact information, and utilizing all the assets available. It is a very slow type of warfare at first, but develops very quickly.

The exercise is a ship anti-submarine readiness and evaluation measurement, held twice a year in the Seventh Fleet area of responsibility.

SHAREM 110A was the direct result of a request by the Commander, U. S. Naval Central Command to the Oceanographer of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Research to collaborate in the establishment of an integrated research and development effort to counter critical threats in littoral regions of the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. This exercise was the first in a series conducted as a results of this request to evaluate current and near-term environmental support of the electromagnetic/electro-optical (EM/EO) systems(s) in the Navy. SHAREM Program 110A provided a vehicle for the Naval Research Laboratory, Monterey, Calif., to test, demonstrate and validate the concept for its Shipboard Tactical Atmospheric Forecast Capability (STAFC). STAFC, designed for shipboard use but located at a forward location for this initial exercise, blends the background data provided by the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center with the local observed data to make a nowcast and short-range forecasts.

Ships Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness Effectiveness Measuring 114 (SHAREM) Invitational Exercise 1-96 (INVITEX), held Feb. 23-29, 1996, was a Sixth Fleet Naval Exercise conducted in the Gulf of Valencia off the east coast of Spain. The primary goal of SHAREM 114 was to collect shallow water acoustic data from ship and aircraft sensors and exercise multinational forces in antisubmarine warfare. Participants included ships, submarines and air squadrons from the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Canada and Germany. U.S. participants in SHAREM 114 were USS Groton (SSN 964); USS Conolly (DD 979); USS Barry (DDG 52); USS Merrimack (AO-179); USNS Bold (T-AGOS 12); USNS Apache (T-ATF 172); P-3 Patrol Squadron 11; P-3 Patrol Squadron 62; Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One; S-3 Sea Control Squadron 31; SH-60F Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 5, embarked in USS George Washington (CVN-73); and the SH-60B Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 44, Detachment One, embarked in USS Conolly.

In January 1997 two Navy destroyers, USS Hayler (DD 997) and USS Ramage (DDG 61), participated in one the largest 6th Fleet undersea warfare exercises of the year, Sharem 118. The exercise was conducted in the Ligurian Sea between Corsica and the mainland of Italy. It trained participating units in multinational undersea warfare (USW) task group operations against submarines in shallow, intermediate and deep coastal waters. Other U.S. units in Sharem 118 included USS Newport News (SSN 750), USS James K. Polk (SSN 645), Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light 42 Detachment 7, Sea Control Squadron 22, Patrol Squadron 16 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7. Forces of NATO nations supporting Sharem 118 included the Italian submarine Sauro (S 518), French submarine Psyche (S 650) and maritime patrol aircraft from the Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Italy.

The SHAREM schedule for 1998 included SHAREM 124 and 125 in the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea respectively, and TACEVALEX 98 in the Ionian Sea.

During SHAREM 126 (September 1998) and SHAREM 127 (February-March 1999) in the same area of the Sea of Japan off Korea, 214 temperature profiles were obtained with SSQ-36's (air deployed expendable bathythermographs or AXBTs). Five grid resolutions were obtained: two during SHAREM 126 and three during SHAREM 127.

USS Cushing (DD-985), as part of a team with USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) and USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-054), participated in its first USW (Undersea Warfare) as a member of Seventh Fleet from 11th - 18th September. The exercise, SHAREM 126 (Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness and Evaluation Measurement) measures how well the surface fleet can combat submarines.

As the flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron 15, Cushing was a "destroyer on the prowl" by prosecuting submarines with an arsenal of sensors including active sonar, towed array, LAMPS, and sonobuoys. The Golden Lions of Cushing conducted multiple simulated attacks and reattacks as they led the crusade in undersea warfare. Along with DESRON 15 sister ships, several ships and aircraft of the Korean Navy joined Cushing. COMDESRON 15 coordinated these various assets into an effective USW force and once again proved why it sits at the tip of the spear in multi-ship USW.

After arrival Chinhae Korea, Cushing, Vandegrift and Curtis Wilbur met up with their Republic of Korea Naval counterparts. COMDESRON 15 hosted a reception dinner onboard Cushing for CAS 51 (Korean Commander ASW Squadron 51), plus the commanding officers of all ships participating in SHAREM 126. Following an overnight in Chinhae, the hunt was on. During the operation, Cushing conducted more than 60 hours of flight time, 20 flight quarters, 30 hours as SAU (Search and Attack Unit) Commander, and had 13 hours of active sonar contact. By the time the exercise was over, Cushing had conducted six simulated attacks which included two vertically launched ASROCS (Anti-Submarine Rocket Torpedoes), and four over-the-side torpedo shots. When the dust finally settled, Cushing was left with a very tired but extremely satisfied crew in what they had accomplished.

