The US and French navies engaged in a joint training in the waters of the Gulf of Oman, the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) on Dec. 29 in order to strengthen interoperability.
The two task groups, comprising Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) and the French navy’s Task Force 473, conducted combined maritime security operations, live-fire gunnery exercises along with visit, board, search and seizure training, deck-landing qualifications, underway replenishments, combat search and rescue training and air defense exercises. The training included exchanging of visits and touring each other’s ships.
“This mission is a decisive opportunity to share knowledge and build upon our friendship in order to be able to successfully handle future contingencies together,” said Capt. Pierre Vandier, commanding officer, FS Charles de Gaulle.
According to Rear Adm. Eric Chaperon, commander of Task Force 473, the mission was a big challenge .
“France and the USA have been partners for a longtime, but with this new and rare opportunity to integrate two CSGs, our cooperation is becoming ever closer,” he said.
HST CSG is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Mason (DDG 87). The French task force comprises of aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91), replenishment oiler FS Meuse (A 607) and destroyers FS Forbin (D 620) and FS Jean de Vienne (D 643).
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 6, 2014; Image: US Navy