*EPF302 06/13/01
Text: Singapore Hosts Navy Mine-Sweeping Exercise
(China listed as having participant in June 11-22 exercise) (550)

The U.S. Navy is engaged in a June 11-22 mine countermeasures exercise being hosted by Singapore.

The exercise is a multilateral one with participants from 13 other countries, according to a June 11 Defense Department news release.

The focus of the exercise, says 7th Fleet Public Affairs, is "to underscore cooperation among Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) navies and maritime safety while practicing detection, identification and disposal procedures that may be used in the future to keep important international waterways open."

Besides the United States and host Singapore, Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam are taking part in the exercises, says the news release.

Among the U.S. Navy ships involved in the exercises is the mine countermeasures command and control ship USS Inchon.

Following is the text of the June 11 7th Fleet news release:

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Navies meet in Singapore for MCM exercise
7th Fleet public affairs
Posted: 06/11/01

WESTERN PACIFIC -- Mine countermeasures (MCM) forces of the U.S. Navy have joined MCM units from 13 other countries here for Western Pacific Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) 2001, June 11-22.

Hosted by Singapore, the focus of the exercise is to underscore cooperation among Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) navies and maritime safety while practicing detection, identification and disposal procedures that may be used in the future to keep important international waterways open. WPNS was established in 1988 as a high-level forum to promote mutual understanding and naval cooperation in the Western Pacific.

Fourteen countries will cooperate in this, the first Western Pacific MCMEX. Participants include Australia, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United States and Vietnam.

According to Capt. Randolph K. Young, commander of Mine Countermeasures Squadron 1 aboard USS Inchon (MCS 12), this exercise provides the opportunity for United States and the MCM forces of the other participating countries to train in combined operations using realistic mine countermeasure scenarios.

"It is critical that U.S. and the other participating MCM forces develop and maintain a strong relationship so as to be prepared for any possible real contingency situations in the future," Young said. "The exercise will combine surface ships, aircraft, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) divers from each participating country, and is designed to promote cooperation and understanding between these MCM forces."

U.S. units taking part in the Western Pacific MCMEX include the mine countermeasures command and control ship USS Inchon (MCS 12), which is making its first deployment to the Western Pacific; and the mine countermeasures ships USS Patriot (MCM 7) and USS Guardian (MCM 5). USS Inchon is homeported in Ingleside, Texas. USS Patriot and USS Guardian are forward deployed to Sasebo, Japan.

Other participants include seven MH-53 Sea Dragon aircraft from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 (HM-15), based in Corpus Christi, Texas.; two HC-46 Sea Knight aircraft from Helicopter Squadron 6 (HC-6), based in Norfolk, Va.; EOD Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Detachment 53, based in Guam; and EODMU 3, Detachment 51, based in San Diego.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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