SYDNEY, Australia — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) moored in Sydney Harbor on July 5, kicking off the ship’s second international port call on its Western Pacific patrol.
Operating under the tactical control of commander, 7th Fleet, the cutter is engaging in professional exchanges and capacity building with partner nations and will patrol and operate as directed.
The crew of the Stratton, a 418-foot national security cutter, is preparing for Talisman Sabre, a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command sponsored exercise that trains U.S. and Australian forces across high-end, mid-intensity warfighting scenarios involving a Combined Task Force.
Talisman Sabre provides an opportunity to conduct operations in a combined, joint and interagency environment that will increase both countries' ability to plan and execute contingency responses, from combat missions to humanitarian assistance efforts.
“This marks a significant milestone in our deployment as we will be fully integrated into the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet operations,” said Capt. Bob Little, Stratton’s commanding officer. “It will be an outstanding opportunity to hone our skills for interoperability and demonstrate a collective commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region."