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EAST CHINA SEA
– The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile
destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) joined the Japan Maritime Self
Defense Force Hatakaze-class destroyer JS Shimakaze (DDG 172) and
Royal Australian Navy Anzac-class frigate HMAS Ballarat (FFH 155) to
participate in the military exercise Pacific Bond 2012, June 6-7.
Pacific Bond is a multilateral exercise
developed to build on prior exercises, improving coordination and
interoperability between the participating nations.
This year’s exercise focused on anti-submarine warfare, maritime
interdiction operations and maritime operations.
“The combined defense force organized and executed a perfect
exercise. This event is another example of our countries’
interoperability at sea and commitment to regional maritime
security,” said Cmdr. Thomas “T.J” Dixon, commanding officer of
McCampbell. “It has been an honor to represent the U.S. Navy in the
Pacific Bond trilateral exercise, and to work with the Royal Navy of
Australia and Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.”
The exercise began with tactical maneuvering operations which
allowed the participating ships to practice coordinated movements
while in formation at close interval. This exercise improved the
ships’ ability to communicate with each other and execute complex
maneuvers.
In addition, McCampbell conducted a Replenishment-at-Sea (RAS) with
the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Towada-class fast-combat
support ship JS Hamana (AOE 424) to practice and improve both
countries capability to conduct underway refueling operations with
foreign navies.
During the RAS, the Warlords of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HSL)
51 conducted flight operations in their SH-60B Twin-engine
helicopter and landed on the flight decks of the Shimakaze and
Ballarat.
“Their landing procedures were very similar to our own, but they
used slightly different hand signals than we were used to. Overall,
we worked really well together,” said Lt.j.g. James Walsh, assigned
to the HSL Warlords Squadron. “This was really great, because in the
case of an emergency, there’s a chance we would have to divert and
head to an allied ship. Having the experience of landing on
different ships and platforms is great training.”
A key goal of Pacific Bond is to enhance compatibility of each of
the participating maritime forces in support of improving maritime
security.
“During the exercise we were able to land on both the Shimakaze and
the Ballarat. These exercises not only help us maintain ties with
our allies by continuing to foster good will between our militaries,
it also ensures we can operate together,” said Lt. Cmdr. Matthew A.
Cole, aviation department head aboard McCampbell. “Learning what our
counterparts are doing and thinking during these procedures is very
important.”
The multilateral training that exercise Pacific Bond provides is
critical in times of crisis and in response to regional
contingencies.
At the completion of the exercise, the crew of the Shimakaze invited
the commanding officers of the allied ships for lunch while in port
at Commander Fleet Activities Okinawa. The commanding officers ate
together and discussed what each had learned from training together.
“We are here not only building valuable partners through exercise,
but building friends through our work and visits together,” said
Dixon.
McCampbell is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and is underway
in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. |
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