Commander Combined Task Force 150 (CCTF 150) Commodore Jaimie Hatcher AM, Royal Australian Navy visited the Commanding Officer of French Ship (FS) Provence whilst the ship was alongside in Bahrain prior to her conducting operations in support of Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150).
Commodore Hatcher was hosted on board FS Provence by the Commanding Officer, Captain Dominique Caillé. A number of CTF 150 operations and plans staff accompanied Commodore Hatcher. This provided a valuable opportunity for the Australian and Canadian staff to gain a better understanding of both FS Provence’s capabilities and the operations of the French Task Force in the region.
FS Provence is part of the Charles de Gaulle Carrier Strike Group conducting maritime security operations in the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf. Commodore Hatcher said: “The opportunity to appreciate in greater detail what Provence will be able to deliver in her support to CTF 150’s maritime security operations was invaluable.”
Commodore Hatcher explained CTF 150’s operations including the upcoming focus of interdicting drug traffickers off the Makran Coast. These discussions included how all Coalition ships and aircraft transiting this area can assist in catching the drug traffickers.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 