US, Thai navies pool forces

US, Thai navies pool forces

Phuket: The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the US Navy yesterday kicked off the annual Guardian Sea joint naval exercise in the Andaman Sea to enhance mutual capabilities in anti-submarine warfare while also improving information sharing between the two forces.

The RTN side is led by Capt Saman Kanthapong, chief-of-staff of the 1st Brigade, and the US Navy team by Capt Mathew Jerbi, commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7.

The exercise was launched in a ceremony chaired by Rear Admiral Kamchorn Charoenkiat, commander of the 1st Brigade, on board HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej.

R/Adm Kamchorn said the first joint Thai-US Guardian Sea exercise was held in 2012, and it has been held annually ever since under a joint Thai-US command.

"Guardian Sea is a bilateral exercise between the Thai and US navies," R/Adm Kamchorn said. "It is a marine operation involving ships and aircraft in anti-submarine warfare. It is a great opportunity for the two navies to exchange techniques, skills and planning on tracking and attacking submarines in various conditions,"

R/Adm Kamchorn said the Andaman Sea is deep enough for this training, giving anti-submarine units an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with a real submarine.

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