Personnel and ships from Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and U.S. Navy Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) from Japan led by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 kicked off Multi-Sail 2015, March 22, in Guam.
Multi-Sail is an annual DESRON 15 led exercise that is designed to assess combat systems, improve teamwork and increase warfighting capabilities in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
Following a pre-sail conference, ships departed Guam, March 23, to conduct the at-sea portion of Multi-Sail 2015. Several ships participated in a torpedo exercise including the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54).
Throughout Multi-Sail 2015 some other major training evolutions include firing vertical launch anti-submarine (VLA) rockets, standard missile (SM) 2 missiles as well as testing the ship’s close-in weapons system (CIWS) and Mark 45 5-inch gun during live-fire exercises. Additionally, the exercise will allow for interaction with a U.S. submarine and coordination with aircraft in order to continue to hone anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare skills.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) is serving as the command flagship for Multi-Sail 2015 with DESRON-15 staff embarked. Other ships from DESRON-15 participating include USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS Sampson (DDG 102) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112). Also supporting the exercise are the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6), Commander, Task Force 72, Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, HSM-51, HSM-35, HSM-37, and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 25.
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Image: US Navy