Participant Atlantic Thunder 22, assigned to the US Naval Forces Europe, US Air Force Europe, the British Navy and the British Air Force sank the former USS Boone guided missile cruiser, during the live SINKEX – live to improve the skills of cooperation in tactics, attacks and shootings on a place at sea.
Rear Adm. Oliver “Ollie” Lewis, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-) said, “Submersible bases not only provide excellent opportunities to gain international operational experience in long-range maritime attacks. time but they also show the strength of our armed forces.” NAVAF) Director of Maritime Operations. “Most importantly, having world-class expertise in the techniques, strategies and methods we have developed and tested with our British allies not only ensures our weapons systems but ultimately contributes to NATO’s alliance programs.”
Exercise is not only a unique and important opportunity to develop and ensure the potential of partners, but also many ‘first’ exercises.
The Martlet beat the old Boone to a missile from Wildcat helicopters assigned to HMS Westminster’s No. 23. The helicopters provided the first laser targeting for the UK Royal Air Force’s fixed-wing units. use the standard Paveway IV guide.
A US Navy P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron 46 fired a long-range missile. The United States Air Force F-15E Eagles, assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron, rejected the joint strike directly.
Finally at sea, the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) struck ex-Boone with a guided-missile 6 (SM-6), the first SM- 6 of anti-shipping in the European American Act. Area of responsibility, as HMS Westminster fired the first RGM-84D Harpoon missile from the UK since 2004.
Also in Arleigh Burke, Marines assigned to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit provided critical imagery and battle damage assessment by deploying the V-BAT 128 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) vehicle. exercise (UAV), which marks the first V. -BAT 128 from an Arleigh Burke guided missile.
“Ex Atlantic Thunder has shown that British and American naval and air forces can combine to deliver an end-to-end kill chain of a sea weapon at long range,” said Cmdr. Ed Moss-Ward, commanding officer of HMS Westminster. “The combination of weapons, sensors and communications with our NATO partners is key to the collective warfighting capabilities of the group demonstrated through the exercise. The firings support the development of targeting and weapons capabilities of the Navy. by the Royal Navy, and they have provided the opportunity for practical training to confirm the techniques and methods of operation.”
The former U.S. Navy ships used in SINKEXs, called hulks, were prepared in strict compliance with regulations set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency and implemented under a major license held by the Navy. according to the Protection, Research and Spaces Act.
Before being taken away to participate in diving exercises, each boat undergoes a strict cleaning process to protect the environment. Aligned with the environmental policy of the British Ministry of Defence, intensive surveillance is carried out above and below sea level with specialized personnel using special equipment to reduce the overall risk of impacting the marine environment and aquatic mammals accidentally during SINKEX.
Ex-Boone is a decommissioned guided missile cruiser, which entered service with the United States Navy on May 15, 1982. It was decommissioned on February 23, 2012. Twentieth of the Oliver Hazard Perry class , was the first ship named for Vice Admiral Joel Thompson Boone, a decorated and decorated medical officer during World War I.
For more than 80 years, the United States Navy has deployed the Europe-U.S. African Naval Forces (NAVEUR-NAVAF) have established good relations with partners and partners, using a common base of values to maintain security and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF serves the United States Navy in the United States European Union Command (USEUCOM) and the United States Command in Africa (USAFRICOM). The U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and carries the Navy through a full-scale joint and naval operation.
