With the entry into the territorial waters of the neighboring country, the USS George Washington aircraft carrier of the United States Navy (US Navy) has recently begun combined exercises with units of the Chilean Navy. Last week, the ship, along with its escorts, successfully traversed the Strait of Magellan, heading to Valparaíso escorted by the frigate Blanco Encalada.
Thanks to a series of photographs, it has been noticed that the aircraft carrier, along with the USS Porter destroyer, has started a series of exercises and activities with more assets of the Chilean Navy while sailing towards Punta Arenas. It is expected that, similar to previous activities with the Navies of Argentina and Brazil, these activities will help increase the readiness of the crews of Chilean vessels, which will operate under the highest standards set by NATO.
Based on the captured images, it is observed that the Chilean Navy has deployed the following surface assets for these activities, consisting of the frigates Almirante Latorre (FFG-14) and Almirante Blanco Encalada (FF-15) of the Karel Doorman class, and the Type 23 ex-Royal Navy Cochrane (FF-05) and Lynch (FF-07). Additionally, the helicopter deck of the aircraft carrier has been observed hosting helicopters from the naval aviation of the Chilean Navy.
It is worth remembering that this deployment of the US aircraft carrier is part of Southern Seas 2024, during which it will soon visit ports in Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, while heading to San Diego as part of its transit to Japan, where it will relieve the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier of its duties.
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