Category Archives: 4th Fleet

UNITAS 2023

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I had expected that at least some Coast Guard units would participate in UNITAS 2023, July 11-21, given the Coast Guard’s prominent role in 4th Fleet, but I find no mention of CG participation.

Also bit disappointed we don’t have a listing of non-US units participating too.

Below is SOUTHCOM’s summary of the event. The incorporation of unmanned systems should have been very interesting.

Overview

UNITAS is an annual exercise conducted in Atlantic and Pacific waters around Central and South America. UNITAS LXIV included maritime and amphibious phases and, for the first time ever, included integrated operations of unmanned systems in the exercise. The exercise was held July 11-21, 2023, in Colombia.

The exercise develops and sustains relationships that increase the capacity of our emerging and enduring partners’ maritime forces to achieve common desired effects.

Training Scenarios

UNITAS’ challenging training addresses key aspects of multinational and combined operations such as technology standardization and common operating procedures. Training included scenarios addressing electronic warfare, anti-air warfare and air defense, anti-surface warfare, live fire, maritime interdiction, littoral operations, and amphibious operations.

UNITAS LXIV consisted of two concurrent phases: at sea and amphibious. The maritime domain included the littorals which incorporates not only the ocean, but also the area inland from the shore that can be supported and defended directly from the sea. The majority of the amphibious training took place along the coast where marines and naval infantry trained in support of greater naval operations. The amphibious phase consisted of riverine operations and culminated in a landing from naval vessels.

Unmanned Systems training: In April the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations announced that the Navy will scale unmanned systems to the fleet level by operationalizing unmanned systems in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations. Specific to UNITAS LXIV, the Navy deployed and exercised several unmanned systems to enhance maritime domain awareness, conduct battle damage assessment in support of the UNITAS LXIV live-fire sink exercise, or SINKEX, and integrate unmanned system operations with partner nation navies. The deployment of multiple unmanned systems is new to UNITAS but will become the standard as NAVSOUTH/4th Fleet takes lessons learned to inform the Navy’s hybrid fleet coming in the next decade. Additionally, the U.S. Marine Corps employed unmanned systems in support of its Force Design 2030 concept and will refine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to inform the service on operational employment.

Women, Peace and Security Symposium: UNITAS LXIV featured a forum on the topic of women, peace and security. The forum is part of a global effort to support the contributions of women in the defense and security sectors around the world. The program is a cornerstone to SOUTHCOM’s mission of promoting security partnerships across the Western Hemisphere.

Participating Countries

UNITAS LXIV featured 20 participating countries: Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States.

Participating U.S. Forces

  • USS New York (LPD 21)
  • USS Cole (DDG 67)
  • USS Little Rock (LCS 9)
  • USS Pasadena (SSN 752)
  • USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10)
  • Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5)
  • Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 612
  • Mine Countermeasures Group 3 (MCMGRU 3)
  • Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures EOD Company 61 (EODMU 61)
  • Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC 22)
  • Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2)
  • Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE)
  • Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Eight
  • Meteorological Environmental Team (MET)
  • 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment (3/23)
  • 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion (4th AABn)
  • 8th Combat Logistic Battalion (CLB 8)
  • 4th Combat Engineer Battalion (4th CEB)
  • Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 (VMM 774)
  • Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 775 (HMLA 775)
  • Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234)
  • Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48)
  • Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112)
  • Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40 (COMDESRON 40)
  • Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (COMPHIBRON FOUR)
  • U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH)
  • Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
  • U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet
  • U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM)

Background

UNITAS I took place in 1960 with forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, the United States, and Venezuela. This year marks the 64th iteration of the world’s longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise. Additionally, this year Colombia celebrated the bicentennial of its navy, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s maritime forces.

WMEC 210 Makes Three Drug Busts, Seizing 11,550 Pounds of Cocaine–Additional Observations on Eastern Pacific Drug Interdiction

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USCGC Steadfast (WMEC-623)

Below is a Coast Guard News Release. It is in fact a pretty typical news release. There are lots of these, and I usually don’t bother to publish them, but this one has prompted me to make some observations.

