As part of increasing allied naval interoperability worldwide, and as tensions ramp up with Russia, a French Navy aircraft carrier strike group (Task Force 473) centered around the carrier FSย Charles de Gaulleย is now operating in the Mediterranean with a slew of allied warships from theย European Union (EU), NATO and French partner nations.
Among them is theย U.S. Navy destroyer USSย Rossย (DDG-71).
Of concern, variousย Russian naval groups from the Pacific, Northern and Baltic Fleet are also heading to the Mediterranean for an exercise in the area.
USNI Newsย notes that:
The Russian Pacific Fleet task group consists of cruiser RFSย Varyagย (011), destroyer RFSย Admiral Tributsย (564) and replenishment shipย Boris Butoma.ย The task groupย previously carried out exercisesย with the Iranian Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy in the Arabian Gulf. Meeting the Pacific Fleet task group in the Mediterranean are landing ship tanks
RFSย Olenegorskiyย Gornyakย (012) and RFSย Georgiy Pobedonosetsย (016) and landing ship RFSย Pyotr Morgunovย (117) from the Northern Fleet and LSTs RFSย Korolevย (130), RFSย Minskย (127), and RFSย Kaliningradย (102) from the Baltic Fleet.
So, the Mediterranean will soon be getting more crowded. USNI News reports that France's Task Force 473 left today for itsย Clemenceauย 22 Mediterranean deployment, which will last until April.
Naval Newsย reported that theย task force will support Operationย Chammal, the French component of Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS. It will also exercise with the Italian Navy, the U.S. Navy's Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and other NATO ships operating in the Mediterranean.
The French Navy Tweeted the news with photos and video.
USNI News adds:
French Navy ships in the task group along withย Charles de Gaulleย are destroyer FSย Forbinย (D620), frigates FSย Alsaceย (D656) and FSย Normandieย (D651), replenishment ship FS Marne (A630) and a nuclear attack submarine. Partner ships integrated into the group are U.S. Navy destroyer USSย Rossย (DDG-71), Spanish Navy frigate ESPSย Juan de Borbonย (F102), Hellenic Navy frigate HSย Adriasย (F459) and Royal Moroccan Navy corvetteย Sultan Moulay Ismailย (614). A Hellenic Navy submarine will join the task force on Feb. 7.
Ross' participating in the Charles De Gaulle CSG demonstrates โthe interoperability level between U.S. and French naval forces,โ the U.S. Navy said in a news release last week.
โWhile TF 473 operates in the Mediterranean with an integrated U.S. destroyer, Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, working in close coordination with other commands throughout the alliance, is exercising command and control of a U.S. carrier strike group. The flexibility of command and control structures among allies supports the collective defense of Europe,โ according to the U.S. Navy.
The French strike group has some inherent air capabilities,ย notesย USNI News, that include:
โฆย 20 Rafale F3R fighters of Flottilles 12F and 17F, two E-2C Hawkeyes Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft of Flottille 4F, 1 Dauphin helicopter and 1 Panther helicopter of Flottille 35F and 36F, respectively, and a NH90 NFH Caรฏman anti-submarine warfare helicopter of Flottille 31F. A Belgian Air Component NH90 helicopter is embarked onย Forbin.
Meanwhile a French Navyย Atlantiqueย 2 maritime patrol aircraft and a U.S Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will provide land-based fixed wing aircraft support to the flotilla.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions ofย American Liberty News.