US and UK Co-Host Carrier Strike Group Exercise

STUTTGART, Germany – Naval forces from the U.S., U.K., and other Allied and partner countries are supporting Exercise Saxon Warrior 2017 in the North Atlantic Ocean Aug. 1-10 to demonstrate Allied interoperability and collective defense through power projection from the sea.

Sailors will participate in robust training scenarios that span the full spectrum of carrier strike group operations including strategic strike, air defense operations, combat air support and enforcement of no fly zones.

“The U.S. and U.K. share a great military history, built on a shared culture of protecting freedom and defense globally,” said General Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, U.S. European Command. “We stand shoulder-to-shoulder here today to help them refine and enhance their carrier strike group capabilities.”

U.S. forces assigned to the U.S. 6th Fleet, including the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG), will train side-by-side with forces from the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group to build combined maritime and aviation capability and capacity. 

As the U.K. prepares to achieve initial operating capability for its new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier, this training will enhance the interoperability necessary to conduct combined CSG operations.

“Saxon Warrior allows both U.S. and U.K. naval forces a chance to hone our interoperability skills. Particularly important is the alignment of U.S. carrier strike groups and the U.K. carrier strike group,” said Rear Adm. Kenneth
Whitesell, Carrier Strike Group 2 commander. “This unique opportunity affords hands-on planning and execution across the spectrum of warfighting for both strike group staffs, strengthening our military understanding and capability.”

U.S. sailors routinely participate in multilateral and joint exercises with our Allies and partners, both underway and in port. Participation in exercises like Saxon Warrior enable us to maintain our combined warfighting readiness and be prepared to respond to crises around the world.

Aircraft carriers are the centerpiece of America's Naval forces. The 10 Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are the largest warships in the world, each designed for an approximately 50-year service life with just a single mid-life refueling. This is a global Navy.

GHWB CSG consists of the flagship USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) with embarked staffs of CSG-2, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, and the squadrons of CVW-8; guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Hue City (CG 66); and DESRON 22 guided missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103).

Approximately 6,000 U.S. sailors will participate in Saxon Warrior 17. Nations scheduled to participate in Saxon Warrior 17 include: Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Saxon Warrior was last held in 2011.

U.S. European Command is one of the United States’ two forward-deployed Geographic Combatant Commands whose area of focus cover almost one-fifth of the planet, including all of Europe, large portions of Asia, parts of the Middle East and the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.  The command is responsible for military relations with NATO and 51 countries with a total population of close to a billion people.