As US Navy ships wrap up a historic Arctic exercise, Russia's navy sends them off with its own nearby drills

Christopher WoodyMay 11, 2020, 01:22 IST

British navy frigate HMS Kent; US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Roosevelt, USS Porter, and USS Donald Cook; and supply ship USNS Supply in the Arctic Ocean, May 5, 2020.Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

US and British navy ships sailed out of the Barents Sea on Friday, wrapping up several days of exercises in the Arctic, an area of increasing focus for NATO navies.
Russia's Northern Fleet has its headquarters and major bases on the Barents Sea, and its ships conducted their own exercises in the sea as the US and British ships finished theirs.
These photos show the latest in a broader effort by alliance navies to increase their presence in the region and adapt to the harsh conditions there.
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US Navy ships and a British warship wrapped up seven days of exercises in the Arctic on Friday when they departed the Barents Sea, ending the first trip by US Navy surface ships to that sea since the mid-1980s.

A surface action group of some 1,200 sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided-missile destroyers USS Donald Cook, USS Porter, USS Roosevelt, combat support ship USNS Supply, and British Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent entered the Barents on May 4 for Arctic training.

The exercises were supported by a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft.

The Donald Cook, the Porter, the Kent, and the Supply sailed into the Arctic Circle on May 1 and conducted anti-submarine operations in the Norwegian Sea with a US Navy submarine and a P-8A.

Throughout the exercises, the USNS Supply supported the warships with replenishments-at-sea, which allow US and allied ships to remain on station for long periods of time.

These photos show the latest NATO naval venture into the Arctic, which is part of a broader effort by alliance navies to increase their presence in the region and adapt to the harsh conditions there.

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The Ministry's release, published on May 7, said Russian sailors would also conduct signals training, to work on joint maneuvering of ships, as well as training on damage control for emergency personnel.

The Russian missile corvette Iceberg takes part in large-scale military exercises conducted by Russia's Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea, May 29, 2019. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images

The Ministry's release, published on May 7, said Russian sailors would also conduct signals training, to work on joint maneuvering of ships, as well as training on damage control for emergency personnel.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said that on the "eve of May 6," three small anti-submarine ships sailed from the city of Polyarny to conduct "planned combat training activities in the Barents Sea."

Russian anti-submarine warfare corvette Brest takes part in large-scale military exercises conducted by the Northern Fleet in the Barents Sea, May 29, 2019. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images

Russia's Ministry of Defense said that on the "eve of May 6," three small anti-submarine ships sailed from the city of Polyarny to conduct "planned combat training activities in the Barents Sea."

Russia said on May 4 that its Northern Fleet began monitoring the US and British ships. In the days after they entered the Barents, Russia announced its own naval exercises, which appeared to involve live-fire training, in the area.

Members of British navy 814 Air Squadron aboard frigate HMS Kent during anti-submarine exercises with US Navy ships in the Arctic Circle, May 1, 2020. Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

Russia said on May 4 that its Northern Fleet began monitoring the US and British ships. In the days after they entered the Barents, Russia announced its own naval exercises, which appeared to involve live-fire training, in the area.

Russia's Northern Fleet, which maintains the country's naval strategic nuclear forces, has its headquarters and numerous bases in the Murmansk region on the Barents.

A Russian underwater anti-sabotage detachment on combat duty at the main base of the Northern Fleet in the town of Severomorsk, on the Kola Peninsula, February 1, 2019. Lev Fedoseyev\TASS via Getty Images

The US Navy said it notified Russia's Ministry of Defense about the Barents exercise on May 1 to "avoid misperceptions, reduce risk, and prevent inadvertent escalation."

Ensign Joseph Minicucci, left, Ensign Josh Ten Eyck, center, and Cmdr. Craig Trent, commanding officer of Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Porter, oversee a maneuvering exercise in the North Sea, May 5, 2020. US Navy/MCS 1st Class Miguel Palacio

The US Navy said it notified Russia's Ministry of Defense about the Barents exercise on May 1 to "avoid misperceptions, reduce risk, and prevent inadvertent escalation."

The sun doesn't set all the way in the Arctic at this time of year, which some sailors said made life a little easier during the exercises.

British sailors at a memorial ceremony for Arctic convoys during World War II, aboard the Royal Navy frigate HMS Kent, May 6, 2020. British Royal Navy

The Arctic is an area of renewed attention for NATO amid tensions with Russia. The US Navy and its partners have spent more time in the region to gain experience with the challenges it poses to naval operations.

British navy frigate HMS Kent; US Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Roosevelt, USS Porter, USS Donald Cook; and supply ship USNS Supply conduct joint operations in the Arctic Ocean, May 5, 2020. Royal Navy/LPhot Dan Rosenbaum

The Arctic is an area of renewed attention for NATO amid tensions with Russia. The US Navy and its partners have spent more time in the region to gain experience with the challenges it poses to naval operations.

While there, the warships worked on "combined and divisional surface warfare tactics, refined coordinated operations with US Air Forces Europe, and reinforced Arctic communications capabilities, while maintaining proficiency in critical warfare areas."

Sailors heave around a line on the fo’c’sle aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt during a replenishment-at-sea with the fast combat support ship USNS Supply, May 7, 2020. US Navy/MCS Seaman Austin G. Collins

While there, the warships worked on "combined and divisional surface warfare tactics, refined coordinated operations with US Air Forces Europe, and reinforced Arctic communications capabilities, while maintaining proficiency in critical warfare areas."

The warships sailed into the Barents "to assert freedom of navigation and demonstrate seamless integration among allies," US Naval Forces Europe said on May 4.

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As US Navy ships wrap up a historic Arctic exercise, Russia's navy sends them off with its own nearby drills

The Ministry's release, published on May 7, said Russian sailors would also conduct signals training, to work on joint maneuvering of ships, as well as training on damage control for emergency personnel.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said that on the "eve of May 6," three small anti-submarine ships sailed from the city of Polyarny to conduct "planned combat training activities in the Barents Sea."

Russia said on May 4 that its Northern Fleet began monitoring the US and British ships. In the days after they entered the Barents, Russia announced its own naval exercises, which appeared to involve live-fire training, in the area.

Russia's Northern Fleet, which maintains the country's naval strategic nuclear forces, has its headquarters and numerous bases in the Murmansk region on the Barents.

The US Navy said it notified Russia's Ministry of Defense about the Barents exercise on May 1 to "avoid misperceptions, reduce risk, and prevent inadvertent escalation."

The sun doesn't set all the way in the Arctic at this time of year, which some sailors said made life a little easier during the exercises.

The Arctic is an area of renewed attention for NATO amid tensions with Russia. The US Navy and its partners have spent more time in the region to gain experience with the challenges it poses to naval operations.

While there, the warships worked on "combined and divisional surface warfare tactics, refined coordinated operations with US Air Forces Europe, and reinforced Arctic communications capabilities, while maintaining proficiency in critical warfare areas."

The warships sailed into the Barents "to assert freedom of navigation and demonstrate seamless integration among allies," US Naval Forces Europe said on May 4.