Two US Navy vessels arrive at Hambantota for annual naval exercise

Two US Navy vessels, The USNS Millinocket and USS ‘Spruance’ arrived at the Hambantota Port today (Apr 17) to participate in an annual naval exercise this weekend.

By Asiri Fernando

Two US Navy vessels, The USNS Millinocket and USS ‘Spruance’ arrived at the Hambantota Port today (Apr 17) to participate in an annual naval exercise this weekend.

The Spruance is a 160 meter long destroyer while Millinocket is a 103 meter long expeditionary fast transport vessel.

Both vessels will join the Sri Lankan Navy’s SLNS Sayurala and SLNS Samudura Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) during the naval exercise.

The exercise titled Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), is part of a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of various nations including Sr Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

The objective of CARAT is to develop maritime security capabilities and increase interoperability among participant nations.

Small boat handling, diving exercises, anti-terrorist operations training, maritime security training, Community welfare activities, sports and social services are some of the activities which would take place during CARAT 2019.

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