While yesterday marked the last day of activities between the Argentine Navy and the United States as part of the PASSEX Exercise ‘Gringo-Gaucho II,’ the day allowed for the execution of new combined activities. One of these featured members of the Tactical Divers Group, who were able to conduct a series of training exercises with the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG-78), one of the escorts of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during its 2024 Southern Seas deployment. The activities also involved the oceanic patrol vessels of the Patrol Division, as depicted in the photographs released by the US Navy.
The USS Porter (DDG-78) is the 28th ship of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers of the United States Navy. Currently, it is, along with the Logistic Ship USNS ‘John Lenthall,’ one of the two companions of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during its 2024 Southern Seas deployment, which is part of the voyage of the Nimitz-class ship that will deplosit it to Japan.
Since May 30th, upon entering Argentine jurisdictional waters, the USS Porter has been conducting a series of activities with ships of the Sea Fleet ‘… with the aim of increasing interoperability, practicing procedures, and coordinating various types of defense tasks,’ as reported yesterday, May 31st, by the Argentine Navy.
One of these activities involved means of the Patrol Division of the Argentine Navy, composed of the ocean patrol boats ARA “Almirante Cordero”, ARA “Piedrabuena” and ARA “Storni”, together with members of the Agrupación Buzos Tácticos (APBT) and the DVRC (Visit, Search and Seizure) which were enlisted in the days prior to the start of Exercise Gringo-Gaucho II, with the deployment of a detachment on board the ARA “Almirante Cordero”. In addition to the aforementioned resources, consisting of Argentine ocean patrol boats and the U.S. destroyer, there is also the participation of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter belonging to the 5th Maritime Strike Squadron (HSC).
As the photographs show, among the activities carried out yesterday, we can list the performance of navigation in formation while combined exercises were carried out where the Argentine Tactical Divers performed visiting, boarding, search and capture tasks with the USS Porter.
These types of combined activities between Argentine and US means and personnel have allowed ‘to improve capabilities, increase interoperability, and strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the US Southern Command area of responsibility through joint, multinational, and interagency exchanges and cooperation,’ as indicated by the United States Navy.
*Photographs: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas A. Russell.
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