The Colombian Navy’s submarine ARC “Tayrona” arrived at Mayport Naval Base in the United States to participate in the 14th edition of the International Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) 2024, according to images released by the U.S. Navy’s facility.
The arrival of ARC Tayrona marks the tenth participation of the Colombian Navy in the DESI exercises, presenting a significant challenge for its crew as the journey to the U.S. involves navigating approximately 1500 nautical miles to Mayport Naval Base, the epicenter of the exercise. During the previous edition, the Colombian Navy participated with the submarine “Pijao,” a sister unit of the Tayrona, both of which have been in service for nearly 50 years in the Colombian Navy.
Similar to previous editions, DESI 2024 aims to enhance the training capabilities of submarine crews from various South American countries, improving tactics with the support of the U.S. Navy. To join the exercise, ARC Tayrona departed approximately a month ago from the pier at Naval Base “Bolivar” in Cartagena.
*Image credits: Mayport Naval Base.