USCGC Steadfast had a very successful patrol. In fact, she did as well as any National Security cutter might have done despite the fact, she is less than a quarter the size of an NSC. Despite her age, size, and relatively slow speed, she has the critical assets necessary for success–good boats, an airborne use of force helicopter, and a crew that knew how to use them. Conclusion: It is a numbers game. Not every cutter needs to be 4500 tons, because we need numbers and smaller cutters can do the job. (I do like the fact that the newer cutters are faster.)

Looking back on six months’ worth of Coast Guard News reports (60 pages) it looks like a disproportionate part of the Eastern Pacific drug interdiction patrols are being done by PACAREA cutters. It is counter intuitive, but LANTAREA ships are actually much closer to the patrol areas and LANTAREA has many more large patrol cutters (NSCs and MECs: LANT 25 / PAC 9).

PACIFIC AREA CUTTERS: 

ATLANTIC AREA CUTTERS:

LANT Cutters do all the drug interdiction in the Caribbean and Migrant interdiction as well but, in addition to the 25 large ships, LANTAREA also has something like 35 Webber class cutters (in addition to the six in PATFORSWA), with 19 or 20 in the 7th District alone. By comparison, PAC AREA, with 84% of the entire US EEZ, has only 13 Webber class, four in the 11th District, six in the geographically huge 14th District that must also assist the nations of the Compacts of Free Association, and three in the 17th District (Alaska). The 13th District, where PACAREA’s three 210s, that are apparently doing most of the Eastern Pacific drug interdiction work are based, has not a single Webber class. Conclusion: PACAREA needs more ships than currently assigned or planned. The Webber class have probably made it possible to move more MECs to the Pacific. In the meantime, LANTAREA should be sending more ships to the Eastern Pacific drug transit zone.

July 23, 2023

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast returns home after 70-day counternarcotics patrol in Eastern Pacific

ASTORIA, Ore. – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC 623) and crew returned to homeport, Friday, after a 70-day counternarcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific.

Steadfast’s crew disrupted the flow of illegal narcotics on three separate occasions during their patrol, preventing a combined total of more than 11,550 pounds of cocaine from reaching the U.S.

The crew steamed more than 16,000 nautical miles conducting training, law enforcement missions, providing search-and-rescue coverage, and conducting helicopter operations while patrolling the waters between their Astoria homeport and the international waters off the coasts of Central and South America.

While patrolling in the Eastern Pacific, June 9, Steadfast’s cutter boat crew detected a suspected narcotics-smuggling panga-style vessel. Coast Guard personnel conducted a boarding on the vessel, resulting in the interdiction of 2,200 pounds of cocaine.

On June 18, Steadfast was notified by a Customs and Border Protection Maritime Patrol Aircraft and crew (MPA) of another suspected narcotics-smuggling vessel. Steadfast personnel launched the helicopter, which was able to visually detect the target. Steadfast’s boarding team interdicted the 50-foot low profile vessel (LPV), a type of vessel specifically designed for avoiding radar detection, which make them difficult to detect. Steadfast personnel were able to interdict and seize 6,864 pounds of cocaine from the vessel.

During routine operations on July 9, Steadfast personnel were notified by MPA crew of a suspected narcotics-smuggling vessel transiting international waters. Steadfast launched a cutter boat with a boarding team and HITRON helicopter and aircrew to interdict the vessel. The target vessel attempted to evade the pursuit crew and began jettisoning suspected packaged narcotics overboard. The gunner aboard the HITRON helicopter used disabling fire to stop the engines of the smuggling vessel, ending the pursuit. Steadfast personnel recovered the jettisoned contraband, resulting in the seizure of another 2,464 pounds of cocaine.

The seized contraband was offloaded in San Diego during Steadfast’s transit home.

The ongoing battle against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific theater demands united efforts on all fronts. Between initial detection, gathering intelligence, interdiction, and case prosecution, the Coast Guard works closely with partner nations and other U.S. agencies to interrupt the flow of illegal narcotics and chip away at the influence of cartels.

“This patrol marked another epic adventure for the crew of Steadfast,” said Cmdr. Brock Eckel, Steadfast’s commanding officer. “The crew’s teamwork and dedication were key to our operational success and their camaraderie made memories of a lifetime at sea and in exotic foreign ports. In keeping with the traditions of the sea services, I am also proud to have inducted 55 pollywogs into the glorious realm of Neptunus Rex’s Kingdom as Honorable Shellbacks.”

