The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Ford (FFG 54) completed exercise Trident Fury, returning to her homeport of Naval Station Everett, May 14.
Exercise Trident Fury is a biennial joint and multinational naval training exercise led by the Royal Canadian navy and is designed to provide mutually beneficial, realistic and relevant training necessary for an infective global navy.
“I could not be more impressed and proud of my crew’s performance during exercise Trident Fury,” said Cmdr. Joseph Shuler, Ford’s commanding officer. “There was not a single crew member that did not put forth their best effort to contribute to our successes.”
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and ships from the Royal Canadian Navy also participated in the exercise.
“We got tremendous training value out of working with the USS Lake Champlain, USS Spruance and the Royal Canadian navy,” said Shuler. “Exercise Trident Fury 2013 will go down as a successful joint exercise and everyone involved should walk away proudly.”
During the exercise, Sailors assigned to the U.S. Navy ships participated in many bilateral evaluations including anti-submarine warfare, war-at-sea exercises, daily multi-ship maneuvering, gunnery exercises on a moving target, helicopter exercises and small boat exercises.
“The crew performed outstanding, as we knew they would,” said Ford’s Command Senior Chief (SW/AW) Joe Lovelace. “We really got some valuable training for the crew that they will be able to use for future operations.”
Trident Fury was developed by Canada’s Pacific Joint Task Force Headquarters for the purpose of building a strong working relationship between the maritime and aviation forces of the United States and Canada.
Exercises like Trident Fury strengthen the U.S. Navy’s ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.
[mappress] Press Release, May 20, 2013