DVIDS – News – Cohesion at sea: Maritime deterrence and protection all through 2022

NAPLES, Italy – Within the Baltic Sea, Estonian troops and U.S. Marines rehearse amphibious assault drills, storming the seashore and shortly seizing targets in live performance because the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) patrols the horizon.

Farther south, within the Mediterranean Sea, a French Navy Rafale lands aboard the Nimitz-class plane service USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) throughout multicarrier operations comprising Bush, the FS Charles de Gaulle (R 91) Service Strike Group (CSG), and ITS Cavour (C-550) CSG.

Within the Atlantic Ocean, the Officer of the Deck on the first-in-class plane service USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) appears to be like out on the Canadian, Danish, Dutch, French, German, and Spanish ships in firm throughout Silent Wolverine, an train designed to check the service’s capabilities by means of built-in high-end naval warfare situations throughout its first abroad deployment.

By means of mixed evolutions like these, NATO Allied and associate maritime forces exhibited unparalleled cooperation and interoperability all through 2022. From the Excessive North to the Mediterranean, and in practically each physique of water in between, these navies and coast guards launched into a banner yr of sustained, uncompromising power and vigilance all through the European theater.

“Our Allies and shut companions like Finland and Sweden have by no means been extra unified than we’re right this moment,” mentioned Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) and commander, Allied Joint Drive Command Naples. “Our interoperability at sea delivers true warfighting benefit for NATO, enabling the Alliance to discourage and defend Within the midst of armed battle in Europe.”

The ships of the Harry S. Truman service strike group (HSTCSG), together with the Royal Norwegian Navy frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen (F310), kicked off 2022 with a bang and set the tempo for the yr to return with port visits to Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and Türkiye. Deployed to the NAVEUR-NAVAF space of operations in December 2021, the HSTCSG remained within the area till August 2022, flying tons of of sorties in help of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing and different missions, safeguarding the integrity of Allied airspace earlier than turning over these duties to the George H.W. Bush Service Strike Group (GHWBCSG).

The HSTCSG, together with different Allied and associate maritime forces, got here underneath NATO command and management for vigilance actions Neptune Strike 22.1 and Neptune Defend, in January and Might, respectively. Neptune Strike 22.1 marked the primary time because the Chilly Battle NATO assumed command and management of a U.S. service strike group.

The GHWBCSG picked up the place the HSTCSG left off, main the way in which throughout Neptune Strike 22.2 in October, the eighth section of the general Challenge Neptune sequence, which incorporates named actions in addition to vignettes inside Allied strike group coaching occasions.

“The total integration into NATO of highly effective Allied Service Strike and Expeditionary Strike Teams, and extra capabilities from throughout the Alliance, is an ideal instance of our deter and defend technique,” mentioned Rear Adm. James Morley, deputy commander, Naval Placing and Help Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO). “We exhibit by means of coordinated Vigilance Actions and routine operations simply how intently nationwide and Alliance army plans are aligned, as we exploit each alternative to enhance interoperability at sea, within the air, and on the bottom, seamlessly aligning army results with political targets.”

This versatile command and management construction and fast and seamless integration of Allied forces in a number of domains was a trademark of NATO operations in 2022. All year long, Allied strike teams, together with these gathered round plane carriers Harry S. Truman, George H.W. Bush, Gerald R. Ford, FS Charles de Gaulle, ITS Cavour, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08), and ESPS Juan Carlos I (L-61), validated NATO’s means to coalesce credible fight energy. Allied floor combatants routinely built-in into different nations’ strike teams, too, growing the tempo and scale of multinational strike group interchangeability.

Whereas these strike teams ensured the integrity of European waters and airspace, Allied amphibious forces additionally enhanced their effectiveness, working in quite a lot of climates and situations, from Norwegian and Icelandic fjords to the sands of North Africa and to the rocky seashores and islands of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. Although a sequence of bilateral and multinational workout routines and coaching occasions, the Kearsarge Amphibious Prepared Group (ARG) and embarked twenty second Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) sharpened their abilities in joint and coalition amphibious evolutions as they bolstered belief and refined ways with like-minded nations.

“Bringing the potential and experience of the Kearsarge ARG-MEU into theater fostered relations with our counterparts in Europe and Africa and offered a number of the greatest hands-on coaching our crew may have hoped for,” mentioned Capt. Aaron Kelley, commander, Kearsarge ARG and Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) Six. “A recurring theme our crew took away from deployment is that our Allies and companions are extremely proficient at what they do, and coaching collectively permits us to develop into stronger collectively.”

These evolutions paid dividends on all sides and laid a basis for continued collective enchancment in amphibious operations throughout the Alliance, all whereas demonstrating NATO’s resolve and dedication to the area. U.S. forces gained invaluable expertise working in European areas, whereas European Allies and companions honed their abilities alongside their American counterparts.

“Workout routines and operations with NATO nations, together with USS Kearsarge ARG-22 MEU’s participation within the Estonian train Siil, are invaluable towards enhancing our total functionality,” mentioned Commodore Jüri Saska, commander of the Estonian Navy. “All of our Allies and companions are dedicated to the safety and stability of the Baltic Sea area, and we validate that dedication by means of our coordinated work collectively within the maritime area.”

Quite a few U.S., Allied, and associate floor combatants, together with cruisers, destroyers, frigates and corvettes, delivered steady presence all through the area, whether or not crusing with a strike group, or independently. These warships, hailing from a number of nations, floor motion teams, and Standing NATO Maritime Teams (SNMG), manned the watch, 24 hours a day, seven days per week, offering unremitting vigilance throughout the continent. These ships joined an intensive array of bilateral and multinational workout routines and operations, underscoring the flexibility maritime forces provide to the Alliance.

“2022 has been a major yr in enhancing our maritime coordination with our many NATO Allies and companions,” mentioned Vice Adm. Aurelio De Carolis, commander, Italian Naval Fleet Command. “By means of our multinational train Mare Aperto, integration with Allied service strike teams, and routine operations with Allied models, we have now proven the true energy and proficiency of our mixed maritime forces. We very a lot sit up for persevering with the tempo in 2023.”

As floor ships sailed the seas, maritime patrol plane, submarines, and particular operations forces personnel offered steady maritime area consciousness, furthering warfighting benefit and enhancing joint and coalition experience. Excessive within the skies, deep beneath the ocean floor, on land, and within the littorals, these models and personnel achieved their missions with talent and precision.

In multi-domain operations, the power to synthesize capabilities from such all kinds of belongings and mission areas is crucial to total success. Altogether, the Alliance has illustrated their unmatched unity within the maritime area as they proceed to advance their interoperability and interchangeability.

“As NATO Allies face a posh and unsure safety surroundings in Europe, we face it collectively,” mentioned Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet and Commander, Naval Placing and Help Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO). “By means of actions, workout routines, and operations, our nations and instructions show each single day that NATO is the strongest Alliance within the historical past of the world. We and our Allies and companions stay vigilant, function professionally, and stand able to defend our nations and our Alliance.”

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with allies and companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of accountability. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by means of the total spectrum of joint and naval operations.