Notably, Steadfast became the second known U.S. military vessel to cross the equator on the 4th of July, earning 55 crew members the title of “Star-Spangled Shellbacks.” Steadfast’s crew was able to participate in a line crossing ceremony that solidified crew camaraderie and upheld the long-practiced traditions of seagoing services.

In addition to the ship’s successes in the counternarcotics arena, Steadfast and crew enjoyed several new and exciting experiences in other areas. During their port call in Panama City, Steadfast crew members spent time bolstering relationships with the Panamanian Navy, participating in a volleyball tournament and a barbeque. One of the ship’s small boat crews also rescued a sea turtle that had been entangled in fishing gear, cutting it free and releasing it back to the sea.

Commissioned in 1968, Steadfast is a 210-foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutter homeported on the Oregon coast. The cutter and crew deploy along the western seaboard from North America to South America conducting missions such as living marine resource law enforcement, counter-narcotics and migrant smuggling, and search-and-rescue operations.

“US Navy ‘operationalizes’ drones in 4th Fleet’s UNITAS event” –Defense News

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Personnel from the U.S. and Colombian navies attend a demonstration of Aerosonde MK4.7 Hybrid Quad drone during UNITAS on July 16, 2023. (MC1 Hunter Harwell/U.S. Navy)

Defense News reports,

“The U.S. Navy leveraged air and surface drones throughout its two-week UNITAS 2023 naval exercise near Latin America, the first major event since service leadership announced the region would host the sea service’s second unmanned operations hub.”

The Coast Guard certainly has an interest in 4th Fleet’s use of unmanned systems since their area of responsibility (AOR) includes the Eastern Pacific drug transit zones and the Caribbean.

Apparently, not all the systems are in place yet.

“Some of the same systems will return this fall for operations and exercises in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean, he added.”

Importantly 4 Fleet is developing a “mesh network that compiles a detailed common operating picture of the region — then AI tools could help flag areas where potentially problematic activities are happening.”

Hopefully we will see video of the SINKEX as recorded by the UAS.

“UNITAS LXIV to begin in Colombia” –USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

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The US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907), Brazlian Navy ship BNS Bosisio (F 48) and Argentinian navy ship ARA Almirante Brown (D-10) move into formation for a photo exercise during the Atlantic phase of UNITAS 52 on May 4, 2011. The formation included a total of ten ships from the US, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina. (Photo: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steve Smith)

Below is a news release announcing the start of exercise UNITAS LXIV (64 if you are not up on your Roman numerals). There is no mention of Coast Guard participation, but maybe they “simply forgot us.” Think we can bet there are some Coasties involved.

Britain’s Royal Navy also sent one of their highly regarded destroyers, HMS Dauntless.

With 26 surface vessels and three submarines participating, I think this is larger than most of the recent UNITAS exercises. In 2022 it was 19 ships, one submarine, 21 aircraft, accounting for approximately 5,500 total military personnel.

This year will see an attempt at large scale integration of unmanned systems into the exercise by 4th Fleet.

July 11, 2023

UNITAS LXIV to begin in Colombia

By USNAVSOUTH/4TH FLEET PUBLIC AFFAIRS

CARTAGENA, Colombia – U.S. Navy and Marine forces are set to arrive in Cartagena in support of UNITAS LXIV, the world’s longest-running multinational maritime exercise in the world, scheduled to start July 11, 2023.

The Colombian navy will host this year’s UNITAS, which will feature 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and approximately 7,000 people from 20 partner nations. Forces will conduct training operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia, through July 21. This year marks the 64th iteration of the exercise. Additionally, this year Colombia will celebrate the bicentennial of its navy, a historical milestone commemorating 200 years of the country’s maritime forces.

“UNITAS is so much more than a two week exercise. All participating nations have given much time, energy and effort into the months of planning leading up to what will be one of the most complex UNITAS to date,” said Rear Admiral Jim Aiken, commander U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “Utilizing air, surface, sub-surface, and unmanned assets, and land units, UNITAS will provide the multinational force a challenging environment in which to conduct training across the full spectrum of maritime operations. UNITAS strengthens maritime partnerships, enhances proficiency and improves interoperability of the participating forces, which is why so many partner nations are taking part this year.”

