HMS Somerset chased allied submarines on Exercise Arctic Dolphin (Picture: Royal Navy)
Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset has spent two weeks hunting allied submarines in the Norwegian fjords, engaging in a tense cat-and-mouse game to push trainee commanders to their limits.
The Plymouth-based warship took part in Exercise Arctic Dolphin, working with Norwegian, Danish and Dutch forces to test submarine captains as they attempted to qualify for frontline command.
The exercise also allowed HMS Somerset to sharpen her anti-submarine warfare skills, operating alongside a Merlin Mk2 helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Flying Tigers.
HMS Somerset and its Merlin helicopter played the role of adversaries, relentlessly tracking Norwegian and Dutch submarines.
The Royal Navy crew executed full-speed charges, evasive manoeuvres, and coordinated searches to keep the submarines under pressure.
“The training has been a game of cat and mouse; there were occasions when we (the aircraft) had the advantage over the submarine and also occasions where the submarine made it very difficult for us,” Lieutenant Charlie Homer said.
The submariners were undertaking the equivalent of the Royal Navy’s Perisher course, officially known as the Submarine Command Course, a gruelling training programme required to command a submarine.
The Merlin Mk2, one of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare helicopters, played a key role in the exercise.
Its sonar buoys, active dipping sonar, and infrared cameras were used to track the submarines in the fjords’ confined waters.
The aircraft also worked with Nato allies, flying alongside P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from the UK, Norway, and the US, as well as Danish Navy Seahawk and French NH90 helicopters.
There was also an opportunity for the Merlin crew to land on the Danish frigate HDMS Niels Juel.
Sailors from HMS Somerset also had the rare chance to experience life aboard a Dutch Walrus-class submarine, HNLMS Zeeleeuw.
“I had the great opportunity to visit HNLMS Zeeleeuw and witness Submarine Command Course runs from the control room,” Lieutenant Gregor Phillips, Submarine Liaison Officer, said.
Aircraft from the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (VINCSG) and French Carrier Strike Group (CSG) fly in formation over the Philippine Sea with ships from VINCSG, French CSG, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) during Pacific Steller 2025, Feb. 12. U.S. Navy Photo
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, French CSG and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184) completed Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, held in the Celebes Sea and Philippine Sea on Tuesday, according to the JMSDF. The JMSDF also announced on Tuesday that it will conduct bilateral exercises with U.S. Navy amphibious and mine countermeasures ships around Okinawa from Wednesday to Mar. 2.
Pacific Steller 2025 kicked off on Feb. 8 and featured the Carl Vinson CSG with carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59), and destroyers USS Sterett (DDG-104) and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110). Fleet oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO-199), dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Charles Drew (T-AKE-10) and a P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft also participated in the drills.
The French CSG’s participation included carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91), destroyer FS Forbin (D620), frigates FS Provence (D652) and FS Alsace (D656) and fleet oiler FS Jacques Chevallier (A725), in addition to two French Navy Atlantique 2 MPAs forward-deployed to the region to support the CSG. A French Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine is also deployed with the CSG, but the French Navy has not publicly disclosed any of the submarine’s activity. Japan deployed Kaga, destroyer JS Akizuki (DD-115) and a P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft for the exercise.
The drills included anti-submarine warfare, air defense, cross-decking, and replenishment at sea exercises. Jacques Chevalier performed a replenishment at sea for Kaga, Princeton and Sterret. The fleet oiler and one of the French Navy frigates detached from the group on Feb. 11 and pulled into White Beach Okinawa on Feb. 13 to perform monitoring operations in support of U.N. sanctions on North Korea. One of the Atlantique 2 also deployed to support the mission.
Cross-deck operations included F/A-18F Super Hornets and a CMV-22B Osprey from Carl Vinson landing on and taking off from Charles De Gaulle. In turn, Charles De Gaulle’s embarked Rafale fighters landed on and launched from Carl Vinson.
On Friday U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Adm. Steve Koehler met with Adm. Nicolas Vaujour, the Chief of the French Navy, aboard Charles De Gaulle.
“Professionalism is making the extremely difficult look routine and easy when it is not, and you are example of that,” Koehler said while addressing the crew via the shipboard announcement system, according to a Pacific Fleet news release. “Our professional militaries do amazing things together on a regular basis, and Pacific Steller is another example of that. Your historic 2025 deployment highlights your ability to integrate and operate alongside like-minded partners to continue to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”
Meanwhile, from Wednesday to March 2, JMSDF tank landing ship JS Kunisaki (LST-4003) and minesweepers JS Awaji (MSO-304) and JS Chichijima (MSC-605) will carry out a bilateral exercise near Okinawa with amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6), amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47), expeditionary sea base USS John L. Canley (ESB-6) and mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM-10), according to a JMSDF news release issued Tuesday. The bilateral drills are likely the naval part of the U.S. Marine Corps – Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Iron Fist 25, which begins on Wednesday and ends on March 7. A JGSDF release said the JMSDF ships, America and Rushmore would participate in Iron Fist 25.
USS Tripoli (LHA-7) will replace America later this year as the forward-deployed big-deck based out of Japan, USNI News recently reported. The America Amphibious Ready Group consists of America,Rushmore and amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD-22) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. San Diego is likely heading to Thailand to take part in the annual U.S.-Thailand multinational exercise Cobra Gold 2025. Those drills begin on Feb. 25 and include an amphibious exercise, according to a U.S Embassy in Thailand news release. The U.S. has participated in past iterations of the exercise with an amphibious ship and embarked U.S Marines. The America ARG and embarked 31st MEU are the only ARG/MEU currently deployed in the Indo-Pacific.
America is currently conducting routine operations in the Philippine Sea while elements of the 31st MEU have been conducting visit, board, search and seizure exercises on John L. Canley. Prior to this, the America ARG and 31st MEU were conducting joint maritime and air operations with other U.S. forces in the East China Sea.
“In support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Special Operations Command Pacific, in conjunction with Naval Special Warfare Command, U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Air Forces, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific and U.S. Cyber Command recently conducted air and maritime operations in the East China Sea to increase joint force lethality and readiness and demonstrate peace through strength for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” reads a U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific social media post on Feb. 8.
