Navies of the US and Cambodia have started the 6th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Cambodia exercise at the Royal Cambodian Ream Navy Base.
The bilateral CARAT Cambodia exercise, which is in its sixth consecutive year, aims to develop strong relationships and increase maritime security cooperation with the Royal Cambodian Navy.
Nearly 200 US sailors and 300 Royal Cambodian sailors will participate in the exercise alongside divers from Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit (MDSU), a Coastal Riverine detachment, US Navy Seabees, and the US 7th Fleet band.
The assets of the US Navy include the USS Fort Worth littoral combat ship, and USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50).
During the shore-phase, personnel will conduct hands-on training ashore in damage control, navigation, tactical combat casualty care (TCCC), force protection and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) techniques.
The sea-phase will see USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) embarked with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 staff and an MH-60R helicopter train, with a flotilla consisting of two RCN Stenka-class patrol boats (Stenka 1143 and 1141) and one Coastal Patrol vessel (PC 1108).
In addition, the exercise will include manoeuvring and surface gunnery drills, various maritime boarding scenarios, and a search and rescue exercise.
DESRON-7 commodore captain H. B. Le said: "We’re looking forward to getting underway during the sea-phase of CARAT with our partners in the Royal Cambodian Navy.
"This year USS Fort Worth will participate in CARAT Cambodia for the first time, presenting a unique opportunity for us to train hull-to-hull with the RCN on one of the navy’s newest and most agile ships."
The five-day CARAT Cambodia is scheduled to conclude on 20 November.
CARAT is part of a series of annual, bilateral naval exercises between the US Navy and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and South-East Asia.
The nations include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor Leste.
