Photo: Guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) pulls up alongside USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) during maneuvering exercises in the Atlantic. Laboon and Bainbridge are both in transit to participate in the Neptune Warrior training course, which will test the interoperability of NATO coalition forces. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Coleman Thompson.By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael Starkey, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic
USS BAINBRIDGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 in company with Norfolk-based USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Normandy (CG 60) and Mayport-based USS Simpson (FFG 56) completed the Neptune Warrior course in the North Atlantic, off the coast of Scotland on May 3.
Neptune Warrior is a course designed to increase the interoperability between coalition and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies while conducting maritime operations. The course takes units from the participating nations and divides them into different groups to simulate contact between air, surface and sub-surface threats. Participants included France, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“This has been a great opportunity for all of our forces to integrate and practice tactics, techniques and procedures,” said Master Chief Operational Specialist (SW) Steven Hasselberger, DESRON 22 command master chief. “Our exercises are a ramp up for readiness during real-world evolutions, and we’ve done a lot of sharing of ideas, sharing of information and it’s been a very successful tactical event.”
The complexity of operating with many different ships from various countries is the primary lesson learned from the Neptune Warrior course.
“With the future of naval operations being us working with allied nations, where we actually have allied ships deploying with our carrier strike groups through operations, the likelihood of working with allied ships is becoming more and more frequent,” said Lt. Kenneth Myrick, DESRON 22 intelligence officer.
DESRON 22 was embarked aboard Bainbridge, which served as a flagship for the task force. Bainbridge, Laboon and Simpson will return to their respective homeports while Normandy will continue on to its regularly scheduled deployment supporting the global war on terrorism.