DVIDS – News – U.S. Navy and Jamaican Defense Force Coast Guard conduct joint exercise

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and the Jamaica Defense Force Offshore Patrol Vessel HMJS George William Gordon conducted a bilateral maritime exercise in the Caribbean Sea on October 16, 2021.

The exercise began in three phases and helped improve interoperability and demonstrate the strategic partnership with Jamaica that helps facilitate the conduct of naval operations against emerging threats in the region.

The ships practiced a series of on-board tactical movements, training and guidance, and tested command and control capabilities.

Billings’ little boat was then used to simulate a drug trafficking ship. Billings, George William Gordon, and an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to the “Snowmen” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 28, Detachment 5, worked together to find, track and intercept the ship, so that he was trying to evade tactics.

Finally, gunners from both ships fired hundreds of bullets at a floating “killer tomato” training target, Billings using the M240B .50 caliber machine gun and George William Gordon engaging their .50 caliber machine gun.

“It was a great experience participating in a bilateral training exercise with our partners in the Jamaican Defense Force,” said Cmdr. Brett Seeley, Commandant of Billings. “It was impressive to have the mountainous skyline of the Jamaican coast as a backdrop to conduct a joint artillery exercise and work alongside HMJS George William Gordon and their Jamaican Defense Force helicopter us helped strengthen our tactical preparation and demonstrated our commitment to our partners. In the region.”

Bilateral engagements allow the two navies to strengthen their capabilities for future operations, maintain readiness at sea, and support continued efforts to ensure security and stability.

Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of ​​operations to support the mission of Joint Interagency Task Force South, which includes countering drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific.

US Naval Forces Southern Command / US 4th Fleet supports US Southern Command’s joint and combined military operations by employing maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations to maintain access, improve interoperability and build partnerships sustainable development to improve regional security and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Caribbean, Central and South America.