FC2 Joseph Baccam keeps watch over the guided missile frigate USS Klakring (FFG-42) as the ship leaves the port city of Coquimbo, Chile, to participate in the Pacific Phase of UNITAS. Photo By Lt. Corey Barker

War games end in South America

By Lt. Corey Barker
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Deployed Public Affairs Officer

Warships from a multi-national task force attacked terrorist camps along the coast as suspicious cargo vessels were detained on the high sea and searched for weapons of mass destruction. A serious training scenario for a serious exercise conducted off the coast of South America.

A tough anti-terrorism training scenario was just part of this year's Pacific Phase of UNITAS (Latin for unity), the largest annual field exercise conducted in South America. The exercise also emphasized advanced surface and submarine warfare training, maritime interdiction, and more than anything else, coalition interoperability.

Twelve warships from the United States, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and Colombia on July 14 completed two weeks of advanced training off the coast of Chile, marking the end of the Pacific Phase of the annual UNITAS exercise.

The primary goal, according to the exercise planners, was to use real-world scenarios to prepare U.S., South and Central American naval forces to conduct combined operations as a fully interoperable force.

''The interaction and cooperation gained during UNITAS allows ships and crews from six countries to seamlessly operate as a one multinational coalition,'' said Commodore Bernard Jackson, Commander Destroyer Squadron 14 embarked in USS Fife as the on-scene commander of the U.S. forces. ''Considering current world events, this exercise is relevant and now more important than ever.''

FC2(SW) Jason Donaldson and FC2 Joseph Baccam stand forward lookout on board USS Klakring (FFG-42) as the ship leaves port in Coquimbo, Chile. However safe ports are considered, all hands onboard Klakring keep a watchful eye for any kind of trouble that could endanger their ship. Photo By Lt. Corey Barker

The scenario for this month's war game in Chile revolved around international terrorism and two fictitious countries that have seen an increased level of hostilities along their border.

''Blueland'' was rich in oil and mineral deposits but lacked sufficient military forces to defend its national interests and borders.

Bordering Blueland was the country ''Orange,'' a state-sponsor of terrorism that had been providing logistical assistance to terrorist groups in Blueland and other countries. Orange naval forces routinely escorted illicit cargo ships delivering fuel, weapons and food to terrorist camps.

Blueland requested assistance from the United Nations (UN) to respond to Orange's activities. As a result, the UN dispatched a multinational task force to maintain stability on the high seas and disrupt Orange's support for terrorism. Orange responded by rapidly deploying diesel submarines, aircraft and warships to protect its supply routes to terrorist groups.

The stage was set for a stressed confrontation of forces and a test of resilience and sea power.

The 72-hour war game emphasized the use of Rules of Engagement and advanced military tactics. Each force commander had a unique mission to fulfill and was given latitude to decide how best to achieve it.

Whether it was forcing hostile ships to depart a maritime demilitarized zone, or boarding and searching numerous illicit merchant vessels, or launching a secret submarine attack, all hands were tested to the limit of their professionalism.

FC3 Bobby Austin stands ready to lower the ensign as USS Klakring (FFG-42) leaves the port city of Coquimbo, Chile to begin the Pacific Phase of the annual UNITAS exercise conducted in South America. Photo by PH1(AW) Shane T. McCoy

''The idea was to provide a realistic, no-notice scenario that allows both sides to practice skills across all warfare areas from boarding operations and rescue missions to air defense and anti-submarine operations,'' explained exercise planner Lt. Joe Ross of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command in Puerto Rico. ''This was not just for the watch standers on the bridge or the Combat Information Center (CIC): all hands had to fight the ship.''

Fighting the ship as part of a fully-integrated multinational task force requires a very specific skill set that the Unitas exercise is specifically designed to flex, said Capt. Basil Read, Operations Officer for Commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command.

''The emphasis is on using Rules of Engagement, flexing Composite Warfare Commander roles, and practicing the kind of evolutions most likely to be seen in coalition operations, such as maritime interdiction operations,'' he said.

None of this is lost on U.S. Sailors who participated in the UNITAS exercise. Petty Officer Second Class Jarred Henley on board USS Fife (DD-991) said, ''Cooperation and training with our allies in South America is vital to the security and safety of the Americas.''

He added that UNITAS is an excellent example of nations combining forces and technology for a cause ''greater than their own individual security.''

In the days preceding the no-holes-barred war game, the UNITAS ships conducted a ''work-up'' series of drills to practice operating in a multinational environment. The ships conducted communications exercises to ensure that all of the participating units were able to converse via real-time voice and visual communications as well as live-fire gunnery and missile exercises.

One example: On the morning of July 5, the UNITAS ships lined up in a 'form-1' formation, a single file row of ships each separated by 1,000 yards. The lead warship, USS Klakring, launched a remote controlled BQM-64E aerial target drone from its flight deck simulating a hostile cruise missile to test the UNITAS ship's air defense capabilities.

''The BQM-74E aerial target can simulate high-flying or sea-skimming missiles much like the French-made Exocet anti-ship missile,'' said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Purcell, Officer in charge of the VC-6 detachment on board USS Klakring.

Adam McRoy, from HSL-44 Detachment 5 (Playboys,) walks the blades for an SH-60 Seahawk into place prior to launch from the deck of USS Klakring (FFG-42) during the Pacific Phase of the annual UNITAS exercise. SH-60 Seahawks play a vital role in the UNITAS exercise providing anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue support. Photo by PH1(AW) Shane T. McCoy

The drone is launched from the deck of a ship by using two Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) bottles which are essentially two droppable rocket propelled pods on either side of the drone that ignite giving the aircraft altitude before the jet engine takes over for normal flight, he explained.

Powered by a Williams J-400 jet engine, the target drone resembles a Tomahawk Cruise Missile with short, stubby wings and a sharp tail fin. The unmanned drone, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach .9, is controlled by a pilot onboard the USS Klakring.

''The jet engine and fuselage can be cleaned and reused up to a dozen times,'' Purcell said.

The brightly painted drone made more than 20 passes along the row of ships that engaged the fast flying targets with anti-aircraft guns and missiles. On the last pass, USS Fife launched a NATO Sea Sparrow missile and USS Klakring launched a Standard Missile sending the drone splashing into the cold Pacific Ocean.

''Fife's ability to integrate weapon systems, naval tactics and warfare philosophy was an interesting and productive exchange for the crew,'' said Cmdr. F.L. Ponds, commanding officer of Everett, Washington-based USS Fife (DD-991), U.S. Navy flagship for exercise.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, Rear Admiral Kevin Green is the executing command of UNITAS and responsible for changing the face of UNITAS by training the armed forces of the Americas to counter today's new threats.

UNITAS has recently evolved from a series of seven bilateral naval exercises with the United States Navy into three multi-national regional phases. The annual host of each phase rotates among the participants. The Pacific Phase host this year was Chile. The Atlantic Phase of UNITAS will be conducted in November with naval forces from Brazil and Uruguay.