VALPARAISO, Chile (NNS) - U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) and Chilean maritime forces partner for exercise Teamwork South 2019 off the Chilean coast July 5.
Teamwork South is a biennial Chilean naval exercise that focuses on conducting training scenarios in intermediate and advanced anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations. Chilean Rear Adm. Yerko Marcic Conley will command this year’s exercise.
U.S. forces participating in the exercise will be commanded by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, Rear Adm. Donald Gabrielson, and include USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) with two embarked MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37, two P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 4, and staff personnel from USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT and Destroyer Squadron 40.
“Our strategic partner Chile has made Teamwork South what it is today,” said Rear Adm. Donald Gabrielson. “This exercise is one of the rare opportunities we get to train with, and against, live diesel submarines from the Chilean Navy. We benefit from and appreciate the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with Chile to counter threats in an increasingly dynamic maritime environment.”
This exercise provides unique training opportunities at-sea in challenging and uncertain environments that incorporate scripted, event-driven scenarios to maximize opportunities to improve interoperability using scenarios that address anti-surface, anti-submarine, antiair, and replenishment-at-sea operations.
Teamwork South 2019 builds upon established relationships between the U.S. and Chilean navies and improves joint capabilities to conduct bilateral engagements. This exercise strengthens international maritime partnerships and improves the readiness of participating forces for a wide range of potential operations.
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