MANILA, Philippines: Philippine Navy vessels deployed in Western Mindanao conducted gun exercises off the waters in Basilan to test its defense capability.
Lt. Chester Ross Cabaltera, acting Public Affairs officer, said the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), through Naval Task Force-61, test fired guns from three Navy vessels and four gunboats near the Dassalan Island, Hadji Muhammad, in Basilan Sea.
Among the littoral combat forces assets and an air asset, were BRP General Mariano Alvarez (PS38), cyclone-class patrol ship; two Fast-attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) BRP Nestor Acero (PG901) and BRP Domingo Deluana (PG905); two Boat Attacks (BA) from the 1st BA Division (BA485, BA487), and a Britten Norman Islander aircraft NV311.
Cabaltera said the test-firing is a quarterly requirement for the Navy's Ready for Sea Surface Assets to ensure that guns are properly operating and the men behind the guns are consistently proficient and skilled to operate them.
The exercise dubbed as "Littoral Patrol Exercise 2024" was initiated to take advantage of the opportunity and to enhance and sustain the interoperability of surface and air assets deployed in Western Mindanao, especially in the conduct of swarming tactics.
Likewise, as critical aspects of interoperability among forces, gunnery and communication exercises were also conducted to test the ability of the Littoral combat forces to effectively engage the target during swarming tactics.
Apart from the exercises, it also included Officer of the Watch (OOW) Maneuvers, Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX), Maritime Air Surveillance/ Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MAS/ ISR) and Maritime Interdiction Operation (MIO).
"We conducted the exercises to test and evaluate existing Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTPs) applicable in the Western Mindanao AO and also to apprise the Unified Command (WESMINCOM) on the available capability of NFWM as its Naval Operating Force (NOF) Component," said Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor, Commander NFWM.
Cabaltera said the exercise concluded safely with all objectives met, "this is in ensuring that the Navy in the Western Mindanao area of responsibility is always ready to protect the people and the state while maintaining the peace and development in the area."
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