MUARA, Friday, 16 November 2018 –
The 24th series of Exercise CARAT, which began on the 12th of November 2018, officially ended this morning with a closing ceremony at Nakhoda Hall, Naval Training Centre (NTC), Muara Naval Base. Present as the Guest of Honour was Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) Rear Admiral Murray Joe Tynch. Also present were the
were the Acting Joint Force Commander, Captain Haji Mohammad Yusuf bin Hj Masron, RBN. Senior officer in attendance representing Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) was Captain Zil Husam bin Haji Abdul Rahman, RBN, Fleet Commander RBN.
The main highlight, the Sea Phase, ran from the 15th to the 16th of November 2018. This phase included participations from KDB DARULAMAN and KDB BERKAT of the RBN, BOLKOW BO 105 of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and USNS FALL RIVER (FLR), USS EMORY S. LAND (ESL) and P-8 POSEIDON of the United States Navy (USN). The Sea Phase has given the opportunity for RBN to test the operational readiness of Royal Brunei Navy’s command and execution of its operational plans and harbour practices
The consort began with Minefield Transit exercise, transiting through swept channel in which simulated naval mines were laid. The evolutions at sea also included two warfare dimensions; Anti-Surface Warfare evolutions (Critical Contact of Interest (CCOI) Tracking exercise and Over the Horizon Targetting (OTH-T) exercise) and Anti-Air Warfare evolutions (Air tracking exercise and Air Defence exercise in defending High Value Unit (HVU)). It is aimed to increase both navies’ and the RBAirF’s ability to Detect, Locate, Identify, Recognition and Targeting (DLIRT) of CCOI through the coordinated deployment for surface ships and aircraft and increase proficiency in surface ship defense from aircraft attack.
Division Tactics, Flashing and Publication exercise were also conducted which aimed to enhance understanding and communication skills utilising Maritime Tactical Publication (MTP) and Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) while the ships sail together in complex manouvres. Also in the exercise serials were Search and Rescue exercise and Medical Evacuation exercise.
Evolutions at-sea conducted this year were designed to address the comprehensive spectrum of maritime operations focusing on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The ability for both RBN and USN to effectively operate together at sea in any maritime environment demonstrates the rapidly growing partnership and commitment which developed mutual capabilities to address shared maritime security priorities and concerns.
