Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Carries Out Exercise With Indian Navy

The event was a naval greeting and training exercise between partner nations as TRCSG transitions from fighting ISIS to operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

On March 25, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88), along with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sampson (DDG 102), sailed in formation with the Indian Navy Talwar-class frigate INS Tarkash (F50).

The event was a naval greeting and training exercise between partner nations as Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) transitions from fighting ISIS while in the Arabian Gulf to operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations such as counter-piracy, freedom of navigation operations and training.

Warfare commanders from the U.S. Navy ships and the Indian Navy ship practiced working together and strengthened their crews’ ship handling. Exercises included drills in communications and navigating in several close formations.

“This exercise offered a unique opportunity to further our capabilities to operate with and learn from one another,” said commanding officer of Preble, Cmdr. Allen Maxwell Jr.  “It’s an excellent test for our watchstanders to exercise their flexibility as warfighters and to interact with foreign vessels in a tactical environment. Preble is dedicated to ensuring its ability to work together with our allies and partners and deal with common concerns such as disaster relief and safety of sea lanes.”

Preble is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76) and USS Sampson (DDG 102). The TRCSG deployment is an example of the U.S. Navy’s routine presence in waters around the globe.