CARAT 2005 at Subic Bay

Mayor Bong Gordon welcomes the Commander of Destroyer Squadron One, Capt. Buzz Little, and Commanding Officers of US vesels participating in CARAT 2005.

The Philippine Navy(PN) and the US Navy is holding a combine birateral exercise dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise 2005 in various training sites in Manila, Zambales province, Sulu Sea and Puerto Princesa, Palawan form August 15 to 23.

CARAT 2005, held in consonance with the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty, is designed to enhance interoperabililty between the two forces in combine naval operations, including skills directly applicable to combat of seaborne terrorism threats and transnational crimes at sea.

It also aims to build bilateral friendship and enhance military-to-military relationships by giving its participants the opportunity to work together in planning sessions, in the field, underway to Palawan via Sulu Sea, and in civic action projects in Olongapo City and Zambales province.

The PN, under the leadership of Commodore Octavio Pabuayon AFP, CARAT Excise director, will be fielding in around 600 sailor troops participating in the exercise, with five vessels, namely; two patrol ships BRP Rizal (PS74), BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), alanding Ship Vessel BRP Bacolod City (LC550), two patrol gunboats BRP Hilario Ruiz (PG378), and BRP Timoteo Figoracion (PG389), and two aircraft; PN islander aircraft (PNI-314) and PN BO-105 Helicopter (PNH-42), two Naval special Operations Group (NAVSOG) SEAL diving team, and approximately 200 personnel of the 1st Marine Battalion to undergo the amphibious landing exercise at San Miguel, Zambales beach.

The U.S. CARAT task group, on the other hand, under the leadership of Capt. Buzz Little, Commander of Destroyer Squadron One, is made up of dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD49), the Guided missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DGG60), the guided frigate USS Rodney Davis (FFG 60), and the rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50). Approximately 1,200 U.S. personnel will take part in CARAT 2005.

Rear Admiral Kevin M. Quinn, Comander of the logistics Group Western Pacific of the USN, is responsible for the overall CARAT coordination for US participants in hi executive agent role as Commander Task Force 712.