North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Maritime Command
February 6, 2014
French CTF 473 visits Operation Ocean Shield
GULF OF ADEN: CTF-473 Rear Admiral (FRA N) Eric Chaperon from the French aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE visited the Commander of NATO’s counter-piracy task force (CTF-508), Rear Admiral (ESP N) Eugenio Diaz del Rio, on board his flagship ESPS ALVARO DE BAZAN on Monday, 3 February 2014, during an advanced air defence exercise between the two forces.
During the visit, Rear Admiral Chaperon was briefed about the current piracy situation in the Operation OCEAN SHIELD joint operating area (JOA), as well as challenges faced during Mediterranean deployment of Standing NATO Maritime Group TWO in support of NATO’s counter-terrorism Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR, Exercises BRILLIANT MARINER, SEA BREEZE, and DOGU AKDENIZ, and training activities with and port visits to Mediterranean Dialogue countries.
Meanwhile, the two flagships exercised operating in the middle of a crisis, with aircraft from FS CHARLES DE GAULLE simulating attacks on the surface vessels.
“I was happy to have the opportunity to discuss piracy and other maritime challenges with Admiral Chaperon,” said Rear Admiral Diaz del Rio. “Working together with his task force helped my team improve our air defence skills through realistic training with high-performance aircraft.”
Story by HQ MARCOM Public Affairs Office
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