U.S. and Philippines Hold Naval Drills with Allies in the South China Sea

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | OCTOBER 16, 2024 | AARON-MATTHEW LARIOSA

[Retain Mike]

The Philippines and its allies, including Canada, Japan and the U.S., kicked off the maritime phase of Exercise Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea this week.

Derived from the Southeast Asian-focused Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series of maritime security exercises, the originally bilateral exercise has grown to become Manila’s premier multilateral naval drill. This year’s Sama Sama, translating to “together” in Tagalog, includes high-end training activities for the Philippine Navy, including over-the-horizon targeting, counter-unmanned aerial system drills and hunting a simulated submarine with allied ships.

While the Philippine Navy has been slowly modernizing with new warships and technologies amid tensions in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait, the service is still learning modern naval warfare tactics and expertise. Before the country’s naval modernization efforts, which began in 2012, the majority of the fleet was composed of Second World War-era destroyer escorts and landing ship tanks. To develop these nascent capabilities, Manila has turned to old and new allies alike in exercises such as Sama Sama.

Participants for this year include BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), BRP Waray (LC-288), BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380), HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331) and USS Howard (DDG-83). Naval aviation includes helicopters launched from the warships, land-based Philippine ScanEagle drones, a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon and a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force contingent composed of a P-1 Kawasaki maritime patrol aircraft and a ShinMaywa US-2 seaplane. Personnel from Australia, the United Kingdom and France are also present for the drills, although it’s unclear if these nations are observing the exercise or directly participating.

[Retain Mike]

The Western Pacific has sure got a more interesting. Dodging the Chi Com and Taiwanese fishing fleets was about exciting as it got for our ship on the way to and from Vietnam, except for avoiding the carriers, escorts, and auxiliaries at Yankee Station. Here are the latest articles from the U. S. Naval Institute. Unless you are a member, you may not be able to look at all the links before they decide to exclude you.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for posting this!

The Philippines and its allies, including Canada, Japan and the U.S., kicked off the maritime phase of Exercise Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea this week.

Interesting how Australia and New ZeaLand are not in this group of allies.