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A combined Thai and U.S. military force participated in Exercise CARAT 2004 in several locations in Thailand. Here, Royal Thai Marines storm ashore from a U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion during a mock amphibious assault on a Thai beach.
Photo by JOC Joseph Krypel, USNR |
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"The success of this year’s exercise is clearly derived from the cooperation between Royal Thai Navy and U.S. forces. The cooperation is aimed to enhance both individuals’ abilities and tactics in order to be able to work together in all levels of military combined operations."
Rear Adm. Tawewuth Pongsapipatt
Commander, Frigate Squadron 2
Royal Thai Navy
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The Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Fleet, Adm. Vichai Yuwanangoon (left), accompanied by Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn (center), Commander of Task Force 712 and the U.S. Navy’s executive agent for CARAT 2004, and U.S. Navy Capt. Lothrop S. “Buzz” Little, Commander of Destroyer Squadron One and the CARAT Task Group, speaks with U.S. Navy Lt. Miguel Iniguez during an inspection of troops that concluded the opening ceremony of CARAT Thailand.
U.S. Navy photo by JOC Melinda Larson, USNR |
A combined force of 2,600 Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and Marine personnel and 1,400 U.S. sailors and Coast Guardsmen participated in Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2004 in several locations in Thailand. This was the tenth time the two countries’ forces joined in these combined maritime and amphibious maneuvers.
Exercise events included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) symposia, VBSS demonstrations at sea by the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter Mellon (WHEC 717), and symposia on legal issues, such as the Law of the Sea, maritime interdiction operations, and rules of engagement. Other events included amphibious operations with Royal Thai Marines from the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), diving and salvage operations from the rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52), and mine-sweeping operations.
CARAT Thailand included not only military operations, but also humanitarian civic action projects to help the people of Thailand. RTN Rear Adm. Tawewuth Pongsapipatt, Commander of Frigate Squadron 2, said, “This year CARAT will not only educate and give experience to U.S. and Thai forces, but it will also be beneficial to local civilians.” Rear Adm. Tawewuth was referring to several medical, dental, and veterinary community action projects, along with the construction of multi-purpose school buildings.
During the opening ceremony in Sattahip, Thailand, Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, Commander of Task Force 712 and the U.S. Navy’s executive agent for CARAT 2004, told attendees, “For the first time, two Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers — USS Russell and USS McCampbell — will take part. The U.S. task group is the most robust CARAT group ever and a symbol of commitment, as well as an example of the maturity of CARAT.”
Another new initiative included the Portable Allied Command, Control, and Communications Terminal (PAC3T) system installed on board His Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Taksin. “This system not only allows the two navies to communicate securely, but also provides us with a combined operational picture that can be used by our commanders at sea to maintain situational awareness of their units and tactical operations,” noted Rear Adm. Quinn.
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A combined RTN-U.S. Navy task group steams together during the underway portion of the exercise. (L to R back row and front row) U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mellon (WHEC 717), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), His Royal Thai Majesty’s Ship (HTMS) Taksin, USS Salvor (ARS 52), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), HTMS Phuttha Yontfa Chulalok, USS Russell (DDG 59), and HTMS Rathana Kosin.
Photo by AZ2 Andrew Ayres, USN |
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This is a composite story compiled from separate articles by Lt. j.g. Todd Spitler, USNR; JOC Joseph Krypel, USNR; and JOC Melinda Larson, USNR, assigned to CARAT Task Group Public Affairs; and by EM1 Elysian McIntyre, USN, assigned to USS Salvor Public Affairs.
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