ICEX 2018 is a five-week exercise that allows US and allied submarines to assess operational readiness in the Arctic, increase experience in the region and advance understanding of the Arctic environment.
The Seawolf class fast attack submarine USS Connecticut, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Hartford and Trafalgar class submarine HMS Trenchant will conduct multiple arctic transits, a North Pole surfacing, scientific data collection and other training evolutions during their time in the region.
“With every ICEX we are able to build upon our existing experience and continue to learn the best way to operate in this unique and harsh environment,” said Rear Adm. James Pitts, commander, Undersea Warfare Development Center (UWDC).
“We are constantly testing new tactics, techniques and procedures (TTP) under the ice, and this exercise allows us to do so on a larger scale and alongside our UK, joint and academic partners.”
Ice Camp Skate is a temporary ice camp that was established on a sheet of ice in the Arctic Ocean, known as an ice floe. Skate will serve as a temporary command center for conducting submarine operations, including under-ice navigation and torpedo exercises.
The US Navy say that the camp consists of shelters, a command center and infrastructure to safely house and support more than 50 personnel at any one time.
“Our Arctic Submarine Laboratory team has been working for over a year to ensure our Submarine Force is able to conduct dynamic torpedo and under-ice operations in this unique environment,” says Larry Estrada, director of ASL.
“This year’s camp is prepared to support the force with communication and weapons recovery.”
[…] post British and American submarines smash through ice in Arctic operational readiness exercise appeared first on UK Defence […]
Another important overseas deployment and the chance for our submariners to work with our most important ally.
This follows an earlier and interesting article from “Save the Royal Navy” which confirms despite some issues the Royal Navy is a hugely capable force which can simultaneously deploy assets throughout the world in a way very few countries’ naval forces can match.
http://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/portrait-of-an-active-fleet-the-royal-navy-in-the-last-7-days/
Quite. According to some posters here we are virtually third world now.
Yay, more stuff going down in the Arctic at last, awareness of the future major theatre increases.
Oh look, A Submarine without a big dent in the top, how quaint! Lol
What do the 50 personel on the surface do?