As part of the U.S. Navy’s future hybrid fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations has tasked U.S. 4th Fleet to scale unmanned platforms to the fleet level. An addition to this year’s UNITAS will include the integrated operations of unmanned air, surface, and subsurface systems into the exercise. UNITAS’ challenging training address key aspects of multinational and combined operations such as technology standardization and common operating procedures.

“This is our first opportunity to integrate unmanned systems into our operations at sea,” said Rear Adm. Aiken. “UNITAS has often served as a test bed for technology, so it is appropriate that we begin our unmanned integration campaign to operationalize the hybrid fleet here in UNITAS.”

In addition to the United States, UNITAS LXIV will bring together 19 nations from all over the world to train forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability. Participating nations include Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.

Following the UNITAS LXIV Opening Ceremony on July 12, the in port phase of the exercise will feature subject matter expert exchanges, professional symposia, ship rider exchanges, and operations meetings. During this time, Marines and Sailors will conduct expeditionary training events in Covenas to include riverine operations and diving and salvage operations.

During the UNITAS LXIV Underway Phase, forces will participate in events testing all warfare operations, to include live-fire exercises such as a SINKEX and an amphibious ship-to-shore landing and force retraction.

“Marines and Sailors from across the United States will travel to Colombia to not only train alongside our partner nations’ militaries, but to hone the skills required to operate as part of a larger maritime force focused on sea control and sea denial,” said Lt. Gen. David G. Bellon, commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Reserve. “We will be exercising command and control from a forward position as Marines set up and employ Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations to enhance naval capabilities as part of UNITAS.”

U.S. forces participating in UNITAS LXIV include USS New York (LPD 21), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Pasadena (SSN 752), and USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10). Other U.S. participants include Patrol Squadron Five (VP 5), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EOD) 612, Mine Countermeasures Group 3, (MCMGRU 3), Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures EOD Company 61 (EODMU 61), East-coast based Naval Special Warfare units, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22 (HSC 22), Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 Detachment 2 (HSM 70 Det 2), Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), Fleet Surgical Team (FST) Eight, and the Meteorological Environmental Team (MET). U.S. Marine forces include 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment (3/23), 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion (4th AABn), 8th Combat Logistic Battalion (CLB 8), 4th Combat Engineer Battalion (4th CEB), Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 774 (VMM 774), Marine Light Helicopter Attack Squadron 775 (HMLA 775), Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), Marine Aircraft Control Group – 48 (MACG-48), and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 (VMFA-112). Finally, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 40, (COMDESRON 40), Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (COMPHIBRON FOUR), U.S Marine Corps Forces South (MARFORSOUTH), Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), USNAVSOUTH/FOURTHFLT, and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) are participating in UNITAS LXIV.

UNITAS, which is Latin for unity, united, or oneness, was conceived in 1959 during a previous era of strategic competition when representatives at the first Inter-American Naval Conference in Panama agreed to conduct an annual maritime exercise with one another. Prior to UNITAS I in 1960, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke reviewed preparations for the multinational exercise. He commended planners for their progress, especially in building compatible communication systems among navies, and predicted that UNITAS would build strong relationships among Sailors of the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships in order to enhance regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South American region.

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South is the Marine Corps component to U.S. Southern Command, is responsible for planning exercises, operations, and overall Marine Corps support for the SOUTHCOM assigned area of responsibility.

CG in July 6 USNI Fleet and Marine Tracker, No Mention of UNITAS

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The US Naval Institute News “Fleet and Marine Tracker” is continuing to plot the approximate locations of a few Coast Guard units. I first noticed this change in the May 22, 2023 edition.

The July 6 post reported.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) is underway in the Western Pacific.

and

Coast Guard Cutter Eagle departed Funchal Madeira (Portugal) and is en route to Hamilton, Bermuda.

The post again acknowledged the existence of PATFORSWA. I guess this is going to be boiler plate for all future Fleet and Marine Tracker posts.

