The US and Singapore navies have successfully completed the 20th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore exercise, which was aimed at improving cooperation between the services.
As part of the two-week exercise, the participating navies conducted a range of shore-based and at-sea training events aimed at dealing with shared maritime security priorities, while improving interoperability.
US Navy 7th Fleet Task Force 73 commander rear admiral Charlie Williams said: "For many years now, our navies have worked together before, during and after each convening of CARAT and our strong navy partnership was on full display during this year’s exercise."
The US Navy, US Marine Corps and boarding teams from the Singapore coast guard worked on maritime security skills and training on new techniques, while building relationships through professional exchanges, community service events, receptions and sports competitions.
Williams added: "At sea, our combined task group accomplished a very aggressive schedule of high-end warfare scenarios, including a highly successful coordinated torpedo exercise, and they did it safely without a single injury or major equipment casualty.
"Not many navies can train to this level and deliver results consistently, but that’s exactly what you did."
The exercise forms part of CARAT and involves a range of bilateral naval exercises between the US Navy, US Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and South East Asia, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
US Navy Destroyer Squadron 7 commodore captain Fred Kacher said: "I’d like to commend both navies on the professionalism that was on display during this year’s at-sea phase of CARAT Singapore.
"Successfully executing torpedo firings and surface action group exercises demonstrates an ability to work together in a combined task group that only keeps getting better and better."
Image: US Navy 7th Fleet Task Force 73 commander rear admiral Charlie Williams addressing service members at the closing ceremony of the exercise. Photo: courtesy of the US Navy, photo by mass communication specialist 1st Class Gabriel S. Weber.
