The U.S. Navy Freedom-variant littoral fight ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and the Dominican Republic navy performed a bilateral maritime interdiction train off the coast of Santo Domingo, Could 5, 2022. The ships labored collectively to seek out, observe and intercept the simulated “vessel of curiosity.” They practiced two totally different interdiction eventualities, the primary conducting an air pursuit of the vessel with Wichita’s helicopter and the second intercepting using floor vessels.
In the course of the train, Wichita deployed her 11-meter rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) and MH-60S Sea Hawk connected to the “Brick Bandits” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 6, whereas the Dominican navy participated with coastal patrol vessel Altair (GC-112) and Boston Whaler interceptor patrol boat Duhbe (LI-164). The ships additionally practiced a sequence of tactical shipboard actions and formations and examined maritime command and management capabilities.
Commercial
“This train was nice coaching for our staff throughout the board,” mentioned Cmdr. Daniel Reiher, Wichita’s commanding officer. “Training interdictions with our companion nations allows us to be extra ready and in a position to work collectively effectively within the occasion of actual world operations.” Bilateral engagements enable each navies to strengthen tactical readiness for future operations, keep readiness at sea, and assist continued dedication to safety and stability within the area.
Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations to assist Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s mission, which incorporates counter illicit drug trafficking within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet helps U.S. Southern Command’s joint and mixed navy operations by using maritime forces in cooperative maritime safety operations to keep up entry, improve interoperability, and construct enduring partnerships to be able to improve regional safety and promote peace, stability and prosperity within the Caribbean, Central and South American area.
