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Two ships from the Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group (NAS ESG), the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) and the amphibious transport dock USS Nashville (LPD 13); along with the frigate USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent (T-AO 201) are representing the United States. Eight other ships are also participating in the exercise, including the Algerian training ship La Soummam (937); the French salvage ship FS Acheron (A 613); the Greek auxiliary ship Evros (A 415); the Greek frigate HS Spetsai (F 453); the Moroccan frigate Mohammed V (611); the Portuguese frigate NRP Corte Real (F 332); the Spanish corvette SPS Infanta Elena (P 76); and the Turkish frigate TCG Gelibolu (F 493).
While inport, members of PE 08's combined maritime forces trained at the newly certified North American Treaty Organization's (NATO) Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center (NMIOTC). The center, certified by NATO on April 2, offers classroom training to the participants, as well as simulator training and practical exercises. Throughout the courses, students learned small boat handling, small arms training and proper container inspection.
Underway events will focus on maritime domain awareness (MDA) and the automatic identification system (AIS) including interaction between forces afloat and a maritime operations center ashore.
Combined maritime forces will also conduct serials in force protection, maritime interdiction operations (MIO), search and rescue (SAR), replenishment at sea (RAS), towing and helicopter operations. A comprehensive and robust underway training agenda will provide participants with numerous opportunities to operate together and develop productive relationships.
Inport events, completed from April 7-13, were hosted at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Crete, and focused mainly on medical training and MIO training. Combined maritime forces also conducted workshops in helicopter operations and safety, damage control and firefighting, navigation, deck seamanship, search and rescue SAR, small boat operations and a leadership round table.
Exercises like PE 08 enable participants to advance information sharing, which is crucial to maintaining a region free from transnational threats, as well as enhance capability to conduct multinational peacekeeping missions.
PE 08 is the third annual exercise in a long-term effort to improve regional cooperation and maritime security. The principal aim is to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

080408-N-2735T-030 SOUDA BAY, Crete (Apr. 8, 2008) The "Don't Tread on Me" jack waves from the forecastle of the frigate USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) as the amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) pulls into Souda Bay. Both ships are participating in Phoenix Express 2008 (PE 08), the third in a series of annual exercises to improve regional cooperation and maritime security by increasing interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of the participating nations, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Coleman Thompson (Released)

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Story Number: NNS080411-09
Release Date: 4/11/2008 11:34:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jonathan Pankau, USS Nassau (LHA 4) Public Affairs Office

SOUDA BAY, Crete (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Nassau (LHA 4) hosted multinational service members from 10 countries for damage control training and demonstrations during Exercise Phoenix Express 2008 (PE 08) in Souda Bay on April 10.

In addition to the Nassau's crew, Sailors from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Nashville (LPD 13), the guided missile frigate USS John L. Hall (FFG 32), and multinational service members from nations around the Mediterranean Sea participated in the "Damage Control Olympics."

"Each team competes in damage control events to see who can get the best time," Nassau Damage Control Assistant Lt. Cmdr. Scott Gray said. "The real reward is the time spent together and collaborative efforts in training our multinational partners to learn these necessary skills."

Training events included relay races, operating portable fire pumps, and setting up de-smoking fans. There were also demonstrations showing the use of portable hydraulic access and rescue equipment and the self-contained breathing apparatus.

Damage Controlman 3rd Class Joseph Mendel, a member of the Nassau Flying Squad, said sharing information, techniques, and training practices among multinational partners is a critical part of PE 08.

"It's important to collaborate with all these countries because all of us have so many different ways to go about shipboard firefighting," Mendel said. "If there's a more efficient way to go about shipboard damage control, this exercise pools all of our thoughts together."

PE 08 is the third annual exercise in a long-term effort to enhance regional cooperation and maritime security. The principal aim is to increase interoperability by developing individual and collective maritime proficiencies of participating nations, as well as promoting friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Exercises like PE 08 enable participants to advance information sharing which is crucial to maintaining a region free from transnational threats, as well as enhance capability to conduct multinational peacekeeping missions.

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