U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). (Note this is a broken link–Chuck) PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships alongside U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain

What originally caught my eye, when I first saw this post, was the plotted position of USCGC Richard Snyder (WPC-1127), which placed her in the high Arctic, about 2000 miles North of where she was actually reported to be.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Richard Snyder, a Sentinel Class cutter homeported at Atlantic Beach, N.C., teamed with Bermudian authorities this past week in patrols that included a focus on deterring maritime drug smugglers, according to local reports.

The report also reflects the start of the UNITAS 2023 Exercise (have not been able to find the official dates) with six Navy ships in 4th Fleet compared to a typical number of two. One or more Coast Guard cutters are probably involved in the exercise. The only participant I was able to identify was USS New York (LPD-21). Reportedly the exercise will include significant use of unmanned systems.

Coast Guard SAR units, particularly aviation units, get frequent recognition. I appreciate that they are giving Coast Guard surface units some recognition in these posts, but the few mentions don’t reflect the bulk of the work being done by Coast Guard ships.  Perhaps a simple statement of number of large cutters and number underway would be nice.

“As it helps combat unlawful fishing internationally, NGA is ‘posturing’ for an AI-driven future” –DefenseScoop

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DefenseScoop reports that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is using AI to sort data for an application called Enhanced Domain Awareness (EDA) to provide maritime domain awareness information to US and partner countries to help them deal with Illegal, Unregulated, Unreported (IUU) fishing.

“Just to give you a sense of the scale and how much we’re talking about — there’s around 470 U.S. own space-based remote sensing systems that are available today. And that’s going to expand to around 1,400 by 2030, we expect. So globally, there’s about a seven-fold increase in those systems. So the limiting factor isn’t how much of the Earth we can observe or how often — it’s how quickly we can derive insights from that data. And so that’s where, of course, AI and automation comes in. It helps us increase the speed and our capability to react to military and human humanitarian response efforts,” he explained.

This grew out of a SOUTHCOM effort and isn’t limited to IUU.

“When you log into EDA, whether it is on the U.S. side or the partner-nation side, many of the projects that you’ll see in there revolve around different priority lines of effort,” Kurey explained. For Southcom, besides IUU “you’ll find other things like counter-narcotics missions, and things like that. But it’s all encompassing, and you’ll find information and data and projects that I mentioned before will support a tactical environment, operational environment, or strategic messaging,” he said.

The system is being extended to other users.

As the platform continues to mature and blossom, now other combatant commands — including U.S. Northern Command, European Command and Indo-Pacific Command — are beginning to explore how they can integrate it into their own initiatives for data organization and support.

“Coast Guard completes mission at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay” –MyCG

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Coast Guardsmen from Port Security Unit 307 conduct seaward security for Department of Defense assets and personnel at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, April 25, 2022. During the nine-month deployment, unit operations focused on maritime defense, providing more than 30,000 hours of around-the-clock waterside and shore side anti-terrorism and force protection. U.S. Coast Guard by photo by Lt. Cmdr. Glenn Sanchez.

Just passing this along from MyCG.

June 16, 2023

Coast Guard completes mission at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay

By Lt. Cmdr. Jeannie Shaye, Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer

NAVAL BASE GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 305 members conducted a casing of the colors ceremony at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay Tuesday, marking the end of the Coast Guard’s 21-year mission supporting Joint Task Force Guantanamo (JTF-GTMO).

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan presided over the historical ceremony and presented a Coast Guard Unit Commendation award to the men and women of PSU 305.

Port Security Units are part of the Coast Guard’s deployable specialized forces and have served JTF-GTMO as the Maritime Security Detachment (MARSECDET) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom for over 21 years. The Virginia-based PSU 305 was the first PSU deployed to Guantanamo Bay in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and this tour completes their fifth unit deployment.

“Thanks to the quiet resolve and careful watch of our Port Security Units for the past 21 years, the work our Nation has conducted here has been done safely and securely,” said Fagan during the ceremony.

Coast Guard PSUs and Maritime Safety and Security Teams have provided maritime anti-terrorism force protection for JTF-GTMO since 2002 as a part of the Global War on Terror.

