SHIPS ON EXERCISE AND REFUELLING.




Initials



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Background: EXERCISE STRAIGHT LACED, A NATO STRIKING FLEET EXERCISE, INVOLVING 31 SHIPS AND ABOUT 15,000 MEN FROM FIVE NATIONS, IS UNDERWAY IN THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN ATLANTIC.

THE COUNTRIES PARTICIPATING ARE FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS, NORWAY, BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES.

STRAIGHT LACED IS THE FIRST STRIKING FLEET EXERCISE OF ITS KIND FOR TWO YEARS AND IS THE LARGEST MARITIME EXERCISE IN NATO HISTORY.

DURING THE EXERCISE THE AMERICAN HEAVY CRUISER NEWPORT NEWS APPROACHED THE AMERICAN FLEET OILER MISSISSENEWA FOR UNDERWAY REFUELLING OPERATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS OPERATION WAS GOING ON, ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE OILER, THE BRITISH GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYER LONDON WAS BEING REFUELLED ON THE STARBOARD SIDE.

NEWPORT NEWS IS THE FLAGSHIP OF THE EXERCISE. THE BRITISH OILER OLEANDER IS AT WORK IN ANOTHER PART OF THE FORMATION REFUELLING THE BRITISH CARRIER ARK ROYAL AND THE AMERICAN GUIDED MISSILE FRIGATE BERKNAP.