Category: US Naval Central Command

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 55/Destroyer Squadron 50, responsible for surface forces across the Middle East region, welcomed a new commander during a ceremony at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, June 3.

Capt. Patrick Murphy relieved Capt. Dave Coles as commander of the Middle East region’s forward-deployed destroyer squadron.

Coles, a San Francisco Bay Area native, assumed command of the DESRON in November.

Under Coles’ leadership, DESRON 50 provided direct support to Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 150, directing multiple maritime interdictions of vessels, seizing an estimated $128 million in illicit narcotics, denying terrorist organizations the income they need to carry out their malign activities.

He also integrated aerial and surface assets to expand maritime capabilities, coordinating the efforts of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, Air Forces Central Command, and coalition partners to provide a robust presence in the Red Sea region. These efforts resulting in 50 incident-free Bab al-Mandeb transits.

Coles also built maintenance capacity in a highly dynamic environment when he enabled the U.S. Coast Guard’s Patrol Forces Southwest Asia to execute maintenance on all five of their fast-response cutters in a forward logistics location. This kept the FRC fleet 100 percent ready for tasking.

“[Commodore Coles], thank you for leading from the front,” said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, and the ceremony’s presiding officer, during his remarks. “Thank you for building trust and strengthening critical partnerships throughout the region. But most of all, thank you for your passion and relentless devotion to duty which serves as an inspiration up and down the chain of command.”

In his remarks, Coles thanked the men and women of the squadron for their dedication to keeping the surface force in the Middle East ready.

“What a privilege to work alongside the ‘Desert Sailors’ of DESRON 50,” Coles said. “Our insatiable appetite for every inch of competitive combat advantage that we can generate is our North Star. Material readiness, Sailor readiness, team readiness guide us toward the ultimate aim of victory at sea if and when we are challenged. I appreciate the staff’s relentless pursuit of these goals.”

Murphy, of Lexington, Massachusetts, assumed command after serving as the deputy commodore since October. A 1999 graduate of The Citadel, he commanded the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge (DDG 96).

“It’s a true pleasure to come to work every day and to take care of our Sailors and ships,” Murphy told the DESRON staff in his remarks. “It’s the people that makes this job so rewarding.”

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Strait of Bab al-Mandeb.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, BAHRAIN —

Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force (CTF) 154 marked one year as the partnership’s multinational maritime training task force, May 22.

CTF 154 provides multinational maritime training across the Middle East, centered on five core areas: maritime awareness, law of the sea, maritime interdiction, maritime rescue and assistance, and leadership development. CTF 154 customizes training to meet partner needs, enabling more nations to participate in training evolutions, even without ships or aircraft.

Since standing up last year, CTF 154 has completed nearly 30 training exercises across five operations: Compass Rose I and II in Bahrain; Southern Readiness in the Seychelles, and Northern Readiness I and II in Jordan. These events connected more than 135 subject matter experts with over 400 participants from 23 countries.

“Working and training collectively allows us to operate more effectively,” said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, CMF commander. “With CTF 154 we’re boosting regional maritime security by providing the ‘go-to’ training that partners and members need to keep the advantage in a dynamic environment.”

The task force conducted their inaugural event, Compass Rose, in Bahrain May 22-25, 2023. The training included more than 50 participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and United States and focused on first aid and vessel boarding procedures. The second Compass Rose exercise also occurred in Bahrain that December, with training on visit, board, search and seizure procedures, vessel security, and watch officer fundamentals.

In July, CTF 154 traveled to the Seychelles for Exercise Southern Readiness. The exercise involved vessel boarding, search-and-rescue operation techniques, maritime law and navigation. This was undertaken by field experts from Canada, Australia, France, United Kingdom, India, Italy and the United States of America, including experts from Seychelles Coast Guard and the locally based office of the United Nations on Drugs and Crimes.

CTF 154 conducted operation Northern Readiness at the Royal Jordanian Naval Base in Aqaba, Jordan, in October. More than 30 CMF facilitators from eight nations led training courses on maritime awareness, law of the sea, VBSS, search and rescue, medical evacuations, seamanship development, public affairs, and leadership development.

In February, the Task Force held its largest scale event to date, Operation Northern Readiness II. Approximately 150 participants, facilitators, and observers took part, including representatives from CMF, European Union Naval Force Operation, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research.

“Being the commander of Combined Task Force 154 is an honor for the Royal Jordanian Navy and for myself,” said Capt. Ayman Salem Alnaimat, who became CTF 154’s second commander in November. “As we celebrate a year of impressive accomplishments, I believe the task force has more to achieve. All CMF members and our regional maritime partners support our efforts, which promote interoperability, capacity, capability and cooperation.”

