U.S. warships arrive in Indonesia for joint military drills

Three U.S. warships arrived at Tanjung Priok seaport here Wednesday for a joint military drill with Indonesian Navy this week, local media reported.

The USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USS Howard (DDG 83) and USS Reuben James (FFG 57) were welcomed at the Naval Base III led by the base 's Operations Assistant Colonel Christ Paath.

The Indonesian and U.S. navies have regularly conducted a joint exercise codenamed "CARAT" or "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training."

Indonesian Navy spokesman Commodore Tri Prasodjo said the CARAT 2011 would be the 17th of its kind.

"The exercise will be carried out in two fronts namely training activity on land including exchange of training on management of equipment and damage control," he was quoted by the Antara news agency.

He said they would also conduct social services such as joint medical and dental service, rehabilitating public service facilities such as schools.

"Activities in the sea are focused on improving maritime security capability including information exchange, joint operations at sea, patrol and shooting exercises and anti- smuggling and piracy exercises," he said.

The number personnel to be involved in the exercise is 1,600 from both the U.S. and Indonesian navies.

The Indonesian navy will field personnel from the Marines Corps in the exercise while the U.S. side will field personnel from Task Force 73 including amphibious landing dock USS Tortuga, destroyer USS Howard and frigate USS Reuben James and landing troops from Battalion 2 and 23 of the Marine Corps.

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