US, Japan conduct joint torpedo training exercise at Japanese waters

Asia-Pacific, News, US March 13, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Navy “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 conduct joint torpedo exercise with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s (JMSDF) VX-51 and JS Yusotei 2-go landing craft in Tokyo Bay.

This is the first time the U.S. Navy squadron conducted a joint operation with JMSDF at Japanese waters.

During the exercise, the U.S. Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk, attached to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, dropped a practice torpedo. HSM-77 is attached to Commander, Task Force 70 and forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to the U.S. Navy release.

According to the U.S. Navy statement, before this joint drill, every torpedo exercise conducted by a forward-deployed squadron was conducted in San Diego. “The benefit of this particular ASW exercise is that the forward-deployed squadron was able to practice within the region they operate in, while also strengthening bilateral capabilities between U.S. Navy and JMSDF,” the statement added.

HSM-77’s commanding officer Cmdr. Nicholas Cunningham said, “This is the first step in an effort that started with the establishment of the first FDNF squadron, ‘The Warlords’, back in 1991. This exercise demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s and JMSDF’s continued partnership and commitment to protecting the waterways of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The ‘Saberhawks’ are incredibly grateful for all of the multi-agency support we received from Naval Munitions Command, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Commander Carrier Strike Group 5, and Commander U.S. 7th Fleet. CFAY and NAFA have taken a major step forward in supporting local ASW training opportunities between the U.S. Navy and JMSDF.”

The exercise involved an inert torpedo being launched from an MH-60R Seahawk attached to HSM-77. The torpedo was recovered by a small boat team from the JMSDF Utility Landing Ship JS LCU 2002. An SH-60K assigned to the “Mighty 59” of Air Development Squadron (VX) 51 of the JMSDF provided air support for the small boat team, the statement added.

^{An MH-60R Seahawk, attached to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, drops a practice torpedo during the first torpedo exercise conducted by a U.S. Navy squadron alongside the JMSDF on March 10, 2022, at Tokyo Bay. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Askia Collins)}

According to HSM-51 commanding officer Cmdr. Timothy E. Rogers, “Continuing to grow interoperability with our JMSDF partners is a priority for the ‘Warlords’. This ASW exercise enabled us to take a collective step forward in that regard, but more importantly assess how effective we are in bilateral ASW prosecution.”

U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed units ‘HSM-77 Saberhawks’ and ‘HSM-51 Warlords’ helicopter squadron are based at Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan, and embark aboard multiple ships in the 7th Fleet area of operations.

The Navy statement read that the “U.S. 7th Fleet exercises operational control of its units through designated Task Forces or Task Groups. These groups are organized along domain and functional lines. CTF 70 is theater strike warfare commander and theater air and missile defense commander.”