Rear
Adm. Eric Chaperon, French Task Force 473 commander, and Rear Adm. Chris
Grady, Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group commander and Commander Task
Force 50, met aboard French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle (R-91)
to discuss interoperability and integration between the two navies,
April 8. |
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)
|
Charles
De Gaulle and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) have been conducting joint combat
operations in the region since Feb. 22 as a part of Operation Inherent
Resolve to degrade and ultimately defeat the fighting forces of terrorist
organization Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, known as ISIS.
"We operated with the USS Harry S. Truman last year for exercises,"
said Chaperon. "This year it is for real combat operations. Compared
to last year, we have achieved much progress in integration (with Carl
Vinson), specifically in the areas of logistics, computer information
systems, and intelligence."
The Charles De Gaulle and Carl Vinson strike groups fly over 100 combined
total sorties a day, with Charles De Gaulle flying 15 combat sorties
a day using her Super-Etendard and Rafale fighter jet aircraft. Carl
Vinson flies up to 25 combat sorties a day. The balance of sorties are
high-end training to sharpen pilot skills.
"It has been a great honor to work with Rear Adm. Chaperon and
his team over the past six weeks," said Grady. "The highlight
of our deployment thus far has been the integration with the Charles
De Gaulle strike group, and we now have a model we can look to as we
respond to other contingencies around the world."
Charles De Gaulle has taken on many aspects of operations during its
time in the region. Its carrier strike group assumed the primary role
of combat support during periods of maintenance, replenishment-at-sea,
or port visit opportunities for Carl Vinson.
The French carrier will assume primary operational duty when the Carl
Vinson and Theodore Roosevelt Strike Groups conduct turnover in the
coming days, Chaperon said.
"The interoperability between our two navies is meaningful for
the future in burden sharing and common contribution to high-intensity
operations," Chaperon stated. "Our interoperability is about
equipment, know-how and procedures. But it is also about common knowledge,
trust, and friendship."
Grady also pointed out the many benefits of dual-carrier operations
between the two navies.
"While we have very been successful in the tactical realm, the
merging of the two strike groups, and the synergies that two maritime
powers bring to Operation Inherent Resolve, also has immense operational
and strategic benefits," he stated.
"Maritime striking power off the deck of an aircraft carrier provides
our government leadership with off-shore options," Grady continued.
"About a third of the tactical sorties flown in support of Operation
Inherent Resolve, half of the command and control sorties and nearly
all of the electronic attack sorties come from the Navy. We bring quite
a punch indeed. At the outset of Operation Inherent Resolve, power projection
from the sea was the only option because no permissions from partner
nations are required to act from 98,000 tons and 4.5 acres of sovereign
U.S. territory."
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet
area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, strike operations
in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater
security cooperation efforts in the region. |
