The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and the US Navy on Sunday 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 navies.
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,"
Participating in the exercise from the Thai side are HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej, HTMS Taksin, HTMS Long Lom and S-70B anti-submarine helicopters. US vessels taking part include the USNS GUADALUPE T-AO 200 replenishment oiler and the Los Angeles class nuclear-powered fast attack submarine (SSN).
R/Adm Kamchorn said the Andaman Sea is deep enough for submarine training, allowing an underwater vessel to travel undetected, thus giving anti-submarine units an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with a real submarine.
Naval personnel from the two sides are expected to gain knowledge on the use of ships and aircraft in anti-submarine operations. Since the US Navy has sent a real submarine to take part in the exercise, it will be of great benefit for the Thai Navy, he added.
R/Adm Kamchorn said the exercise will serve as a test of readiness for the Thai Navy when it has submarines of its own in commission in the near future, as well as tighten mutual relations and cooperation between the two countries.