The amphibious dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42) completed their third phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Sattahip, Thailand on Sept. 2.
From July to September, Germantown traveled to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to participate in CARAT exercises with embarked elements of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (2/3 Marines), Coastal Riverine Squadron (CORIVRON) 3 and 4, Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Far East Detachment, Naval Beach Unit (NBU) 7, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD MU) 5 and elements of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7.
Germantown’s full amphibious capabilities were well utilized, having launched landing craft air cushion (LCAC) craft, amphibious assault vehicles (AAV), combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) and RCBs throughout each CARAT. The ship also completed flight qualifications during the exercise, landing SH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters during touch-and-go operations.
As part of a different type of aerial demonstration, BQM-74E target drones were launched from Germantown’s flight deck.
In its 21st year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
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Image: US Navy