Units from the Bahrain Navy and Bahrain Coast Guard have recently completed a major Search and Rescue exercise off the coast of Manama, working as part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF).

USCGC Wrangell combs the waters of the Gulf for the simulated casualty
USCGC Wrangell combs the waters of the Gulf for the simulated casualty

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The patrol vessel RBNS Al Jaberi and the corvette RBNS Manama joined RBCGS DAR-14 for Exercise Falcon Response, designed to develop the Bahraini maritime forces’ ability to rescue distressed mariners at sea.

Commander Rashed Al Ameen (Right) coordinates the search for the casualty on the bridge of RBNS Al Jaberi
Commander Rashed Al Ameen (Right) coordinates the search for the casualty on the bridge of RBNS Al Jaberi

Working with warships from the United States Navy and cutters from the United States Coast Guard, the three Bahraini vessels practiced searching wide areas of open ocean for a simulated ‘casualty’.

Members of RBNS Al Jaberi’s crew head across to USCGC Wrangell for a briefing
Members of RBNS Al Jaberi’s crew head across to USCGC Wrangell for a briefing

The exercise called for close cooperation between the ships and an operations base ashore in Bahrain. Commander Rashed Al Ameen, Commanding Officer of RBNS Al Jaberi, said: “I think the integration between all the participants was outstanding.

A US Coast Guard sailor looks out at RBNS Al Jaberi
A US Coast Guard sailor looks out at RBNS Al Jaberi

“As navies, we only get to see each other at sea. This integration isn’t something we can build overnight, it is the result of training exercise like this one.”

Sailors aboard RNBS Al Jaberi with USCGC Wrangell in the background
Sailors aboard RNBS Al Jaberi with USCGC Wrangell in the background

Exercise Falcon Response was coordinated by the Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 152, a specialist task group designed to promote maritime security and closer cooperation between regional partners in and around the Gulf.

US Navy Lieutenant Cliff Oversby talks with sailors aboard RBNS Al Jaberi

US Navy Lieutenant Cliff Oversby talks with sailors aboard RBNS Al Jaberi

Based in Bahrain, CTF 152 is comprised of officers from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the UK, France and the United States.

 

Radio communications are vital during Search and Rescue missions. Here, a member of RBNS Al Jaberi’s crew coordinates the search for the simulated casualty.
Radio communications are vital during Search and Rescue missions. Here, a member of RBNS Al Jaberi’s crew coordinates the search for the simulated casualty.