US Navy littoral combat ship sent for maritime exercise in West Philippine Sea

From Ang Malaya (Jun 18): US Navy littoral combat ship sent for maritime exercise in West Philippine Sea

The annual bilateral maritime exercise between Philippines and United States, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), was officially opened today in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. US Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth is scheduled to participate in the said maritime exercise.

USS Fort Worth will play a prominent role in the CARAT 2015 exercise series this year with many of our partner nations, US Navy Logistics Group Western Pacific said.

Fort Worth employs the surface warfare (SUW) mission package for her entire deployment which provides the capability to detect, classify, track, and engage multiple groups of small boats, and it can be configured with the Maritime Security Module (MSM) for Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS), drug and counter piracy operation.

CARAT 2015 public affairs officer Lt. Liezl M. Vidallon said the maritime training “will strengthen both navies’ combined capabilities in amphibious operations, special operations, surface warfare, and modern naval warfare; enhance information sharing; and will promote relationship and goodwill.”

BRP Ramon Alcaraz will also participate in drills to be conducted in West Philippine Sea. CARAT-Philippines 2015 will end June 30.