There have been 39 unit rotations to Guantanamo Bay since the Coast Guard began supporting the mission. The men and women assigned to the MARSECDET collectively provided over 200,000 underway hours conducting around-the-clock waterside patrols and over 50,000 hours of shoreside anti-terrorism and force protection defense security to Department of Defense assets and personnel at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Upon the conclusion of the JTF-GTMO mission, PSUs will continue to remain an agile expeditionary force provider that play a critical role in protecting strategic maritime operations in an environment of increasing global competition. In addition, PSUs will participate in national-level joint and combined exercises to increase readiness and proficiency for the full spectrum of PSU capabilities.

“This is an exciting time for the PSU community,” said Capt. Matthew Michaelis, Pacific Area Deputy Chief of Operations. “As the focus shifts from a long-standing enduring mission, we look forward to supporting future missions that align with their diverse set of capabilities. Our PSUs recently completed three joint DoD exercises and are preparing for additional exercises overseas with DoD and some of our trusted partners.  The increased focus on interoperability will better prepare our PSUs to deploy in a joint or multi-lateral environment as they were designed, while also creating opportunities to evolve and uncover new and novel ways for their employment.”

PSUs are Coast Guard Reserve-staffed units that support our nation with well-equipped, trained, and organized expeditionary forces that can rapidly deploy worldwide for anti-terrorism and force protection operations or in defense of high-value assets. Eight PSUs are strategically positioned throughout the country and assigned to the Coast Guard Pacific Area commander in Alameda, Calif.

JTF-GTMO is a U.S. Southern Command task force responsible for the safe, humane, legal care and custody of law of armed conflict detainees; collection and dissemination of intelligence; and supporting military commissions, periodic review boards, and habeas review.

The MARSECDET responsibilities were turned over in May to servicemembers assigned to the Naval Station Guantanamo Bay’s Navy Harbor Patrol Unit and Marine Corps Security Forces.

Following the ceremony, PSU 305 members will return home to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

Exercises–RIMARCTIC? and Unmanned in UNITAS in July

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National Defense has a short post, “JUST IN: Gilday Calls for Massive International Exercise in Arctic.” It talks about doing an exercise comparable to RIMPAC in the Arctic. Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Michael Gilday is almost certainly talking about an exercise on the Atlantic side of the Arctic, in the Norwegian Sea, above the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap. If the Exercise were held as far North as the Barents Sea, the Russians would probably get very excited.

The Arctic Circle runs just North of Iceland and North of the upper end of the Baltic Sea. Credit: CIA

The Coast Guard would almost certainly participate. The Canadians already host an Arctic Exercise, Nanook, but it is very small scale. It takes place west of Greenland and the US Navy has not generally participated.

(I have serious doubts that this RIMARCTIC is ever going to happen, at least not as something on the scale of RIMPAC. Everyone wants to go to Hawaii.)

The USCGC Bear (WMEC-901) and allied ships from Canada, Norway, France, and Denmark steam in formation in the North Atlantic Ocean during Operation Nanook in August 2022. 

The post also talks about China’s massive investment in Oceanography and there is an interesting footnote. We have heard 4th Fleet would be start experimenting with Unmanned systems soon, paralleling what has been done in 5th Fleet with Task Force 59. Apparently, it will begin with UNITAS.

The Navy plans to introduce unmanned vessels to their South American partners as a part of the UNITAS naval exercise in July. Uncrewed surface and subsurface boats can monitor sea lanes and search for nefarious activities such as drug smuggling and illegal fishing, he said.

These “potentially unmanned [capabilities] give us, along with allies and partners —which is really key here — the ability to keep an unblinking eye on that kind of activity and collect data,” he said.

The Coast Guard fast response cutter Clarence Sutphin Jr. sails alongside an unmanned surface vessel in the Persian Gulf during exercise Eagle Resolve 23, June 1, 2023. Eagle Resolve is a combined joint all-domain exercise that improves interoperability with the U.S. military and partner nations, including Saudi Arabia.

Netherlands Navy Talks about Replacing OPVs with Light Amphibious Warfare Ships

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A Naval News report, “RNLN Looks At Low-Manned Platform To Augment Frigate Fire Power” talks about the possibility of adding weapons and sensors to lightly manned small vessels to act as extensions of a large warship’s weapons and sensors. Cooperative Engagement Capability probably makes this possible. (Incidentally the vessel shown in the leading illustration is a Damen design 50 meter in length with a beam of 9 meters. More here.)

