USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- Ships from three countries participating in UNITAS 49-08 joined together April 27 in a close quarters formation exercise sailing off the coast of Brazil.
Brazil, Argentina and the United States had a total of 10 ships participating in the exercise, including BNS Niterói (F 40), BNS Greenhalgh (F 46), BNS Bosisio Almirante Brown (D 10), USS George Washington (CVN 73), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Kauffman (FFG 59), USCG Northland (WMEC 904), ARA Patagonia (B 1), and ARA Gomez Roca (P 46).
"Sailing ships this close together is always a test of seamanship and coordination," said Cmdr. Anthony Calandra, operations officer of George Washington. "Today all of the Strike Group showed its ability to coordinate and communicate effectively to execute this complex maneuver."
The exercise provided an opportunity for all of the participants to improve their ship handling skills while working together in a multinational environment.
The navies of the three countries are participating in the exercise which wraps up May 2. UNITAS, Latin for "unity," is a 49-year-old annual exercise designed to enhance mutual cooperation, understanding and interoperability for participating navies through cultural exchanges, maritime coalition training and maritime interdiction operation scenarios in an ongoing commitment by participants to regional stability and security.