USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- U.S. and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Sailors from the George Washington Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) began their portion of Talisman Saber 2013 off the northeast coast of Australia, July 15.
Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 is a biennial training activity aimed at improving Australian and U.S. combat readiness and interoperability.
"Talisman Saber 2013 demonstrates the U.S. and Australian commitment to enhancing security, peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," said Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, the commander of GWCSG. "Our alliance with Australia is solidly grounded in our shared values and common security concerns and approaches. We coordinate closely with our Australian partners to promote security throughout the region."
Over the next two weeks the GWCSG will participate in various events with their RAN partners including air-defense warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, visit, board, search and seizure, air-to-air training, and close-air support to amphibious forces.
"This exercise provides effective and intense training to ensure our forces are capable, interoperable, and deployable on short notice" said Montgomery. "It increases the ability of all participants to plan, coordinate and execute complex operations."
Participants from the GWCSG include Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) with embarked Carrier Air Wing 5, embarked Commander Destroyer Squadron 15, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54), Arleigh-burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Momsen (DDG 92), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), and the RAN guided-missile frigate HMAS Sydney (FFG 03).