The George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG), the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy completed a dynamic war-at-sea exercise (WASEX) as part of Talisman Sabre 2015 (TS15), July 8-9.
WASEX simulated searching for and engaging hostile surface warships in order to improve joint interoperability, assess carrier strike group operations and to defend against maritime threats.
Lt. Michael Beer, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 exercises and engagements officer, said:
Our goal was to practice neutralizing surface threats that might attack the carrier strike group.
In order to demonstrate a conflict at sea, two Royal Australian Navy and two Royal New Zealand Navy ships acted as aggressors while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS Mustin (DDG 89) maneuvered and counter-attacked the simulated threat according to Beer.
Additionally, communications and target tracking were improved during the exercise.
TS15 enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces through detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea and in the air in response to various mission areas.
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Image: US Navy