CMF is the largest multinational naval partnership in the world, with 43 nations committed to upholding the international rules-based order at sea, which promotes security, stability, and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

CMF’s other task forces include CTF 150 that focuses on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean; CTF 151, which leads regional counter-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; and CTF 153 in the Red Sea.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Combined Maritime Forces welcomed Lebanon and Albania on May 9 as the 44th and 45th members of the world’s largest maritime security partnership.

CMF is the largest naval partnership in the world, made up of a headquarters staff based in Bahrain and five combined task forces focused on maritime security, maritime security training and regional anti-piracy efforts.

“It is a pleasure to welcome both Lebanon and Albania to the Combined Maritime Forces,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. George Wikoff, the CMF commander. “The expansion of CMF brings with it skills and expertise from more nations than ever, and I look forward to being ‘ready together’ as we continue to set the global standard.”

The combined task forces include:
– CTF 150, focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.
– CTF 151, which leads regional anti-piracy efforts.
– CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf.
– CTF 153, responsible for maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb and Gulf of Aden.
– CTF 154, established in May 2023 to enhance maritime security training throughout the region.

The combined task forces’ collective areas of responsibility cover 3.2 million square miles of water, encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

A U.S. Navy Sailor died from non-combat related incident while deployed in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, May 6.

The identity of the Sailor is being withheld until next of kin notification is complete.

The exact cause of death is under review, additional information will be provided as it becomes available. All media queries should be directed to the NAVCENT public affairs office.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Naval forces from Pakistan and the United States completed a four-day bilateral training exercise, Inspired Union 2024, in Karachi, Pakistan, May 2.

Inspired Union focused on maritime interdiction operations, explosive ordinance disposal mine countermeasure tactics, techniques, and procedures, and harbor security. The exercise created opportunities for improving readiness, enhancing maritime security and stability, and promoting the freedom of navigation in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

“Exercises like Inspired Union continue to improve our readiness and interoperability in the maritime domain,” said CAPT Robert “Paco” Porter, Commodore of Task Force 52. “Pakistan is an important partner and we are honored for their hospitality both during this exercise and the lead up to it. We look forward to future opportunities to work with an important partner like Pakistan.”

A U.S. Coast Guard maritime engagement team, a U.S. Marine Corps fleet anti-terrorism security team, a civil affairs team, and an expeditionary mine countermeasures and diving team, took part in Inspired Union.

As a capstone bilateral exercise, Inspired Union fosters collaboration between Pakistan and the U.S. armed forces, in an effort to uphold the rules-based international order that supports the free flow of commerce in strategically important waters in the region.

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses nearly 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea, parts of the Indian Ocean and three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal and Bab al-Mandeb.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and others gathered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain April 24 to observe the 20th anniversary of the lives lost when three USS Firebolt crewmembers thwarted an attack on critical Iraqi oil platforms during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The ceremony honors the lives of U.S. Navy Sailors Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Michael J. Pernaselli and Signalman 2nd Class Christopher E. Watts, and U.S. Coast Guard Damage Controlman 3rd Class Nathan B. Bruckenthal, who died while conducting maritime security operations in the Arabian Gulf on April 24, 2004. The three were stationed aboard the Cyclone-class patrol coastal boat USS Firebolt (PC 10).

The three were killed while intercepting a suspicious dhow headed for the Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal in the Northern Arabian Gulf. As their rigid-hull inflatable boat neared the dhow, the vessel exploded in an apparent suicide attack. This action prevented the dhow from hitting its intended target, but caused the RHIB to capsize, leading to the three service members losing their lives in the process.

“Their heroism in the waters of the North Arabian Gulf 20 years ago today inspires us still,” said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, who spoke at the ceremony. “Even as we speak, Sailors not unlike these three young men are facing down anti-ship ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones in the Red Sea. Like these heroes from Firebolt, they sail unflinchingly into harm’s way, understanding theirs is no ‘routine mission.’”  

Wikoff also noted that today, Sailors and Coastguardsmen in the Arabian Gulf and the Northern Arabian Sea provide assistance to mariners when needed, and board suspect vessels to ensure regional maritime security, interdicting illicit drug trafficking, and seizing weapons intended for malign actors.

“They, too, know it’s no ‘routine mission,’” he said.

The ceremony also included recapping the lives and accomplishments of the three service members as well as the playing of Taps and tolling a bell 11 times, symbolic of church bells which rang on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 to signal the end of the First World War.

Firebolt, which was decommissioned in February 2022, was commissioned in June 1995. It began conducting coastal patrol operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet in 2003. Prior to operating from Bahrain, the ship helped secure New York City’s harbor immediately following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Months later, Firebolt conducted coastal patrols in the Arabian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse comprises of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) hosted senior military leaders during a two-day maritime security conference held onboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, April 16-17.

CMF member and partner nation delegates and naval leaders were among the guests attending the annual maritime security conference, hosted by the world’s largest naval partnership.

