By Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs 

MANAMA, Bahrain – Saudi-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) concluded a multi-national joint patrol April 23-24 with ships from four nations.

The patrol aimed to continue to build interoperability of Gulf Cooperation Council nations in the Arabian Gulf and improve the communication processes among participating units and nations. 

The patrol commenced April 23 with participants from Kuwaiti Coast Guard, Kuwaiti Naval Forces and Royal Bahraini Naval Forces conducting inter-ship training, communication and exercises in the northern and central Arabian Gulf. 

On April 24, the UK’s Royal Navy ship HMS Chiddingfold and the Royal Saudi Naval Force ship HMS Khalid undertook combined exercises and communication serials, including in a joint man overboard serial where each nation recovered a dummy thrown over the side of the other nation’s ship. The day culminated in a combined sail and photo opportunity with the two warships operating in close proximity in a display of seamanship and ship handling.

This training between nations proved their ability to operationally communicate over the length of the Arabian Gulf and deepened their knowledge of the patterns of life in the region. HMS Chiddingfold worked alongside counterparts who operate regularly in the region and acquired details on local patterns of life that will prove useful in the future operations for CTF 152 and other partners in the region.

CTF 152 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest multinational naval partnership.