DESRON 15 Ships Improve Warfare Capabilities during Multi-Sail Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brock A. Taylor, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Japan

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- Several ships assigned to the forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) Japan completed the semiannual exercise Multi-Sail April 16 near the island of Okinawa.

Multi-Sail is a Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15-led exercise specific to the FDNF that enables ships the opportunity to train in several areas of surface, air and anti-submarine warfare. Ships participating included USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Stethem (DDG 63) and the Hawaiian-based frigate USS Reuben James (FFG 57). John S. McCain was the command ship for the exercise with DESRON 15 staff embarked.

"The whole purpose of the Multi-Sail is to provide a focused time for each ship to improve their warfighting readiness by accomplishing training and certifications in multiple warfare areas. We do that by bringing resources into the AOR (Area of Responsibility) that are not typically available to our forward deployed ships," said DESRON 15's Commodore, Capt. Charles Williams.

One of those resources included a portable acoustic range, which was set up by professionals based out of Hawaii. The acoustic range provided the ships an environment where they could test their skills in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and obtain instant feedback on their sensor and weapon performance.

Multi-Sail allowed all ships to hone their skills in various warfare measures, and countermeasures. Each ship underwent training in live-fire exercises, which tested individual performance in small arms, and on a larger scale the accuracy of firing the Mk 45 5-in gun. Fixed Wing aircraft provided each ship a chance to exercise their electronic warfare suites. During ASW scenarios each ship was pitted against a simulated submarine attack where they had to respond quickly using torpedoes and counter-measures. The biggest event however, was the Missile Exercise (MISSILEX), which tested the ships as a whole.

During the MISSILEX both Fitzgerald and Stethem had to react quickly against air attacks using SM2 missiles while at the same time countering sub-surface attacks using Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets (VLA). Drones launched from the McCampbell gave both ships targets that flew realistic "stream raid" profiles. The MISSILEX was coordinated by Lt. Justin Santos, the surface operations officer for DESRON 15.

"This scenario brought both ships into a very tactically relevant scenario where they had to engage two sea-skimming missiles coming from over the horizon with Standard Missiles, while at the same time having to engage a submarine contact using VLA and also maneuvering at high speed to avoid potential torpedo attack," said Santos. "You just can't duplicate that type of training in the classroom."

Williams credits the Surface Warfare Development Group (SWDG) for much of the MISSILEX planning and the final evaluation of the data gained. SWDG and DESRON 15 work together on events throughout the year, and the Multi-Sail exercise and MISSILEX in particular serves as the pinnacle of their efforts to evaluate and improve fleet tactics.

For the Sailors who deploy out here in the 7th Fleet quite often, the Multi-Sail offered an in depth analysis into individual and shipwide warfare capabilities.

"I think the ships that are forward deployed at DESRON 15 and the (Commander Task Force) CTF 70 ships here are without a doubt the most ready ships in the Navy. Just looking at the geographic area where we are stationed, it's an absolute must that we do this training" said Santos. "Every time we get underway from our homeport of Yokosuka, we're in an environment where we could have to use this," he added.

Although this training is held twice a year, not every ship is able to take part due to the high operation tempo of the forward deployed naval forces. Williams said that having opportunities to do this type of in-depth training is something Sailors should take full advantage of when they have that chance.

"I think it's a big job for the Sailors to be out here forward deployed," he said. "It's a challenge, and it's also a very rewarding experience being deployed to the FDNF and living and operating in this area. I think for the Sailors, especially, Multi-Sail was a great event. It gave them the chance to exercise in their areas of expertise, and improve their own individual skills. It also allowed everybody to come together as a destroyer squadron, part of CTF 70 and 7th Fleet, and really excel as a group of ships and squadron."

7th Fleet Ships Complete Multi-Sail Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The semi-annual five-day Multi-Sail exercise brought 7th Fleet ships together to improve warfare mission readiness March 1-5, off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.

The crew of USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) took advantage of the opportunity to serve as the exercise flagship. Operating with McCain were Yokosuka-based cruisers USS Cowpens (CG 63) and USS Shiloh (CG 67); Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 destroyers USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), USS McCampbell (DDG 85) and USS Stethem (DDG 63); Hawaii-based destroyers USS Hopper (DDG 70) and Chung-Hoon (DDG 93); and the underway replenishment ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3).

Capt. Charles Williams, commander, Destroyer Squadron 15, praised the hard work and dedication to the mission success displayed by every Sailor on the deckplates.

"I was very impressed with what I saw from everyone. Without the Sailors, we wouldn't have been able to complete these exercises," Williams said.

The exercise was in a round robin format and, for McCain, participation commenced with a day-long naval surface fire support exercise. Using the MK-45 five-inch gun system, the participating ships shot at targets to test both weapons maintenance and watchstander skills.

From high speed boats to a large inflatable target, dubbed the "killer tomato", the ships utilized their five-inch, 25-mm and 50-caliber guns to hone their skills in a live-fire exercise.

Anti-submarine warfare exercises followed with the ships' watchstanders being challenged to manage a quiet ship environment and track the movements of other ships. McCain and other participating units also shot torpedoes from ships and helicopters in a live firing event.

Following the recovery of the torpedoes, Multi-Sail drew to a close with joint flight operations. U.S. Air Force helicopters made 44 day and night landings on the flight deck to close the exercise.

The exercise's location off the coast of Okinawa provides a prime spot for training, said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Phillip Rosas, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native.

"We had roughly 200 nautical miles of free space to operate in. We can't do exercises like Multi-Sail back in Yokosuka," Rosas said.

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jeff McDill, a native of Seattle, said the exercise's frequency provides a prime opportunity for training.

"It's one of the best exercises for training new people. There have been a lot of lessons learned since the original Multi-Sail, and those lessons have been applied," McDill said. "This is an enhanced hands-on view of the operations we may get called on to perform in a real-world situation."

DESRON 15 is the Navy's only forward deployed destroyer squadron and is responsible for the readiness, tactical and administrative commander responsibilities for seven Arleigh Burke Class guided missile class destroyers. DESRON 15 and its ships are the principal surface forces of Battle Force 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.