Three NATO guided-missile warships are set to exercise with Ukrainian forces in the Black Sea later this month, a U.S. Navy official told USNI News on Monday.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64) and guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG-66) transited the Bosphorus Strait over the weekend and will join 16 other countries as part of SEA BREEZE 2017 starting Monday and running until July 22.
“The exercise is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, strengthen combined response capabilities, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner nation forces to ensure stability in the Black Sea region,” read a statement from U.S. 6th fleet.
The exercise, “will focus on a variety of warfare areas to include maritime interdiction operations, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control tactics, search and rescue and amphibious warfare.”
The U.K. Royal Navy Type 45 guided-missile destroyer HMS Duncan (D37) was seen heading through the Dardanelles over the weekend by Turkish ship spotters and is expected to join the U.S. ships later in the week.
In addition to Carney and Hue City the U.S. Navy is sending, “a P-8A Poseidon from Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 16; elements of Naval Special Warfare Unit 2; the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Ashore Support Team (MAST); a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST); Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 8; Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1; Underwater Construction Team 1; and members of the CNE-CNA/C6F staff,” read a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet.
“In total, approximately 800 U.S. Sailors and Marines are expected to participate.”
Currently, the bulk of the ships involved in the exercise are pier side in Odessa, Ukraine ahead of the at-sea portion of the exercise.
Sea Breeze 2017 is slated to feature more than 30 ships, 25 aircraft and 3,000 military personnel from across the participating countries.
The exercise, currently in its 17th iteration, has drawn protests from the Kremlin since Russia had seized control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014.
The following is the statement from U.S. 6th Fleet.
The 17th edition of Exercise SEA BREEZE will take place in the Black Sea from 10 to 22 July. Air, land, sea, and amphibious forces from 17 nations will participate in the U.S./Ukraine co-hosted exercise this year, which is intended to provide high end training for the participants.
SEA BREEZE 2017 is an annual recurring multinational exercise that will focus on a variety of warfare areas to include maritime interdiction operations, air defense, anti-submarine warfare, damage control tactics, search and rescue, and amphibious warfare. The exercise is designed to enhance flexibility and interoperability, strengthen combined response capabilities, and demonstrate resolve among allied and partner nation forces to ensure stability in the Black Sea region.
This year’s participating nations include: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
U.S. participation is expected to include the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Hue City (CG 66); the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Carney (DDG 64); a P-8A Poseidon from Maritime Patrol Squadron (VP) 16; elements of Naval Special Warfare Unit 2; the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Maritime Ashore Support Team (MAST); a Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST); Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 8; Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1; Underwater Construction Team 1; and members of the CNE-CNA/C6F staff. In total, approximately 800 U.S. Sailors and Marines are expected to participate
