US Navy ships from the carrier strike group centered around aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt entered the US 7th Fleet area of operations and joined Indian Navy Talwar-class frigate INS Tarkash (F50) for at sea maneuvers on March 25.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), along with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sampson (DDG 102) took part.
The event, a naval greeting and training exercise between partner nations as Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) transitions from fighting ISIS while in the Arabian Gulf to operations in the US 7th Fleet area of operations such as counter-piracy, freedom of navigation operations and training.
Exercises included drills in communications and navigating in several close formations.
“This exercise offered a unique opportunity to further our capabilities to operate with and learn from one another,” said Cmdr. Allen Maxwell Jr., commanding officer of Preble. “It’s an excellent test for our watchstanders to exercise their flexibility as warfighters and to interact with foreign vessels in a tactical environment. Preble is dedicated to ensuring its ability to work together with our allies and partners and deal with common concerns such as disaster relief and safety of sea lanes.”
Additionally, 10 Indian sailors toured spaces aboard Preble such as combat information center, central control station, and the bridge while 10 Preble sailors visited Tarkash.
While touring each other’s ships for the afternoon, sailors had the chance to learn how they operate on a day-to-day basis and experience life at sea from a different perspective.
After a formal gift exchange between leadership and friendly conversation, sailors returned to their ships on a rigid-hull inflatable boat to conclude the exercise.