World’s largest warship USS Gerald R. Ford trains with NATO ships in Mediterranean Sea

Europe, News, US August 19, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is conducting a series of maritime training missions with the NATO task group during Exercise Sage Wolverine. The exercises are being held from August 2 to 23 in the central Mediterranean Sea.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) is practicing warfighting skills and interoperability with the U.S. Navy’s carrier strike group. According to the NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) statement, the world’s largest and most advanced warship USS Gerald R. Ford offered the perfect opportunity for NATO partners to hone their advanced skills.

During the exercise, NATO SNMG2 ships Turkish frigate TCG Gokceada, Hellenic Navy frigate HS Elli, and British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan practiced various maneuvers with Italian submarine, Hellenic Air Force F-16 jets, a U.S. cruiser, U.S. destroyer, U.S. maritime patrol aircraft, and various maritime helicopters.

According to the NATO MARCOM, the USS Gerald R. Ford, with its air group of F-18 jets and airborne early warning aircraft demonstrated formidable capability by “launching up to 40 aircraft at a time at the height of the exercise”.

“All ships and aircraft went through rigorous testing via a diverse range of complex, multilayered tactical scenarios, proving the two different NATO task groups could operate seamlessly together. These included air defense, long-range maritime offensive strike, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, communications, replenishment at sea, and medical response scenarios,” the statement added.

*^{U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ford Carrier Strike Group sails off the Norwegian coast. (Image Credit: STRIKFORNATO)}*

In June 2023, U.S. Navy’s aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford came under NATO command and the Carrier Strike Group has been performing a series of maritime security activities and training missions. USS Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW 8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61).

Commander of SNMG2, Royal Navy Commodore Paul Stroude said that “NATO’s greatest strengths are its warfighting competence and interoperability, however, these do not just occur automatically. They require constant, dedicated hard work and exercises of this nature to endlessly practice and refine a myriad of common tactics, techniques, and procedures, and thus maintain readiness.”

Stoude added that “Thanks to Exercise Sage Wolverine and the superb cooperation with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, we remain very well placed to perform our core mission of reassurance, deterrence, and, if necessary, the defense of NATO.”

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 operates under the NATO MARCOM and is one of the four Standing Naval Forces. SNMG2 is a multinational integrated task group that serves as a consistent and prominent symbol of the Alliance’s unity and strength at sea. The task group covers various responsibilities including exercises with partners as well as performing operations during times of crisis and conflict.