By Lt. Cmdr. Mike Morley, Commander Task Force 73 public affairs
KUANTAN, Malaysia - The arrival of four U.S. Navy ships to Kuantan marks the beginning of the 17th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia exercise. For the first time in the exercise’s 17-year history, a U.S. attack submarine is participating, enabling U.S. and Malaysian forces to conduct expanded at-sea training.
The first phase of CARAT features events ashore, such as engineering and damage control training exchanges, joint medical, dental and civic action projects, and joint community service projects at local schools.
The first phase of CARAT features events ashore, such as engineering and damage control training exchanges, joint medical, dental and civic action projects, and joint community service projects at local schools.
The at-sea phase of CARAT focuses on developing maritime security capabilities in areas such as maritime interdiction, information sharing, combined operations at sea, patrols and gunnery exercises, and anti-piracy and anti-smuggling exercises.
“We’re looking forward to operating at sea with the Royal Malaysian Navy ships,” said Capt. David Welch, Commander, Task Group 73.1 and the Commander for the exercise.
“We’re looking forward to operating at sea with the Royal Malaysian Navy ships,” said Capt. David Welch, Commander, Task Group 73.1 and the Commander for the exercise.
“The U.S. Navy and RMN have developed a robust training plan, and we expect both Navies will learn a lot more about each other throughout the exercise, but particularly at sea. The addition of a submarine will enable us to expand on training we’ve completed in previous years and will increase our interoperability,” he said.
Approximately 1,800 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel are participating in CARAT Malaysia 2011, which runs June 5th through June 15th. U.S. Navy ships from Task Group 73.1 include the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), the frigate USS Ford (FFG 54), and U.S. attack submarine.
Approximately 1,800 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel are participating in CARAT Malaysia 2011, which runs June 5th through June 15th. U.S. Navy ships from Task Group 73.1 include the amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), the frigate USS Ford (FFG 54), and U.S. attack submarine.
Additional participants include Marines from 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, U.S. Navy Seabees, and P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft.
CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Additionally, Vietnam participates in a CARAT-like skills exchange.
CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Additionally, Vietnam participates in a CARAT-like skills exchange.