Date: Oct 10, 2007 Author: Benjamin McCarty Source: Company Data (
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Navy ships from three carrier strike groups demonstrated hardened warfighting skills and joint interoperability between task force, strike group, and principle warfare commanders during Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, conducted Aug. 7-14 in the vicinity of Guam.
Valiant Shield provided a dynamic environment in which surface combatants screened carriers from submarine threats, represented by several Navy submarines. Each day of Valiant Shield consisted of fast-paced tracking, classification and engagement.
John Paul Jones (DDG 53) played a major anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role throughout the exercise. Flexing the newly installed Scaled Improvement Performance Sonar (SIPS), John Paul Jones was able to engage and kill six enemy submarines in seven days. According to Chief Sonar Technician (SW) Justin Beck, this fast reaction to threats provided invaluable protection to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) and was a result of seasoned teams working together to operate using cutting-edge technology.
"Our ASW team led the way during Valiant Shield by aggressively pursuing submarine contacts and set the standard for the Nimitz Strike Group," said Beck. "SIPS played a vital role in improving the operator's ability to detect and prosecute contacts, and the sonar watch team demonstrated outstanding knowledge and analytical skill by classifying and engaging multiple submarine threats. Judging by their performance during Valiant Shield, the sonar team is well-trained and has a lot of pride in Anti-Submarine Warfare."
ASW is constantly adjusting for new threats and capabilities. One of the Navy's primary missions during joint-training exercises such as Valiant Shield is developing new ways of understanding the underwater environment while progressively revising warfighting tactics. An extensive amount of data was collected by the sonar teams and will be reconstructed and analyzed by the Naval Mine and Antisubmarine Warfare Command to provide safer and more effective ways of doing battle.
"Valiant Shield 2007 provided John Paul Jones with the opportunity to sharpen our ASW watch team skills and flex a state of the art sonar system. Both performed admirably," said Cmdr. Christopher Barnes, John Paul Jones commanding officer.
The U.S. military is committed to stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Valiant Shield provided the units operating in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility with the practice necessary to keep their warfighting skills sharp and to strengthen our nation's global military response.
John Paul Jones is currently deployed with the Nimitz CSG, including embarked Destroyer Squadron 23; guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); guided-missile destroyers USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Higgins (DDG 76), and USS Chafee (DDG 90); Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 "Scorpions," (HSL) 37 "Easy Riders"; and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11, Det. 15.
