Rear Admiral Oğuz Karaman, Turkish Navy has relieved Rear Admiral Anho Chung from the Republic of Korea Navy, as Commander Combined Task Force (CCTF) 151 (counter piracy). The change of command ceremony was conducted by Vice Admiral John W. Miller, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / Commander, U.S. 5th Fleet / Commander, Combined Maritime Forces on board the Republic of Korea Ship (ROKS) Wang Geon, Mina Salman, Bahrain, September 19.
The ceremony concluded the Republic of Korea’s second command of CTF 151, during which the team consisted of one staff member ashore and 21 afloat. The most obvious and immediate success of the Korean-led CTF 151 was the fact that no merchant vessels were pirated during Rear Adm Chung’s command period. During his tenure Rear Adm Chung also served as Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden Coordinator, ensuring that CTF 151, CTF 465 (EUNAVFOR) and CTF 508 (NATO OCEAN SHIELD) maintained a coordinated 24/7 anti-piracy presence throughout the strategically important areas.
As CCTF 151, Rear Adm Chung led a staff from eight CMF nations in maintaining excellent coordination with other CTFs (150, 465, 508), leading to an unprecedented two “Big 3” (CMF, EUNAVFOR and NATO) meetings at sea on 30 July 12 and 24 August 12. Additionally, Rear Adm Chung improved upon the already strong partnership with our EU and NATO counterparts through weekly scheduled chats and daily communication at a tactical level.
While the deterrence and disruption of piracy operations is the primary CTF 151 mission, Rear Adm Chung also understood the importance of supporting all fellow mariners, and CTF 151’s joint efforts with their CTF 150 counterparts led to a very successful medical evacuation from the MV BELDE on 20 Aug 12. He also excelled at regional engagement with CMF partner nations in both the Middle East and in Africa.
During the ceremony, he told the guests gathered onboard the ROKS Wang Geon “To outsiders, our mission might seem like an easy task. But our enemy is very determined and dangerous, and as long as the rewards far outweigh the risks, they will continue to find ways to hijack merchant vessels, but we are committed too. On any given day, there are a number of naval warships operating in the area, patrolling assigned sectors in the IRTC, conducting convoy operations, assisting the World Food Program in the Somali Basin, launching and recovering helicopters, and simply doing what they have trained to do.”
In recognising Rear Adm Chung’s excellent leadership, Vice Adm Miller commented: “CTF 151 has a difficult counter-piracy mission that is a generational fight and will not be ended by a surrender on a battleship deck. Combating piracy requires patience and persistence. It requires firm leadership and coordination with other Task Forces. It requires nations like the Republic of Korea and Turkey to continue to work together with CMF, NATO, the EU, and others to blunt the scourge of piracy.” Vice Adm Miller congratulated Rear Adm Chung on his outstanding leadership and welcomed Rear Adm Karaman to his new command.
Rear Adm Karaman went on to express his delight in taking the CTF 151 mantle: “It is a great honour for me to accept the command of CTF 151. Turkey has been an active member of CTF151 since its outset and has contributed by deploying both a frigate and staff. On Turkey’s third occasion of commanding CTF 151, I will do my best to continue the excellent leadership shown by Rear Adm Chung in preventing piracy activities in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.”
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 