R.G. Bradley Completes Group Sail, Exercises

By Ensign Bryan Koehler - USS Robert G. Bradley PAO

Group Sail 03-2, under the command of Commander, Destroyer Squadron Six, began with USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and USS Ticonderoga (CG 47) arriving on the Atlantic, Underwater Tracking and Evaluation Range (AUTEC) in the Bahamas on April 2.

The AUTEC range is located south of Nassau off the coast of Andros Island in an area called the “Tongue of the Ocean.” HSL-46 Detachment Six, flew Cutlass 472 onto RGB for the two-week exercise.

After arriving at the AUTEC range, RGB ran the Surface Ship Radiated Noise Measurement range. Designed to measure the amount of noise the ship puts into the water at various speeds and equipment alignments, RGB was the first ship to run the range since it was relocated from St. Croix to Andros Island.

During the next four days, both ships operated with the British submarine, HMS Torbay in various search, identification, and prosecution scenarios. RGB acted as Search and Attack Unit Commander for U.S. forces, which included Ticonderoga and two helicopters against the Torbay for one of the exercises. RGB and Torbay participated in a three-person crew swap, where Ensign Michael Dillon, OSC(SW) Gene Demers, and OS1(SW) Steve Foxworth transferred by small boat to observe life under the sea and the warfare capabilities and tactics employed by the British submarine.

Torbay also sent an officer and two senior petty officers to observe surface sector search, identify and prosecution. Both parties enjoyed this experience and further developed an understanding of undersea and surface warfare tactics as well as relations with our allies.

On April 6, RGB hosted Commodore James Martin, COMDESRON Six, on board to observe a chaff exercise, 76mm and Mk 15 Close-In Weapons Systems gun shoots and have lunch. Martin walked around the ship talking with the crew for most of the day before returning to Ticonderoga. RGB and Ticonderoga departed the Bahamas heading North to the Cherry Point operations area off the coast of North Carolina.

While en route, the two ships conducted several training evolutions. These included quick draw events, flashing light exercises, chaff launching exercises, emission control and darken ship drills, and a deceptive lighting evaluation. On April 7, both ships refueled from the oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203) before joining Commander, Second Fleet’s Multi-National Maritime Exercise (MNME) 03-1.

MNME 03-1 was a multination exercise consisting of 23 ships, and 3 submarines from six countries. RGB was part of the Opposing Forces where the ship played a combatant patrolling friendly waters. The scenario developed over several days into a high-tension standoff between two countries where the opposing forces followed friendly high value shipping, disappeared and forced the friendly forces to find them, and eventually led to open hostilities.

The exercise provided valuable training to both Blue and Opposing Forces and NATO navies working together. Upon completion of the exercise, COMSECONDFLT commended the Opposing forces for “their aggressiveness, innovative tactics and impressive teamwork in providing outstanding training for all services involved. You provided a tough, realistic challenge to the coalition forces that will help ensure their success in any theater of operations.”

Commander, Naval Surface Group TWO commended the Opposing Forces for providing the “highest quality training and ensuring the future success of coalition forces.”

On April 10, after completion of the exercise, RGB completed a night UNREP with USNS Laramie in particularly demanding weather and 12 to 16 foot seas. Both the Bridge and Deck teams under the supervision of BMCS(SW) Brian Skeete and BM1(SW) Thomas Green performed in an outstanding manner ensuring not only a safe evolution, but the receipt of much needed gas.

Upon completion of the RAS, RGB spent the next five days conducting various training evolutions to include basic engineering casualty control exercises, combat systems casualty control exercises, integrated training team scenarios, cruise missile tactical exercises, main space fire drills, and small arms qualifications. In addition, numerous no-notice 76mm and .50 caliber gun quick draw exercises were conducted at all hours of the day and night.

During this two-week period, several crewmembers worked on and earned their qualifications. Of note, ENS Brad Long earned his Surface Warfare Qualification, ITC(SW) Cannizaro earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Qualification, Ensign David Bader earned his CIC watch officer qualification, and GSM1 Michael Tandrich and EN1(SW) Thaddeus McCall earned their engineering officer of the watch qualifications.

RGB will conduct underway counter drug operations training with USS Stump (DD 978) and Afloat Training Group Mayport. It will then enter POM and make final preparations for a six-month deployment.