The US Navy’s Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) has started a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) ahead of a planned deployment later this year.
COMPTUEX will include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) and embarked Carrier Air Wing One; staff from Carrier Strike Group 8 and Destroyer Squadron 28.
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Also taking part in the exercise will be the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), and USS Farragut (DDG 99) will also take part in the exercise.
During COMPTUEX, the naval units will participate in high-intensity, real-world training scenarios. Normandy will join HSTCSG in the deployment.
USS Normandy commanding officer captain Christopher Stone said: “COMPTUEX is the advanced stage of pre-deployment training stressing the integration between strike group units.
“It is a living, growing scenario which dynamically evolves as the real world geopolitical environment changes. It is a great reflection of what we may see on our upcoming deployment across multiple potential theatres.”
COMPTUEX represents the final pre-deployment exercise and will be used to test the readiness of Normandy and its crew.
The exercise will include a range of simulated combat situations, including aircraft, submarine and missile attacks, ship casualties and engineering and communication drills.
Stone added: “We will conduct multiple live-fire exercises where we will flex the defensive capabilities of the ship.
“We will also complete multiple air-defence exercises, which are important to Normandy as the Air and Missile Defense commander for the HSTCSG.”
The exercise will involve underway combat stress training to prepare the crew to handle potential hazards on deployment.
The month-long COMPTUEX exercise seeks to fully integrate units of HSTCSG and assess the ability of the strike group to conduct sustained combat operations from the sea.
It will focus on air warfare, strait transits, and responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks.
