US, UK Commences Mine Countermeasures Exercise 17-1 in Arabian Gulf

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Victoria Mejicanos | 161019-N-XP344-414 ARABIAN GULF (Oct. 19, 2016) U.S. Navy mine countermeasures (MCM) ships USS Devastator (MCM 6), USS Gladiator (MCM 11) and USS Dextrous (MCM 13) steam in formation with Royal navy ships RFA Lyme Bay (L 3007), HMS Middleton (M34), HMS Chiddingfold (M37), HMS Penzance (M106) and HMS Bangor (M109) with two MH-53 helicopters from HM-15 Detachment Two during US-UK Mine Countermeasures Exercise 17-1. The bilateral exercise serves to enhance cooperation, mutual MCM capabilities and interoperability between the U.S. and U.K. Naval forces in ensuring free flow of commerce, freedom of navigation and long-term regional security. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Victoria Kinney)  

ARABIAN GULF

10.19.2016

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Brian Morales 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

The bilateral exercise encompassed the full spectrum of mine countermeasures (MCM) from mine detection and identification to mine clearance in order to assure operational readiness of U.S. and UK MCM forces. Encompassing surface and subsurface MCM operations, the exercise demonstrates the cooperative skill and will of the U.S. Navy and Royal navy to work together in ensuring security and freedom of navigation throughout the Arabian Gulf and adjoining seas.
“Mine countermeasure capabilities are critical to providing unfettered access to strategic and economically important waterways, for both naval vessels and commercial shipping,” said Capt. Eric Wirstrom, commander of CTF 52. “We are exercising well-develop mutual capabilities which address threats to freedom of navigation and international commerce.”
The PHOTOEX, planned to follow the start of the UK portion of the exercise on Oct. 10, involved bringing all participating ships and helicopters into formation. Participating ships included USS Devastator (MCM 6), USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Dextrous (MCM 13), RFA Lyme Bay (L 3007), HMS Middleton (M34), HMS Chiddingfold (M37), HMS Penzance (M106) and HMS Bangor (M109) as well as MH-53 helicopters from HM-15 Detachment Two.
Each past year, U.S. and UK MCM forces executed a series of MCM exercises in the Arabian Gulf as part of a cooperative strategy to develop mutual capabilities in addressing threats to international commerce. With three of seven critical maritime chokepoints located in the region and forty percent of the energy vital to the global economy passing through these chokepoints every day, closure of any strategic waterway will have worldwide economic and national security consequences.
“UK-U.S. MCM Exercise 17-1 is one of several annual bilateral MCM exercises which allow the coalition forces stationed in The Gulf to hone our skills and be able to respond to any mine threats,” said Royal navy Cmdr. David Morgan, Commander, RFA Lyme Bay and head of the coalition task group for the exercise. “By continually training together the MCM component of the Combined Maritime Forces can help to safeguard the free flow of commerce in and out of The Gulf.”
Due to the global implications of any mining of sea lanes, the conduct of UK-U.S. MCM Exercise 17, wholly defensive in nature, had stabilizing effects in ensuring freedom of navigation that reach well beyond these waters.

• Date Taken: 10.19.2016
• Date Posted: 10.19.2016 10:53
• Story ID: 212372
• Location: ARABIAN GULF