The United Kingdom is abuzz with a major military exercise on sea, air and land in which a U.S. Navy captain is playing a major role from the helm of a British aircraft carrier.
Navy Capt. John Kersh, commander of Destroyer Squadron 24 out of Mayport, Fla., is aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, commanding a task force of nine surface ships that are escorting amphibious assault ships during the Joint Warrior exercise, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tim Fox.
"We have done this before with the Royal Navy, but not in this exercise," Fox said. "The fact that [Kersh] is in charge of all the escort ships and he is embarked on the Ark Royal makes it unique."
According to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, Joint Warrior, the largest military exercise in Europe, is held twice a year. This Joint Warrior started Monday and concludes Oct. 16.
"It stretches all over the U.K. and there are Special Forces on the ground," Fox said. "This is actual joint operations — aircraft, ships and ground forces working together. It is different this time around in that there is a sizable land operation."
Joint Warrior includes 29 vessels from eight countries, four submarines and aircraft flying missions around the U.K., the Ministry of Defence stated in a release.
The U.S. Navy has sent the frigates USS Hawes, USS Doyle and USS Klakring to Joint Warrior. The guided missile destroyer USS Mitscher and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Leroy Grumman are also participating as part of the Navy’s contingent, a U.S. Navy release stated.
Other warships from France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Germany and New Zealand are participating along with French Army forces and U.S. Marines.
F-15 Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron and F-15 Cs from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath and Swedish Gripen fighter planes will be flying missions during Joint Warrior as well.
During Joint Warrior, French Army forces and U.S. Marines will be guiding 5-inch guns from warships to their targets at the Cape Wrath range in northern Scotland, Fox said. Aircraft also will be dropping ordnance at the range.
The exercise also involves landing 500 Dutch Marines and 250 French Army soldiers. Joint Warrior also includes anti-submarine warfare, counterterrorism, close-air support, electronic warfare and minesweeping training.
"It has been a long time since it was done on this scale," Fox said.
