Thursday, March 10, 2016

Of Regional Security Interest: US, Korean warships sail Pacific Ocean in formation

From Update.Ph (Mar 10): US, Korean warships sail Pacific Ocean in formation

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Warships from United States Navy Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, along with Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy Flotilla 5 have transited, March 8, in formation in Pacific Ocean kicking off exercise Ssang Yong 2016. Ssang Yong, which means “Twin Dragons,” is a biennial combined exercise conducted by US Navy and Marine Corps forces with the ROK Navy to strengthen interoperability and working relationships across the range of military operations from disaster relief to complex, expeditionary operations, the US Navy said.

The Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group with embarked Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 11 and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) consists of amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), and amphibious dock landing ships USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Germantown (LSD 42), and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67).

The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (BOXARG) consists of the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), PHIBRON 1, and the 13th MEU 4th Marines, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 1st Tank Battalion and I MEF Crisis Response Force Company.

Commander, Flotilla (COMFLOT) 5 consisting of amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo (LPH-6111), amphibious landing ship class ROKS Cheon Wang Bong (LST 686), Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer ROKS Munmu the Great (DDH 976) is amongst the ROK assets participating in the exercise.

Australian Army and New Zealand Army forces are also participating in the said exercise.

“Ssang Yong offers the U.S. and ROK the opportunity to test their ability to operate together as an integrated combined naval force,” said Rear Adm. John Nowell, commander of Expeditionary Strike Group 7. “Its significance in assuring interoperability between the U.S. and ROK forces is inestimable.”

http://www.update.ph/2016/03/us-korean-warships-sail-pacific-ocean-in-formation/3240

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