Combined Task Force 151
On January 8, 2009, the United States Central Command created Task Force 151, a multinational headquarters directed at "counter-piracy operations in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Red Sea," a previously declared Maritime Security Patrol Area.
The higher-level command, Task Force 150, under VADM William E. Gortney, U.S. Navy, commanding the United States Fifth Fleet and some of the multinational maritime forces in the area, was responsible for overall maritime security. Some navies in the Area did not have authority to conduct counter-piracy operations, so they can continue general security operations while TF 151, commanded by RADM Michelle Howard. She simultaneously commands U.S. Expeditionary Strike Group 2.
TF 151 has components from navies including Denmark, Turkey, Singapore and the United States. Its flagship is USS Boxer (LHD-4). It complements a separate European Union maritime security force; Denmark chose not to participate in the EU command so joined TF 151. CAPT Dan B. Termansen, commanding the Danish "flexible combat support ship"[1] HDMS Absalon, alone, had found 88 suspected pirates as of the week of March 15.[1]
In addition to the EU force and TF 151, ships from other countries, including Russia, China, and India are cooperating although not under common command.
While the Danish ship is returning home after a deployment, a task group from Singapore is joining TF 151. [2] The Turkish frigate TCG Giresun (F-491) joined TF 151 in February 2009.
The Boxer has Marine Expeditionary Unit 13 embarked, also giving it a capability to land troops ashore.
References
- ↑ Warden J (March 29, 2009), "Combined Task Force 151 hunts down pirates in the Gulf of Aden", Stars and Stripes
- ↑ Hasnita A Majid (10 April 2009), "SAF task group to help counter piracy in Gulf of Aden", Channel NewsAsia