But the post also discussed another program, a new class of smaller amphibious warships, expected to enter service from the early 2030s, that will also fill the role of Offshore Patrol Vessels.

Captain Van der Kamp also outlined the RNLN’s evolving thinking on a replacement amphibious shipping capability, dubbed LPX…these new ships are also expected to assume the patrol and surveillance tasks currently performed by the navy’s four Holland class patrol vessels…“We would combine these amphibious ships with the function of a patrol vessel to do Coastguard patrols in the Caribbean and counter-drugs operations in the Caribbean.”

The four Holland class OPVs were commissioned 2012 to 2013, so in the early 2030s they will be at the most 23 years old. These ships are similar in size, speed, capabilities, and mission to the OPCs. They have frequently conducted drug interaction missions in the Caribbean with US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments embarked and at least on one occasion using a USCG helicopter.

The other two ships being replaced, HNLMS Rotterdam and HNLMS Johan de Witt. are older, commissioned in 1998 and 2007. They have a combined capability to land about 1200 Marines. I presume the cumulative capability of the new ships will be similar. Each of them can also carry up to 32 tanks, but the Netherlands Marine Corps does not have any tanks, nor do they have organic heavy artillery. Their only armored vehicles are much smaller, so perhaps the replacement ships will not need the capability to handle tanks.

Why is the Netherlands Navy choosing to do this?

Going from six ships to perhaps only four is likely to decrease the total crew requirements.

It may be that the landing ships are considered better able to meet the disaster response component that has been one of the OPVs’ missions.

The Netherlands Navy may not see any wartime role for the OPVs, or at least no role the new LPX could not also do.

Nevertheless, it seems the changes is rooted in changes in the Marine Corps concept of operation.  “…leaner and smaller units that would unload further away from land.”

It may be significant that the new ships are referred to as LPX not LPDX. That may mean that they would not have a well deck. It might be thought they are paralleling US Marine Corp thinking that resulted in the Marines shedding their tanks and heavy artillery and the formation of a Littoral Regiment and a program to build relatively small Landing Ship, Mediums. On the other hand, given the way the Netherlands Marine Corps names their units, “Raiding Section,” “Raiding Troop,” and “Raiding Squadron,” they obviously see themselves as a raiding organization more akin to the British Royal Marine Commandos of WWII than to the US Marine Corps that seized and held islands in the Pacific. They do have a long and continuing association with the Royal Marines. In any case they are and probably will remain essentially light infantry.

If the new ships are to replace the four OPVs, then I would presume they would still need at least four ships. If they were following the USMC example, they may build a larger number of smaller ships, but I don’t think that will be the case. If they are to “…unload further away from land,” they are going to be very different from the beachable LSMs envisioned by the US Marines. The British developed LCVP Mk5c used by the Netherlands Marine Corps are big boats, 15.7 m (51 ft 6 in) in length and displacing 24 tons. If they are to be swung from davits, it will not be from a small ship.

I would not be surprised if the LPX program came out as four ships that look a lot like slightly larger Danish Absalon class (which can reportedly transport a company-sized landing force of some 200 soldiers with vehicles). Four ships that could each transport 300 Marines, each equipped with four LCVPs (or its replacement), a pair of “FRISC” (Fast Raiding, Interception and Special forces Craft) RHIB, with hangar space for a couple of helicopters, could replicate the transport capacity of the two LPDs in a more flexible, distributed, and perhaps more survivable force package. The resulting ships would effectively be modern high-speed transports (APD/LPR).

“VIDEO: Colombian Navy intercepts largest narco sub yet” –Marine Log

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MarineLog reports,

“…On May 12, the Columbian Navy reported it had intercepted the largest narco sub seized since its first capture of one of the semi-submersible low profile vessels in 1993…the substances seized were cocaine hydrochloride and had a net weight of 3,058 kilograms.

“To put that in perspective, in one of the largest narco sub interdictions by U.S authorities, in April 2021 a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) aircraft assisted the U.S. Coast Guard seizure of approximately 2,500 kilograms of cocaine from a semi-submersible vessel.”