The USS Harry S. Truman and HMS Prince of Wales are currently operating side by side in the waters of the North Sea as part of Neptune Strike 2024, a NATO vigilance activity.
The collaboration highlights the continued commitment of the United States and the United Kingdom to working together with NATO Allies to enhance combined force interoperability.
As part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), the American aircraft carrier is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. This mission supports U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa to defend the interests of the U.S., its Allies, and partners across the region. In the North Sea, the Harry S. Truman is integrating with NATO command and control structures, demonstrating joint maritime strength.
British, American, and Italian aircraft carriers, along with American and Turkish assault ships plus a range of warships and support vessels, are taking part in Exercise NEPTUNE STRIKE 2024-2 to enhance NATO’s ability to defend strategic maritime chokepoints and deter potential threats.
The exercise, running from 24th to 31st October, features the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales, the U.S. Navy’s USS Harry S. Truman, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, and Italy’s ITS Cavour, operating across the Mediterranean, North, and Baltic Seas.
#NATO Neptune Strike’s 2nd exercise in 2024 starts today, training Air-Sea integration in the Mediterranean & Adriatic Sea up to the North & Baltic Sea🇪🇪🇱🇹🇱🇻
With the 🇺🇸 USS Harry S Truman & 🇬🇧 HMS Prince Of Wales in the North. While 🇮🇹 ITS Cavour & 🇺🇸🇹🇷 Navy sails in the south pic.twitter.com/k2njmilwWd
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) October 24, 2024
The exercise, led by NATO’s Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), showcases the complex integration of high-end maritime strike capabilities across multiple operational areas, with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation and defence across strategic maritime chokepoints.
The exercise encompasses joint operational areas from the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas up to the North and Baltic Seas, featuring air, land, and sea coordination. It includes significant air-to-ground actions in the Baltic Sea region, notably with the involvement of NATO’s newest member, Sweden. Key operations include amphibious landings, counter-mine efforts, explosive ordnance disposal, and defence against drones.
Rear Adm. James Morley, Deputy Commander of STRIKFORNATO, commented, “The goal is to increase NATO’s ability to conduct wide-reaching multi-domain operations, integrating air, land, and sea forces in real-time to maintain freedom of movement and safeguard critical areas of operation.”
In the North Sea, the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is joined by the Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales and her escorts. Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, the command and control ship USS Mount Whitney leads operations, supported by the USS Wasp, USS Oak Hill, and Turkey’s amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. Italy’s ITS Cavour also contributes to portions of the exercise.
A total of 20 surface vessels, submarines, Special Forces, and numerous aircraft are participating in the exercise, with approximately 15,000 personnel involved in various operational roles. NEST 24-2 reinforces NATO’s ability to respond to threats across multiple domains and locations.
This exercise, which is defensive in nature, is part of Project Neptune, launched in 2020 to improve the flexibility and pace of command and control within NATO’s naval strike and amphibious forces. It demonstrates NATO’s capability to integrate multinational strike and maritime groups across long distances, ensuring rapid, coordinated responses in times of crisis.
