Asia Pacific Defense Forum Spring 2005

Spring 2005

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Foreword

RIMPAC 2004:
Demonstrating Shared Resolve for Regional Peace and Security

28th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS XXVIII) in India

COOPERATIVE COPE THUNDER 2004:
Sharpening Combat Air Skills

MALABAR 2004:
Enhancing Peace and Security in the Asia-Pacific Region

Happenings

1 :: 2 :: 3

MALABAR 2004:
Enhancing Peace and Security
in the Asia-Pacific Region
By OC(SW) Rick Chernitzer, USN;
JO1(SW) Alyssa Batarla, USN; and
JO1 Todd Macdonald, USN


	Exercise MALABAR 2004 between the Indian and U.S navies increased interoperability while enhancing cooperative security relations between India and the United States. Here, a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team from the Indian Navy guided missile destroyer INS Mysore (D 60) board the U.S. Navy guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) off the coast of India during a VBSS exercise event. Photo by JOC Rick Chernitzer, USN

	Indian Navy pilot Lt. Kishore Birra gives U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Phil Castaneda, a SH-60B Seahawk pilot, an after-action report following the Seahawk’s landing on the Indian Navy frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31). Photo by JO1 Todd Macdonald, USN


	The Indian Navy guided missile destroyer INS Mysore (D 60) leads Indian and U.S. Navy ships during the opening day of Exercise MALABAR 2004 off the coast of India.. Photo by JO1 Todd Macdonald, USN


	The attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757) pulls into Goa, India, during Exercise MALABAR 2004.. Photo by JO1 Todd Macdonald, USN


	An Indian Navy Sea King Mk 42B helicopter from the INS Mysore (D 60) lands on the USS Cowpens (CG 63). Photo by PH3(AW) Joshua Millage, USN


	A U.S. Navy Gunner’s Mate aboard the USS Cowpens (CG 63) fires a .50 caliber machine gun at a target during the exercise. Photo by PH3(AW) Joshua Millage, USN

	Children at the Prayas Children’s Home in New Delhi pose for a photo with a U.S Navy member from the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet Rock Band. The home cares for 450 street children from the ages of 6 to 20. Photo by JO1(SW) Alyssa Batarla, USN

About 2,000 Indian and U.S. Navy personnel took part in Exercise MALABAR 2004 off the southwest coast of India. The October 2004 exercise increased interoperability between the two navies while enhancing the cooperative security relationship between India and the United States. Exercise events included at-sea small boat transfers; maneuvering as a group; nighttime underway replenishments; sub-surface and air events; visit, board, search and seizure drills; personnel exchanges; and the central event — a simulated “war at sea.”

Participating Indian Navy ships included the guided missile destroyer INS Mysore (D 60), the guided missile frigate INS Brahmaputra (F 31), the tanker INS Aditya (A 59), and the submarine INS Shankul (S 47).

U.S. Navy assets included the guided missile cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63), the guided missile frigate USS Gary (FFG 51), the nuclear-powered submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757), and P-3C maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.

“ The MALABAR exercises between the Indian and U.S. navies started at elementary levels of communication checks and basic maneuvers,” said Indian Navy Capt. C. S. Patham, Commanding Officer of INS Mysore (D 60). “Today, we have reached a stage where the two navies are in a position to exercise in a multi-dimensional and multi-threat scenario with the presence of major combatants, which include destroyers and frigates with integral helicopters, both nuclear and diesel submarines, carrier-borne fighter aircraft, and lastly maritime patrol aircraft.”

Capt Patham said the exercise was an eye-opening experience for him. “I thought during the first phase, when we met up at sea, here are warships, two ships meeting up with two other ships for the first time, and we only shared one thing in common — the white uniform,” he said. “But then we started talking to each other, and that was the most important thing because communication is a vital aspect of working together successfully.”

An example of this cohesion was evident in each exercise, according to U.S. Navy personnel, Chief Gunner’s Mate (CGM(SW)) James Burke and Fire Controlman First Class (FC1(SW)) Michael Davidson, who worked with Indian sailors on techniques involved in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations. FC1(SW) Davidson said they went over the proper techniques for boarding a vessel, questioning the crew, and keeping their own security in mind the whole time. “They [Indian sailors] handled themselves well,” said CGM(SW) Burke. “I don’t see them as any different from our own sailors . . . sailors are sailors everywhere.”

“ [The Indian sailors] knew what they were doing,” said U.S. Navy Boatswain’s Mate Third Class (BM3(SW)) Dominic Tintari, who was part of a boat crew that conducted small-boat transfers between Indian and U.S. vessels. “There weren’t any communication problems or any barriers between us. We all understood each other very well and got the job done.”

“ I learned more about diesel submarine operations working with [the Indian submarine INS Shankul (S 47)] than I would at home, because we don’t have diesel submarines in the U.S. Navy,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Kearney, Commanding Officer of the SSN Alexandria (SSN 757).

Sailors from both navies got a taste of what life is like aboard each other’s ships during the exercise. The Indian sailors aboard the USS Gary (FFG 51) noticed the differences and similarities between life on a U.S. ship and on their ships. “I noticed that there is much more of a working relationship between the officers and enlisted sailors on a U.S. ship. They work together as one team,” said Indian Navy Leading Petty Officer (LPO) Kesava Rao Hanumanthu, who worked aboard the USS Gary (FFG 51). “The U.S. sailors all seem to have more independence. They are told what they need to do, then they are left to do it on their own,” he added.

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