Vessels involved in the multinational exercise included the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Gravely (DDG 107), the Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon (D35) and Traflalgar-class submarine HMS Talent (S92).
USS Stout Works with Royal Navy to Improve Anti-Submarine Warfare
Release Date: 10/18/2013 1700 Story 647
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda R. Gray, USS Stout (DDG 55) Public AffairsMEDITERRANEAN SEA- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) completed a Coordinated Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise (CASEX) with the Royal Navy, Oct. 15-16.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 16, 2013) – Cmdr. Andrew Fitzpatrick, executive officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55), uses binoculars to keep watch during a coordinated anti-submarine warfare exercise with the USS Gravely (USS 107) and the British Royal Navy air-defense destroyer HMS Dragon (D35). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda R. Gray/Released)
The exercise also included USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Gravely (DDG 107), the Trafalager Class Nuclear Submarine HMS Talent (592), the Royal Navy airdefense destroyer HMS Dragon (D35), and aircraft support from both countries.
“This particular exercise was called a blocking evolution,” said combat information center officer Lt. j.g. Luqman Haskett. “We did not know where the submarine was, but we knew where they wanted to go. So the goal was to try and track them and prevent them from reaching their desired location.”
The surface ships and aircraft utilized simulated weapons and tactics to locate and execute the target. The exercise took place over a span of 12 hours. Each ship and aircraft was responsible for monitoring a specific area to maintain contact with the submarine.
We were able to sharpen our skills so that we are prepared if a real scenario arises,” said Sonar Technician (Surface) 3rd Class Emily Sandomierski. “Some of us are just out of school, and this gave us a real life experience and helped show us the importance of what we do.”
The exercise, designed to assist ships in tracking and eliminating enemy submarine contacts and to assist the submarine in remaining undetected, increases knowledge and proficiency for anti-submarine warfare.
“The exercise went really well. It was a great opportunity to work with NATO forces and combine aircraft and surface ships to combine tracking on a live submarine, which we don’t get to do very often,” said operations officer, Lt. Jeffrey Applebaugh. “It was a good exercise and educational for our Sailers. Stout did well, and we had the most contact time out of everyone by a significant margin.”
Stout, Barry, and Gravely, all homeported in Norfolk, Va., are on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation.
MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 16, 2013) – The British Royal Navy Trafalager Class Nuclear Submarine HMS Talent (S92) participates in a coordinated anti-submarine warfare exercise. The exercise also involved U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class Guided-missile destroyers, USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Gravely (DDG 107) pulls along side the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stout (DDG 55) for a photo exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amanda R. Gray/Released)
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