US Navy completes COMPTUEX exercise

The US Navy's Eisenhower carrier strike group's (CSG) ships and air wing have completed a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) as part of pre-deployment preparations, the navy announced on 12 April. The group is now ready for deployment.

The exercise measured the strike group's ability to perform and respond as an integrated team during simulated scenarios. The Norwegian Navy's frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen also took part in the exercise giving the strike group the opportunity to operate with allied forces prior to deployment.

Eisenhower CSG is comprised of the guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze, USS Mason, USS Roosevelt and USS Stout; guided-missile cruisers USS Monterey and USS San Jacinto; Carrier Air Wing 3; and aircraft carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower.

Several US aircraft, submarines, and naval ships served as opposing forces in counter-proliferation, counter-piracy, irregular warfare, maritime interdiction, cyber warfare, strike warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and anti-air warfare exercises.

Capt Brian Fort, DESRON 26 commodore, said: ‘Nansen's participation, and the visit by Rear Adm Lars Saunes [chief of the RNoN], signifies the importance of training and operating with our coalition partners prior to executing high-end warfare or humanitarian assistance/disaster relief.’