This morning, May 29th, the Argentine Navy Sea Fleet completed the final preparations for its participation in Exercise Gringo-Gaucho II with the United States Navy (US Navy). Subsequently, the units involved in the combined activities departed from Mar del Plata, heading to the rendezvous point with the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its two escorts: the destroyer USS Porter and the logistics ship USNS John Lenthall.
Given the importance of this deployment, the Argentine Navy has prepared its main surface vessels, including MEKO 360 destroyers, MEKO 140 corvettes, and OPV-90 ocean patrol vessels, which were anchored off the coast of Mar del Plata.
Yesterday, various preparatory exercises were recorded in anticipation of operations with the USS George Washington (CVN 73) on May 30 and 31. For this purpose, the Fleet conducted navigations through restricted waters and individual activities, including “abandonment drills, firefighting, damage control, and search and rescue at sea, along with communications in English and distance-keeping maneuvers. A tactical encounter was also carried out between the ships of the Fleet and the Maritime Patrol Division stationed at the Mar del Plata Naval Base,” according to an official report by the Navy.
Lastly, as the USS George Washington (CVN 73) and its two escorts enter Argentine territorial waters, this group of US Navy ships will be met by the MEKO 360 destroyer ARA La Argentina, which will escort them to the rendezvous point with the rest of the Fleet to commence the PASSEX Gringo-Gaucho II exercise.
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