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Wednesday, March 17, 2010
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| McCampbell Concludes Talisman Saber 2009
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McCampbell Concludes Talisman Saber 2009
Story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder
CORAL SEA (NNS) Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) successfully completed operations in support of the bilateral exercise Talisman Saber 2009 July 13-24 while deployed with the Essex Expeditionary Strike Group.
McCampbell, amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) and amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) represented the U.S. Navy in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area portion of the exercise, joining Royal Australian Navy (RAN) guided-missile frigates HMAS Darwin (FFG 04) and HMAS Newcastle (FFG 06), oiler HMAS Success (OR 304) and Canadian Forces Maritime Command frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338).
The biennial combined training exercise is designed to train Australian and U.S. forces in planning and conducting combined operations, to improve combat readiness and interoperability between the forces.
McCampbell commenced participation in the exercise with a Liaison Naval Officer swap with the Royal Australian Navy. RAN Midshipman Adrian Philip and Lieutenant Matt Geurtsen took advantage of the learning opportunities available aboard McCampbell, observing the day-to-day evolutions of the ship. Philip noted McCampbell’s hospitality and professionalism.
“All the crew’s good, they know the ship inside and out. I had a bit of apprehension coming to an American ship, worried about being in the way during watches, but the crew just took us aboard. It’s been very interesting seeing how the ship’s operations go, and I hope to take away some friendships with me,” he said.
McCampbell was next tasked with a Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) exercise, which challenged McCampbell’s combat gunnery division to provide support for a simulated Marine landing on the training area, and the ship’s Combat Information Center watchstanders to coordinate the effort. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit attached to the Essex served as spotters to observe and relay target information through an Australian and U.S. service-manned fire support center back to the ship. Over the course of nine hours, McCampbell fired 163 high-explosive controlled variable time rounds from the ship’s MK 45 five-inch gun to eliminate the targets.
Antisubmarine warfare (ASW) was also a focus with a Ship's Antisubmarine Readiness and Evaluation Measurement Exercise (SHAREM), a series of events focused on procedures and tactics designed to measure how effectively surface ships and aircraft can detect and track submarines. A Surface Ship Radiated Noise Measurement exercise challenged the ships to successfully create and maintain a “quiet ship” environment.
McCampbell finally participated in a series of personnel cross-deck exercises with HMAS Newcastle. Over the course of the exercise series, 34 Newcastle Sailors boarded McCampbell to spend the day observing the ship’s typical operations. Following a general tour of the ship’s Combat Information Center, forecastle, bridge, Central Control Station, flight deck, and topside weapons systems, McCampbell Sailors in comparable ranks and ratings paired off with their Newcastle counterparts to observe specific operations and tour spaces in line with their work.
Geurtsen emphasized the importance of the two naval services working together to strengthen ties and improve cooperation, "It’s important to see how the operations go on both sides. Working together, we can make modifications to improve our operations and capabilities, and it’s good to know the people and faces as opposed to just a name on a line,” he said.
USS McCampbell is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 and patrols the 7th Fleet area of responsibility conducting routine operations. Operating in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, the U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets covering 48 million square miles, with approximately 60-70 ships, 200-300 aircraft, and 40,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any time.
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Posted on Friday, July 24, 2009 (Archive on Friday, July 31, 2009)
Posted by michael.stevens Contributed by
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