Kuwait Naval Force and Coast Guard conduct maritime exercise with US Navy and Coast Guard.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense, on November 5, 2020, the Kuwait Naval Force (KNF), Kuwait Coast Guard and U.S. Navy and Coast Guard forces assigned to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) participated in a bilateral, joint maritime security patrol exercise in the North Arabian Gulf, November 5, 2020.
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The Kuwait Coast Guard fast patrol boat Marzoug (P 314), U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat USCGC Monomoy (WPB 1326), and guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114), not pictured, steam in formation during a joint maritime security patrol exercise in the Arabian Gulf, November 5, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The naval exercise was held to practice joint patrols between the two nations’ navies and coast guards, enhancing interoperability and supporting longstanding regional cooperation.  Exercise topics included communications interoperability and tactical maneuvering.

 “The Kuwait Coast Guard welcomes every opportunity to work and exercise with the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard to raise the level of naval efficiency and the spirit of mutual cooperation, increasing maritime security in the North Arabian Gulf,” said Captain Mubarak Al Sabah, Flotilla Commander, Kuwait Coast Guard and Combined Maritime Forces Assistant for Regional Integration.

Participating forces included the KNF (Kuwait Naval Force) missile boat Al-Saadi (P 3723), Kuwait Coast Guard fast patrol boat Marzoug (P 314), USS Ralph Johnson DDG 114 Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and U.S. Coast Guard patrol boats USCGC Monomoy (WPB 1326) and USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309).

The U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations encompasses about 2.5 million square miles of water area and includes the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean. The expanse is comprised of 20 countries and includes three critical choke points at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

The KNF Al-Saadi is a missile boat armed with one OTO Melara (Leonardo) 40mm Fast naval gun and two twin launchers for SEA SKUA anti-ship missiles. 

The USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer of the United States Navy. The ship is armed with 56 Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles, with a combination of land-attack (TLAM) missiles with a Tercom-aided navigation system, and anti-ship missiles with inertial guidance. The Standard SM-2MR block 4 surface-to-air missiles with command / inertial guidance remain at the centre of the Aegis system.

USCGC Monomoy (WPB-1326) and USCGC Aquidneck (WPB 1309) are United States Coast Guard Island class patrol cutter. The Island-class has a full displacement of 165 tonnes and is able to reach speeds of up to 30 knots, with a cruising range exceeding 5,300 km. They are able to operate autonomously for up to five days. The ship can accommodate a crew of 16 people (including two officers).  The ship is equipped with AN / SPS-73 radar and a descent motorboat, the armament consists of a 25-mm tank automatic gun mount Mk 38 Mod 0 Bushmaster and two .50 machine guns.