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'Combined Task Force 150' (CTF-150) is a multinational coalition naval task force with logistics facilities at Djibouti. It is coordinated with, and incorporates vessels of, the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, under the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander/Commander US Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain.
The multinational task force was established to monitor, inspect, board, and stop suspect shipping to pursue the War on Terrorism and includes operations in the North Arabia Sea to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and operations in the Indian Ocean to support Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa (OEF-HOA). These activities are referred to as Maritime Security Operations (MSO).
Countries presently contributing to CTF-150 include Canada, France, Germany, Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States. Other nations who have participated include Australia, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. The command of the task force rotates between the different participating navies, with commands usually lasting between four to six months. The task force usually comprises 14 or 15 vessels.

Contents

2002 - 2005

2006 - 2007: Operations off Somalia

Anti-piracy operations

Interdiction

See also

External links

References

2002 - 2005

On December 20, 2002, a meeting was held aboard the USS ''Mount Whitney'' with military leaders from Djibouti regarding the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. At the time, CTF-150 was commanded by Spanish Rear Admiral Juan Moreno, and comprised vessels from France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and United States. Horn of Africa Group Meets with Regional Leaders
In January 2003, the task force held a Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercise
Forces Combine to Train at Sea involving the following vessels:

★ Spain: SPS ''Navarra'' (flagship, frigate)

★ United States: USS ''Mount Whitney'' - (command ship)

★ Germany: ''Mecklenburg-Vorpommern'' (F218) (frigate), ''Rhon'' (A1443) (tanker)

Ships of the multinational fleet Combined Task Force-150

On June 8, 2005, CTF-150, under the command of Royal Navy Commodore Tony Rix, successfully conducted the boarding of the vessel ''Safari'' in international waters, leading to the seizure of 2.3 tons of hashish. The French frigate ''D'Estienne d'Orves''-class sloop ''Commandant Birot'' (F796) performed the boarding. The captured crew were transferred to the ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer USS ''O'Kane'' (DDG 77). Coalition Warships Intercept Drug Smugglers
On August 17, 2005, French Vice Admiral Jacques Mazars replaced British Royal Navy Commodore Tony Rix as commander of CTF-150. At the time, it comprised vessels of France, Germany, Pakistan, Canada, the United Kingdom and United States. French Take Helm of Combined Task Force 150

2006 - 2007: Operations off Somalia

Anti-piracy operations

On 22 January 2006 USS ''Winston S. Churchill'' captured a suspected pirate vessel in the Indian Ocean as part of an ongoing effort to help maintain law and order in the region.
On April 4, 2006, the South Korean fishing vessel Motor Vessel Dong Won (628) reported it had come under rocket attack off the coast of Somalia. Immediately two ships from the task force, the Dutch vessel HNLMS ''De Zeven Provinciën'' (F802) and the US guided-missile destroyer USS ''Roosevelt'' (DDG-80) responded. However, the pirates had already hijacked the vessel and reached Somali territorial waters after threatening the captured crew members. Coalition Naval Assets Challenge Hijackers On South Korean Motor Vessel

Pakistani Naval ship (PNS) ''Shahjahan''

On April 24, 2006, Pakistani Rear Admiral Shahid Iqbal took command of CTF-150 from Dutch Commodore Hank Ort on a ceremony aboard the HNLMS ''De Zeven Provinciën''. Pakistani Admiral Takes Command of Regional Maritime Task Force The Pakistani ship PNS ''Shahjahan'' served in the task force during this time. On August 22, Rear Adm. Iqbal was relieved by German Rear Admiral Heinrich Lange. Pakistan Navy Completes Term as Commander, Task Force 150

Interdiction

Main articles: Somali Civil War, War in Somalia (2006–present), Battle of Ras Kamboni

Throughout 2006, the Somali Civil War continued to escalate. During this time, the task force conducted normal operations in the Indian Ocean. By early 2007 it became actively involved in providing a maritime cordon to prevent the escape of members of Al Qaeda suspected of being embedded within the ranks of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
Open warfare broke out between Ethiopian and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces on December 20, 2006, but until January 2, 2007 there had been no request by the Ethiopian or Somali military for CTF-150 to take action. No request yet from Somali leaders for help in interdicting militants, 5th Fleet says On that day, the aim of the patrols shifted to "...stop SICC leaders or foreign militant supporters escaping" Ethiopian troops to stay in Somalia weeks
On January 4, ships of the task force began performing Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) missions, boarding fishing boats (''dhows'') and oil tankers passing near the Somali coast. U.S. ships hunt for al Qaeda off Somalia US ships of Combined Task Force 150 include the ''Arleigh Burke''-class destroyer USS ''Ramage'' and the ''Ticonderoga''-class cruiser USS ''Bunker Hill''. Ramage, Bunker Hill keeping an eye on Somalia Commodore Bruce Williams of the Royal Navy led the task force at this time. Combined Task Force 150 Maintains Presence Off East Coast of Africa

See also

Combined Task Force 158

External links

★ Combined Task Force 150 (US Navy)

★ Maritime Security Operations Rhumblines (US Navy)

References