IKE Carrier Strike Group Underway for COMPTUEX

Guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94), front, steams in formation with USS Stout (DDG 56), USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Monterey (CG 61) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). While at sea, the ships supported a live-fire event conducted as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final certification event prior to deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released)

 

From USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69 Public Affairs

 

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The ships and air wing of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) commenced a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) March 16, in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

 

 Ike CSG is comprised of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 with its associated ships: USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

 

 COMPTUEX will test the carrier strike group's ability to perform and effectively respond as an integrated team during simulated scenarios the group may encounter while deployed or during high-end warfare.

 

 The exercise consists of a variety of training evolutions including anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, strike warfare, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, irregular warfare, counterpiracy, counterproliferation and maritime interdiction scenarios.

 

 Capt. Jeffrey Anderson, CVW-3 commander, said the underway period, the air wing's first extended underway aboard the strike group flagship since completing the Tailored Ship's Training Assessment and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) in November 2015, is just the latest step in what has proven to be a seamless integration with the Ike-Battle Axe team.

 

 "Integration of the air wing aboard Ike and across the strike group has been seamless," Anderson said. "Everything has developed as well as, or better than, we anticipated."

 Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson, Ike CSG commander, said the strike group's participation in COMPTUEX will integrate individual units into a cohesive team and establish critical lines of communication.

 

 "COMPTUEX provides us with one last litmus test to ensure the team is aligned and effectively operating together before we deploy," Wilson said. "This training, in potential real-world scenarios, will test the team in order to solidify our readiness and aid in our success during combat operations," said Wilson.

 

 The IKE CSG pre-deployment qualifications will culminate with the completion of COMPTUEX, the final major training evolution of the integrated phase of training. IKE CSG is scheduled to deploy this summer.

 

The guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) fires its MK 45 5-inch lightweight gun during a weapons training exercise. San Jacinto is currently underway preparing for a future deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released)

 

Navy Task Force Arrives in Scotland for Joint Warrior

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Foster Bamford, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

FASLANE, Scotland (NNS) -- Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 46 Detachment 2 pulled into the port of Faslane, Scotland for a port visit, Sept. 26.

Gettysburg, Mitscher and fleet replenishment ship USNS Leroy Grumman (TAO 195) are in the area to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior.

Test Squadron 1, Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 and VP 10 will arrive later this week and also play a role in the exercise, which begins Oct. 1.

Joint Warrior is a coalition exercise designed and led by the joint tactical exercise planning staff in the United Kingdom. Joint Warrior is the United Kingdom's advanced certification course and is on par with a U.S. Joint Task Force Exercise, which certifies U.S. ships for deployment.

"Before any kind of major operation or deployment, we want to make sure that the ships are fully capable and the crew is ready to go," said Capt. Bob Hein, Gettysburg's commanding officer. "That's kind of what we're doing in this training event."

Exercise Joint Warrior is intended to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare them for possible joint exercises in the real world. Maritime support reconnaissance patrol aircraft from Experimental Evaluation Joint Warrior gives coalition forces a chance to find out what each country's navy is capable of and how they can work with each other.

The exercise also gives the ships the rare opportunity to practice in a real-world training environment.

"Many of the allied units involved in Joint Warrior exercises will be the same units our ships will see on deployment." said Capt. Nelson Castro, commander, DESRON 26. "This familiarity allows for the development of trust."

DESRON 26, US Ships Begin Joint Warrior 12-1

Blog Editor Note: Reported frequencies for Exercise Joint Warrior 12-1 include (USB): 3101.0 3277.0 3303.0 4092.0 4138.0 4141.0 4278.0 4433.0 4484.0 4581.0 4620.0 4706.0 4731.0 4744.5 4760.0 4833.0 5291.0 5310.0 5436.0 5725.0 6607.0 6690.0 6697.0 6775.0 7520.0 and Link 11 freqs: 4760.0 5471.0

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Michael W. Martin Destroyer Squadron 26 Public Affairs

FASLANE, Scotland (NNS) -- Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Norfolk-based guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman (T-AO 195) are participating in a multinational exercise off the coast of Scotland.

Exercise Joint Warrior 12-1, which runs April 14 through April 27, is the largest concentration of coalition assets in one integrated training event addressing the full spectrum of maritime and joint warfare mission areas. It is intended to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepare participants for a possible role in a joint maritime environment during deployments. Joint Warrior is the United Kingdom's advanced certification course and is on par with a U.S. Joint Task Force Exercise, which certifies U.S. ships for deployment.

"Interoperability is not just the ability of networks and information systems to exchange data automatically. The cornerstone of interoperability is for our US Sailors, with our international partners, to establish a common language with proven tactics, techniques and procedures during exercises like Joint Warrior that enables future coalition and joint missions from the sea ensuring the stability of the maritime commons that maintain freedom of the seas," said Capt. Nelson Castro, commander, DESRON 26.

Nations participating in the exercise include Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and the United States.

Commanded by Cmdr. Luis Sanchez Jr., Forrest Sherman and crew completed the Royal Navy's flag officer sea training March 26 - April 5.