SHAREM 126 was conducted by the Surface Warfare Development Group (SWDG) in the East Sea of Korea from 12-18 September 1998. The Naval Oceanographic Office collected oceanographic and acoustic data to characterize the acoustic environment during this exercise 2. These data include physical oceanography, bottom characteristics, bioluminescence, and acoustic data. These data along with Navy Standard and research models and databases were used to investigate the environmental impact on acoustic performance. Environmental findings associated with SHAREM 126 and the related Distant Thunder May 1998 Engineering test were summarized for application to sampling strategy.

USS Cushing (DD-985) participated in SHAREM 130, an Undersea Warfare (USW) exercise, from August 31 through September 8, 1999. Cushing also teamed with USS Vincennes (CG-49), USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Buffalo (SSN-715), Commander Fleet Air Force, and HSL-51 based in Atsugi,. Along with its Destroyer Squadron 15 Sister Ships, Cushing was joined by Japanese ships JDS Yuugiri (DD-153), JDS Umigiri (DD-158), and JDS Akishio (SS-579) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Coordination with air assets was essential to the exercise. Upon arrival in Okinawa, all ships and submarines joined for a combined eight-ship barbecue, which was held at White Beach, Okinawa. After two days of briefings and introductory meetings, the exercise was on.

On August 16, 2000 the USS Vincennes (CG-49) completed a week of undersea warfare training and data collection in the South China Sea as part of SHAREM 134. The bilateral exercise was conducted in conjunction with several Japanese ships and other United States participants. The purpose of the five-day event was to gather data about the ship's submarine detection capabilities and to develop and test new submarine prosecution procedures. Throughout the exercise, Vincennes demonstrated its multi-warfare capabilities, effectively teaming up to make SHAREM 134 a successful event.

The SHAREM events tested and utilized many different aspects of Vincennes' undersea warfare suite. Events included sonar range testing, sonobuoy employment methods and submarine engagement tactics using Vincennes' embarked lamps helicopter detachment, HSL 51 Detachment 6. The final SHAREM events included a freeplay, which allowed the ships to search out and prosecute other orange submarines within the operations area, combining many of the tactics and systems tested during SHAREM.

SHAREM 134 was a successful operation and an important step in developing the future of undersea warfare for the U.S. Navy and its allies. Vincennes showed, once again, that it is a viable undersea warfare platform, capable of submarine prosecution and other complex missions.

Combat Aircrew Five (CAC-5) from VP-47 flew from their deployment site of Diego Garcia to Kadena Air Base to participate in SHAREM 2001. The exercise involves the Republic of Korea and the United States. Ships and submarines are pitted against each other in mock battles to evaluate various equipment, such as sonar and torpedoes.

Patron One, which deployed from Whidbey Island, Wash., hosted the "Golden Swordsmen." Crew Five flew several missions in support of the shipboard operations. The primary mission of the P?3 "Orion" is to detect and track submarines. VP-47's deployment to Diego Garcia does not provide many opportunities to fly over such targets. As the airplane cleared the operational area, valuable Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training was conducted.

Plane Commander Lt. Gene Cran and Tactical Coordinator Lt. Nomer Oytas led the crew to successfully complete the required qualifications in order to maintain crew readiness. The acoustic sensor operators Aviation Warfare Operators Dax Panno and Justin Blaylock shook off the dust from their tracking skills and showed the Navy how to track a sub. With this training exercise, CAC-5 will continue to be a qualified combat aircrew.

USS Cushing (DD 985), acting as flagship, along with USS Vandegrift (FFG 48), USS Buffalo (SSN 715) and several Japanese maritime self-defense force ships conducted the joint exercise SHAREM 138 in the East China Sea over a two-week period. Cushing welcomed over 60 extra riders during the event from DESRON15 staff, civilian and Navy researchers and Japanese defense force exchange personnel. The SHAREM was designed to develop and test coordinated undersea warfare tactics and sensors. Environmental and warfare equipment performance data was collected to evaluate the efficiency of the participating units in that ocean environment. SHAREM proved to be a test of logistical savvy. The surface warfare development group and other agencies provided a team of technicians and strategists that brought a staggering amount of equipment onboard Cushing and the other participating units. Computers, laptops, communications devices, processors and display devices augmented Cushing's robust warfare suite, which already includes a towed array sonar, hull mounted sonar and countermeasure devices.

Cushing's helicopter detachment met the ship en route to the area of responsibility. They also brought along two SH-60B's to participate in the SHAREM exercise. The pilots and aircrew logged over 50 hours of flying time in direct support. Challenging scenarios fully tested the ship's warfare capabilities and kept Cushing busy night and day, focusing on acoustic and non-acoustic submarine detection. Cushing's operations and combat systems departments were especially challenged during the structured and free play events. Warfare evaluators coordinated the efforts of Cushing's sonar team and helicopters in locating and tracking the submarines. Operation specialists manned consoles and computers that aided in submarine prosecution while the tactical action officer directed the simulated employment of the ship's weapons. The SHAREM exercise also included testing for new warfare technology. The Littoral Warfare Advanced Development Program was also an integrated part of the exercise. This program is part of the office of naval research and develops emerging warfare technology. This SHAREM provided the opportunity to field test some of this technology and allowed the afloat Sailor the opportunity to provide fleet feedback.