With the start of the PASSEX Exercise “Gringo Gaucho II” and following the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and escorts from the United States Navy (US Navy), the Argentine Navy continued conducting combined exercises aimed at increasing interoperability, practicing procedures, and coordinating various defense tasks.
In this regard, as mentioned yesterday, activities commenced with personnel transport operations from land via US MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters and Sea Kings from the Second Naval Helicopter Squadron. Within this framework, communication checks between the ships were carried out, followed by a rendezvous, or a close encounter between the participants, allowing for different evolutions and tactical formations in navigation until midday, as highlighted in the statement by Gaceta Marinera.
In the afternoon, after integrating the participating surface units into a task force, flight operations were conducted, leading to exercises of various anti-aircraft response options, considering aircraft type and angles/directions of attack on the combined fleet.
During the late hours of the previous night, Argentine naval units alongside the USS Porter destroyer executed various anti-submarine actions. In the early hours of the current date, a publication consultation exercise was conducted, involving communication centers of all participating units.
With the first light of the day, communication links were established between the units to set a new rendezvous point. Once there, until midday, close-proximity passage exercises will take place, with the placement of light ship-to-ship guides for simulated cargo transfer.
Regarding the participating assets from the Argentine Navy, the ARA Sarandí and La Argentina destroyers; the ARA Espora and Rosales corvettes; the ARA Storni, Piedrabuena, and Contraalmirante Cordero ocean patrol vessels; Fennec helicopters from the First Naval Helicopter Squadron and Sea Kings from the Second Naval Helicopter Squadron; and Beechcraft B200 aircraft from the Naval Maritime Surveillance Squadron were present. From the United States Navy, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier with its embarked air group, including MH-60 helicopters and F-35, F/A-18, EA-18, and E-2C aircraft; the USS Porter destroyer; and the USNS John Lenthall logistics ship participated.
Among the participating authorities were Defense Minister Luis Petri, who stated, “Military exercises are essential, allowing our Navy to train with the world’s most important Navy, as it did three weeks ago with France.” Also present were US Ambassador to Argentina Marc Stanley; the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac; and the Chief of the General Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Carlos María Allievi, among other ministerial and military authorities.
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