The US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, USS Dewey (DDG 105), has completed the Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT).
Led by the US Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), the training was conducted to allow naval fleet to increase lethality and tactical proficiency by performing advanced tactical exercises.
SWATT involves two training phases including a week-long in-port academic phase and a two-week at-sea phase.
Training includes a series of events including air defence, amphibious warfare, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface warfare.
It also comprised of various live-fire exercises, which ended with a live-fire with purpose missile launch.
As part of the SWATT, Dewey sailors performed several naval drills including damage control training.
SMWDC Forward Deployed Naval Forces Japan (FDNF-J) SWATT 2022 senior mentor aboard captain Jim Kenny said: “Initially, we are looking for strong indicators the ship retained the tactical foundations provided during the basic phase.
“The Warfare Tactics Instructors (WTIs) aboard the ships conduct over-the-shoulder focused training to fill any knowledge gaps before they get into the application of warfighting tactics.”
Assigned to US Navy’s forward-deployed Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 in Yokosuka, Japan, USS Dewey is supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Commander Task Force-71 (CTF-71)/DESRON 15 is the principal surface force of the US 7th Fleet.
CTF-71/DESRON 15 deputy commodore captain Walter Mainor said: “SWATT is meant to challenge our warfighting readiness in order to ensure that we are ready for the high-end tactical fight, and if need be, execute our number one mission, which is to win in conflict.
“Just like anything we do, you get out of it what you put into it, so we take this opportunity to sharpen our tactics, review our readiness, and make sure we are prepared.”
Towards the end of the exercise, the ship underwent a capstone event encompassing several warfare areas for a 24-hour duration.
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