U.S., Thailand Conclude CARAT Thailand 2018

Photo from the previous edition of CARAT exercise
The 24th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and Royal Thai Navy concluded in Pattaya, Thailand, June 21.
CARAT Thailand 2018 involved over 3,000 military personnel from the U.S. and Royal Thai Navy conducting nearly a dozen exercises at sea, over 20 symposiums and table-top exercises that covered the entire spectrum of naval operations, and daily band performances and sports engagements with schools and organizations throughout the area.
The guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89), expeditionary fast transport USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6), diving and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) and a P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft operated alongside Royal Thai Navy frigates HTMS Taskin, HTMS Naresuan and HTMS Bangprakong in cooperative evolutions in the Gulf of Thailand. Exercises included a gunnery exercise to maintain Sailors’ readiness with on-board weapon systems, diving operations to promote mutual efficiency underwater, and an air defense exercise aimed to increase proficiency in air and missile defense.
The multi-nation CARAT exercise series is organized in bilateral phases with regional nations designed to promote regional security cooperation, strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance mutual capabilities and interoperability.