The US Navy (USN) has conducted integrated training, involving a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine (SSGN) and marine reconnaissance personnel and naval special operations forces (SOF), to demonstrate capacity to integrate amphibious and SOF capabilities into wider naval missions in the US 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO).
In training conducted in late July in the Mediterranean Sea, the Ohio-class SSGN USS Georgia hosted a series of interoperability training events with USN SOF personnel and Force Reconnaissance Marines from the US Marine Corps’ (USMC’s) 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion.
Georgia is one of four Ohio-class ballistic missile boats that were converted to the conventional-force, SSGN role between 2002 and 2007. This role includes capacity to embark up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and up to 66 SOF personnel. The US East Coast-based Georgia is currently on a routine deployment to 6th Fleet’s AOO, assigned to Commander, Task Force 69 (CTF-69). According to US 6th Fleet, CTF-69 is responsible for submarine warfare operations in the US European and Africa commands’ respective AOOs.
The purpose of the training activity was to improve USMC and SOF integration with conventional naval platforms – including Georgia – to develop and improve tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), US 6th Fleet public affairs office said in a statement, released in early August.
“As our submarine force continues to develop its diverse mission sets, we strengthen our ability to deter threats and ensure global access, security, and stability in the maritime domain,” Captain Benjamin Selph, Commander CTF-69, said in the statement.
Training serials included marines from 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company conducting small craft launch-and-recovery activities from Georgia, to develop capabilities to execute combined arms attacks, personnel recovery, and expeditionary theatre undersea warfare deployments, the statement explained.
This training element included planning processes. “Several of our marines worked alongside sailors onboard Georgia to facilitate joint operational planning at a level not executed before between the USMC and the submarine force,” said Major Connor Smithson, the USMC unit commander. Maj Smithson underlined the force multiplying impact of such collaboration.
As regards SOF training, the statement noted that US East Coast-based naval SOF personnel conducted interoperability activities with Georgia.
The training also included participation from US allies, the 6th Fleet statement said. Here, the SOF elements focused on expanding and reinforcing interoperability including in command and control, as well as conducting underwater training. “Integration with joint and allied partners enhances our lethality as apex predators against hard targets in the US Sixth Fleet AOO,” Capt Selph added, pointing to the ability to respond to threats with increased speed and lethality. Italian, Norwegian, and UK SOF personnel participated in the training.
by Dr. Lee Willett
