5 US warships here for ‘Carat 2004’

SUBIC FREEPORT — Activities were aplenty and familiar inside the former ship repair facility here as five US battleships with 1,400 US sailors arrived for the eight-day joint military exercise under the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

Dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise, the yearly joint training is aimed at promoting the inter-operability between Filipino and American forces in combined naval operations.

The exercises will be held simultaneously in Zambales and Cavite until Aug. 4.

In a press statement, Rear Admiral Kevin Quinn, commander of the Logistic Group for the Western Pacific of the US Navy, said CARAT 2004 "will test, evaluate and develop combined doctrines that will also promote friendship and strengthen the relationship between the Philippine and US navies."

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Felicito Payumo welcomed the CARAT 2004 participants and assured them of a safe stay in this former US naval base.

US Navy Capt. Buzz Little, commander of Destroyer Squadron One, said the US ships taking part in CARAT 2004 are the guided missile destroyers USS Russell and USS McCampbell, the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry, the US Coast Guard high-endurance cutter Mellon, and the salvage ship USS Salvor.

On the part of the Philippines, Navy Capt. Ludivico Franco, CARAT 2004 exercise director, said 1,100 Filipino sailors and five vessels — BRP Artemio Ricarte, BRP Alberto Navarette, BRP Lanao del Norte, BRP Hilario Ruiz and BRP General Mariano Alvarez — are taking part in the joint training.