Bangladesh Attends US-Led CARAT Exercise

19.09.2011 Bangladeshi and the US navies on Sept 18 kicked off the 8-day long exercise CARAT, reports US Navy's official website.

Bangladesh takes part in the CARAT exercise for the first time; the US started the naval exercise 17 years ago exercise has being led by the US for 17 years with various navies of Southeast Asia. Currently, American warships hold the exercise on rotational basis with navies of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

It is very important that CARAT exercise engages new regional navies, the exercise director Rear Admiral Tom Carney, 7th Fleet's logistic force commander said at CARAT opening ceremony held at Isa Khan naval base. As for him, the year of 2011 is the beginning of fruitful cooperation between the US Navy and Bangladeshi Navy.

American party is represented by guided missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG100), frigate USS Ford (FFG54), minesweeper USS Defender (MCM2), salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS50), and 500 servicemen. During the sea phase of the CARAT-Bangladesh exercise, it is planned to conduct tactical maneuvers, firing at sea targets, helicopter flights, communication and maneuvering drills. Diving and search drills will be held during the coastal phase, as well as river operations. Also, American mariners will take part in social activities.

The schedule will be very tight in those 8 days and include eventful list of joint activities, Carney said. According to him, friendship, understanding, and confidence cultivated by US Navy among new naval leaders are not less important than knowledge and experience acquired at sea.