Execute, 15 years ago today
“Ships from five Allied navies assigned to Combined Task Force One Five Zero (CTF-150) execute breakaway maneuvers from formation for a photo opportunity while underway in the Gulf of Oman, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 5/6/2004.”
USN Photo DNSD0610204 by PH1 Bart Bauer, in the collection of the U.S. National Archives #6669991 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6669991
Pictured foreground-to-background: the US Navy Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55); the French Navy Georges Leygues-class (Type 70) destroyer, LA MOTTE-PICQUET (D 645); the Pakistan Navy Tariq (Type 21 Amazon) class frigate, PNS (Pakistani Naval Ship) KHAIBAR (D 183) [ex-HMS Arrow (F173)], the Spanish Navy Santa Maria (Oliver Hazard Perry) class frigate NUMANCIA (F 83); an unidentified French Navy Lafayette-class frigate, (likely Surcouf (F711)); Spruance-class destroyer, USS CUSHING (DD 985); and the Royal New Zealand Navy ANZAC (MEKO 200) class frigate HMNZS TE MANA (F 111).
All, save for Cushing, are still on active duty. The oldest of the above is the bonafide slugger Arrow/Khaibar, which commissioned in the RN 28 July 1976 and saw close combat in the Falklands, surviving Argentine aircraft, conducting NGF support, and rescuing most of the surviving crew of stricken HMS Sheffield.
Cushing was disposed of in a sinkex in 2008.
