According to the latest executive summary of the Mariana Islands Range Complex Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Impact Statement filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the waters off Guam and the Northern Marianas will provide American troops with more extensive training in combat at seas and anti-submarine warfare or ASW.
ASW is described as the entire spectrum of platforms, tactics and weapons system used to neutralize and defeat hostile submarine threats to combatant and noncombatant maritime forces.
Part of the ASW training is the Portable Underwater Tracking Range or PUTR.
“The PUTR should provide both shallow water and deep water operating environment, with a variety of bottom slope and sound velocity profiles similar to potential contingency operating areas. Guam-homeported submarine crews, as well as crews of transient submarines, require ASW training events to maintain qualifications,” the report stated.
Also part of the ASW is the Navy’s Fleet Strike Group Exercise and the Ship Squadron Exercise.
“Training would be focused on conducting Strike Warfare or ASW in the most realistic environment, against the level of threat expected in order to effect changes to both training and capabilities (e.g., equipment, tactics, and changes to size and composition) of the Navy Strike Group. Although these exercises would emphasize Strike or ASW, there is significant training value inherent in all at-sea exercises and the opportunity to exercise other mission areas. Each exercise would last a week or less,” the report added.
The Ship Squadron ASW exercise will involve multiple ships, submarines and aircraft in several coordinated events over a period of a week or less.
The ocean waters surrounding the islands will also provide the military to enhance its sonar technology training to gather more intelligence.
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