Pictures and videos: Interoperability between US Navy and Marine Nationale CSG in the Gulf

: Posted On Friday, 13 March 2015 08:00

Focus - US Navy and Marine Nationale Carrier Strike Groups Interoperability

Pictures and videos: Interoperability between US Navy and Marine Nationale CSG in the Gulf

The current deployment in the Gulf region of two carrier strike groups (CSG): A U.S. Navy one with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (CVN) USS Carl Vinson a French Navy (Marine Nationale) one with CVN Charles de Gaulle is the occasion for the two allied navies to test, implement and improve their interoperability while on theatre and while actively engaged in combat missions.

US General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , with his French counterpart General Pierre de Villiers on-board the Charles de Gaulle. Note USS Carl Vinson in the background. French Navy Picture

On March 8th, General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS is the highest-ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces) spent the day aboard the de Gaulle to highlight U.S.-French military cooperation and to discuss strategies for combating IS in Iraq.

Dempsey arrived aboard the de Gaulle on a U.S. Navy C-2A Greyhound. He met with his French counterpart, General Pierre de Villiers and other top French military officers on board the French aircraft carrier. The Charles de Gaulle and USS Carl Vinson sailed side by side during the visit. General Dempsey praised the increased US-French military cooperation around the world. The French CSG is under US command during the campaign over Iraq. "When I see behind me, sailors and pilots, American and French together, it does mean that we are building mutual trust at all levels" Dempsey declared.

For a few days Charles de Gaulle CSG will be the only CSG on location, until USS Carl Vinson is replaced by USS Theodore Roosevelt.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), front, sails alongside the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91). (French navy photo by Chief Petty Officer Francois Marcel/Released)

Interoperabilty between the US Navy and the French Navy is demonstrated on several levels:

- The Charles de Gaulle CSG is under US command
- The two CSGs are sharing their escorts
- French Navy Rafale M conducted qualification traps and launches from the US aircraft carrier
- US Navy F-18 Hornets conducted qualification traps and launches from the French aircraft carrier
- US Navy F-18 Hornets air-refueled French Navy Rafale M and Super Etandard fighters
- A French Navy supply vessel resupplied USS Carl Vinson
- US Navy C-2A Greyhounds conducted COD (Carrier On board Delivery) missions for the Charles de Gaulle

Picture Gallery: US Navy and Marine Nationale Carrier Strike Groups Interoperability

150301-N-RB546-073 ARABIAN GULF (March 1, 2015) Sailors heave around a line to connect a fuel probe aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) during a refueling-at-sea with French navy Durance-class command and replenishment oiler FS Meuse (A607). Mitscher is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony R. Martinez/Released)
150302-N-GW139-039 ARABIAN GULF (March 2, 2015) The French navy Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler Meuse (A607) transits the Arabian Gulf during a vertical replenishment with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eric Coffer/Released)
150302-N-KB426-030 ARABIAN GULF (March 2, 2015) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Red Lions of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 15 transports ammunition from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) to the French navy Durance-class multi-product replenishment oiler Meuse (A607) during a vertical replenishment. Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Vazquez/Released)
150303-N-TP834-140 ARABIAN GULF (Mar. 3, 2015) A French Rafale Marine aircraft of Squadron 11F deployed aboard the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (CDG) perform carrier qualifications aboard the U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150303-N-TP834-731 ARABIAN GULF (Mar. 3, 2015) A French Rafale Marine aircraft of Squadron 11F deployed aboard the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (CDG) taxis out of the landing area during carrier qualifications aboard the U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150303-N-TP834-959 ARABIAN GULF (Mar. 3, 2015) A French Rafale Marine aircraft of Squadron 11F deployed aboard the French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (CDG) launches from the flight deck during carrier qualifications aboard the U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150305-N-ZZ999-001 ARABIAN GULF (March 5, 2015) A French Super Étendard Marine aircraft from the French navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle refuels with an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo/Released)
150305-N-ZZ999-001 ARABIAN GULF (March 5, 2015) A French Rafale Marine aircraft from the French navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle refuels with an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Sunliners of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson is deployed as part of the Carl Vinson Strike Group supporting maritime security operations, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photographer/Released)
150308-N-HD510-044 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) A French Rafale Marine aircraft from Squadron 11F launches off the flight deck of the French navy nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) as the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the Northern Arabian Gulf. Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Fenaroli/Released)
150308-N-HD510-106 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), left, and the French nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) transit the Northern Arabian Gulf. Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Scott Fenaroli/Released)
150308-N-TP834-073 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, departs an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the Red Lions of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 15 on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) during a visit. Charles de Gaulle is operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150308-N-TP834-114 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, greets Rear Adm. Eric Chaperon, French Maritime Reaction Force, on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91) during a visit. Charles de Gaulle is operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150308-N-TP834-143 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, right, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, and Rear Adm. Eric Chaperon, French Maritime Reaction Force, talk on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91). Charles de Gaulle is operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150308-N-TP834-310 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey, right, shakes hands with French Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Pierre De Villiers during a gift exchange aboard the French navy aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91). Charles de Gaulle is operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)
150308-N-TP834-753 ARABIAN GULF (March 8, 2015) Rear Adm. Christopher Grady, center, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, greets Gen. Pierre de Villiers, French chief of defense staff, on the flight deck of the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R 91). Charles de Gaulle is operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr./Released)