Calling CMF a “tremendously rewarding and diverse coalition,” Vice Adm. George Wikoff, CMF commander, told participants during his opening remarks their combined strengths should be channeled with purpose.

“We can all agree on the importance of maritime security throughout this region,” he said. “As Commander of the CMF, I see myself as the CEO and you are the board of directors. And as that board of directors, you tell me what we want to achieve, and it is up to me and the CMF organization to deliver.”

To that end, the conference attendees reviewed initiatives and accomplishments over the last 12 months, looked at the year ahead, and coordinated plans for enhancing regional maritime security and partnerships in the future.

Additionally, representatives from European Union Naval Forces provided updates on operations ATALANTA and ASPIDES. ATALANTA is an ongoing counter-piracy military operation off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean, established in December 2008. ASPIDES is a European Union defensive maritime security operation established in February 2024 in response to Houthi action in the Southern Red Sea.

“It’s fantastic to see so many representatives from CMF partners across the world here in Bahrain,” said U.K. Royal Navy Commodore Mark Anderson, CBE, Deputy Commander of

CMF. “The maritime security conference represents the most senior governance level for CMF and is an opportunity for our member and partner nations’ senior officers to witness the work of the teams here, including their own.”

CMF includes five combined task forces that focus on counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, maritime security enhancement training, encouraging regional cooperation and working with other partners to strengthen maritime capabilities.

The multinational partnership is headquartered in Bahrain and consists of 43 member and partner nations whose forces operate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean. CMF’s nations are united in upholding international rules-based order to protect the free flow of commerce, ensure regional maritime security and deter illicit activity by non-state actors.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

Combined Maritime Forces welcomed Finland as the 43rd member of the world’s largest maritime security partnership, April 17.

“It is a pleasure to officially welcome Finland to the Combined Maritime Forces,” said Vice Adm. George Wikoff, CMF commander. “The Finns bring to the largest international naval coalition a long history of maritime professionalism. They will enhance our already impressive partnership here in the Middle East.”

CMF is comprised of a headquarters staff and five combined task forces focusing on defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment. The naval partnership upholds the international rules-based order by supporting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

With 43 nations, CMF is the largest naval partnership in the world. Task forces include CTF 150, focused on maritime security in the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and eastern Gulf of Aden; CTF 151, which leads regional anti-piracy efforts; CTF 152, dedicated to maritime security in the Arabian Gulf; CTF 153, responsible for maritime security in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and western Gulf of Aden; and CTF 154, established in May to enhance maritime security training throughout the region.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

The Indian Navy Ship INS Talwar, operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, conducted its first interdiction of illicit narcotics as a member of Combined Maritime Forces, seizing 940 kg of drugs in the Arabian Sea, April 13.

Talwar, a Talwar-class frigate, seized 453 kg of methamphetamines, 416 kg of hash and 71 kg of heroin from a dhow as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda.

The Indian Navy joined CMF last November.

“I commend the crew of INS Talwar for their efforts throughout this Focused Operation and their hard work has paid off with this seizure of 940 kg of drugs,” said Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews, Commander, Combined Task Force 150. “This seizure, the fourth of this Focused Operation, demonstrates the effectiveness and professionalism of CMF, and of the Indian Navy, in deterring and disrupting criminal and terrorist activities at sea.”

Crimson Barracuda, which concluded on April 15, focused on countering terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to conduct smuggling operations in the Western Indian Ocean region.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 42-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

Source: United States Naval Central Command

MANAMA, Bahrain —

The Royal Navy’s HMS Lancaster (F229), operating in support of the Canadian-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, carried out its second successful drug seizure in as many days, seizing 2,000 kg of hashish from a dhow in the Arabian Sea, April 11.

Lancaster, a Duke-class Type 23 frigate, seized the illicit drugs as part of Focused Operation Crimson Barracuda in an effort to counter illegal drug smuggling, who’s profits often goes to funding terrorist activity. In the two days they have participated in Crimson Barracuda, the crew has interdicted a total of 3,300 kg of illicit narcotics.

On April 10, Lancaster seized 800 kg of hashish, 390 kg of methamphetamines and 110 kg of heroin from another dhow in the Arabian Sea.

“For the second day in a row, CTF 150 and the crew of HMS Lancaster prevented harmful and illicit drugs from reaching their final destination,” said Royal Canadian Navy Capt. Colin Matthews, Commander, Combined Task Force 150. “Once again, we have prevented criminal and terrorist organizations from profiting off the sale of these drugs to fund their activities. I am incredibly proud of this team for all that they have accomplished in such a short window.”

Crimson Barracuda counters terrorist and criminal organizations’ use of the high seas to smuggle narcotics, weapons, and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.

Combined Maritime Forces is a 42-nation naval partnership upholding the international rules-based order by promoting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.