Three U.S. Ships Arrive in Scotland for Neptune Warrior Coalition Course

Navy NewsStand ^ | Feb 23, 2006 | Lt. Bill Urban

[SandRat]

FASLANE, Scotland (NNS) -- Three U.S. ships, led by Commander, Destroyer Squadron (COMDESRON) 24 arrived in Faslane, Scotland, to participate in a coalition course with ships from the United Kingdom, Germany and Denmark, Feb. 23.

Capt. Carl W. Cramb, commander, DESRON 24, embarked on USS Ross (DDG 71), will lead one side’s maritime component during the course, including ships from Germany, the United Kingdom and USS Elrod (FFG 55). The second maritime component will be led by the commanding officer of HMS Edinburgh (D97), a destroyer from the United Kingdom, and will also include USS Barry (DDG 52).

“The staff has worked hard to prepare for the challenges of leading a coalition task group against an able opponent in a challenging scenario, and I think everyone is excited about getting the course underway,” said Cramb. “Cooperation with our NATO allies during a course like this will lead to enhanced cooperation in the future in the global war on terrorism.”

Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff (JMOTS) Northwood in the United Kingdom is leading the Neptune Warrior course, and both task groups will report to JMOTS using NATO procedures. The course is designed to improve interoperability between allied navies, as well as to prepare the participants for a role in a coalition joint task force during upcoming deployments.

Neptune Warrior is the United Kingdom’s advanced certification course and is on par with an American Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), which certifies U.S. ships.

The U.S. ships participating in Neptune Warrior are expected to deploy in the spring, with this being their last complex training event before deployment.

While most of the officers and Sailors of DESRON 24 and the three U.S. ships have been through a JTFEX before, few have participated in a Neptune Warrior exercise. The Scottish coastline, with its lochs and islands, offers many hiding places for small boats, and that will make their detection difficult. Thus, the geography and environment will be an obstacle for the American ships to cope with, and very different from most of the coastlines they have worked along in the United States.

Working with other NATO countries will also produce some challenges, as well as some opportunities. Different navies have different procedures and tactics, so it will be important for all participants to work toward strict adherence to NATO policies and strategies. However, once those difficulties are met, it will allow all crews to get some time to interact and better understand their coalition partners who they may be fighting alongside in the future.

“Trying to keep the task group running efficiently while adhering to NATO procedures will increase the challenge, but also the reward,” said Lt. Cmdr. Rick Hughes, DESRON 24 operations officer. “Neptune Warrior will provide some great interaction with coalition partners that we don’t often encounter and should lead to better understanding of the way we all operate.”

The U.S. ships took advantage of the time it took to cross the Atlantic to complete some drills and training to make sure every ship and the staff were prepared for their role in the exercise.

“Preparation and planning are key to the successful execution of this course,” said Lt. Cmdr. Robb Chadwick, COMDESRON 24 chief staff officer. “We have put in a lot of work to get here, and we look forward to putting our planning and training to the test.”

[SandRat]

Navy PING! Liberty Call in Scotland!

[captain_dave]

Haggis and grog for all hands.

[Severa]

Not sure what grog is but I know my husband visited Faslane a few times on Navy deployments, that's where he had his first taste of haggis and LOVED it.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[captain_dave]

Grog is rum and water. A traditional shipboard drink in the Royal Navy in the days of sailing ships