Singapore and US Participate in Annual Maritime Exercise

RSN Commander 1 Flotilla Colonel Cheong Kwok Chien and USN Commander Destroyer Squadron 7 Captain Paul Schlise exchanging a handshake after the opening ceremony of Exercise CARAT 2013.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral (RADM) Timothy Lo and the United States Navy (USN) Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific RADM Thomas F. Carney officiated at the opening ceremony of the 19th Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise at Changi Naval Base this morning.

In his opening address, RADM Lo highlighted that Exercise CARAT has come a long way since its inception and noted the commitment of both navies to push the boundaries of exercise scope and complexity. RADM Lo also recognised the tremendous professional value the exercise has provided to the RSN and the USN and noted its importance in bilateral relations. "CARAT Singapore is a vital component of the growing range of RSN-USN interactions and continues to play a part in enhancing defence relations between both countries," said RADM Lo.

Exercise CARAT 2013, which will be conducted from 15 to 26 July 2013 in the South China Sea, will focus on sharpening conventional maritime warfare capabilities such as anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities, as well as maritime air operations. The RSN, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), USN and the United States Marine Corps are participating in this year's exercise, which will involve a total of 1400 personnel from both countries, five ships, a submarine, a naval helicopter and seven aircraft from the RSN and RSAF as well as three ships, a submarine, a naval helicopter and an aircraft from the USN. Exercise CARAT 2013 will also see the inaugural participation of the RSN Archer-class submarine RSS Archer and the USN Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom.

Conducted since 1995, this series of annual bilateral maritime exercises aims to enhance interoperability and professional cooperation between the participating forces of Singapore and the US.

The Republic of Singapore Navy Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral Timothy Lo speaking at the opening ceremony of Exercise CARAT 2013 this morning.

Personnel from the RSN interacting with their counterparts from the USN on board RSS Intrepid during Exercise CARAT 2013.