South Korean And US Ships Link For Indo-Pacific Counter-Special Ops Exercise

Destroyers from the Republic of Korea Navy and the United States Navy teamed up for MCSOFEX to strengthen interoperability and hone their collective combat readiness.

The wide-ranging Maritime Counter-Special Operations Exercise ran at sea between May 8 and 11, as per a recent U.S. Navy press statement.

American assets participating in the bilateral operation included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence and her embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron, the “Blue Hawks.”

More than seven South Korean surface ships took part, including the Sejong the Great-class destroyer ROKS Yulgok Yi-I, the Gwangaeto the Great-class destroyer ROKS Yang Man-chun, the Chungmugong Yi Sunsin-class destroyer ROKS Dae Jo-yeong, Daegu-class frigates ROKS Daegu and ROKS Donghae (FFG-822), the Cheonji-class fast combat support ship ROKS Daecheong, and a number of Yoon Youngha-class patrol vessels. They were also joined by an unidentified ROKN submarine.

During the MCSOFEX drills the ships and aircraft practised coordinated manoeuvres and communications training, and trained in anti-submarine and mine warfare.

Commander of Destroyer Squadron 15 Captain David Huljack commented: “Enhancing proficiency at sea is a priority for our destroyers, and there’s no better way to do this than sailing with our Korean teammates.” 

He added: “We will continue to seek opportunities to strengthen our ties and improve our collective maritime capabilities.”

Destroyer Squadron 15 is part of U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet. DESRON 15 is 7th Fleet’s main surface force and also the largest DESRON in the U.S. Navy as a whole.

• You can read more about MCSOFEX on the U.S. Navy website