UK’s HMS Ocean trains in ASW exercise
The Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities have been put through their paces during Exercise Deep Blue II in the Mediterranean in July.
HMS Ocean took the lead in the ten day multi-national exercise that included ships and aircraft from the UK, US and France.
The exercise provided the opportunity for the participants to develop and practice anti-submarine warfare tactics as part of a maritime task group. This included giving the Royal Navy the chance to evolve the necessary skills to protect the incoming Queen Elizabeth aircraft carriers from the submarine threat.
HMS Ocean embarked a tailored air group of Fleet Air Arm aircraft for the first time including Merlin, Sea King and Lynx helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron (NAS), 849 NAS and 815 NAS, which were used to hunt for deep sea threats.
Capt Steve Moorhouse, the commanding officer of HMS Ocean and the commander of the task group for Exercise Deep Blue II, said: ‘I am delighted to have taken command of this multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise and am particularly pleased to have a Royal Navy tailored air group of seven aircraft embarked from Culdrose and Yeovilton.
‘The work the US, French and UK are undertaking on this exercise will play a key role in the development of skills and procedures we will need when operating our new aircraft carriers as part of a maritime task group.’
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