Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 participated in the NATO Exercise BALTOPS 2016 June 3-18.

BALTOPS is an annually recurring exercise designed to enhance interoperability and demonstrate the ability of partner and allied nations to defend the Baltic region. The well-trained NATO submarine crews and challenging environmental conditions in the Baltic Sea created excellent training opportunities for the P-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircrews.

Quote:

"BALTOPS provided our entire team a fantastic training opportunity. The dynamic mission scenarios challenged us and we are now better prepared for combined operations with our NATO allies and partners," said Combat Aircrew 10 Mission Commander and Detachment Officer-in-Charge, Lt. Cmdr. Brian Blaschke.

Quick Facts:

The "Skinny Dragons" of VP-4 deployed two combat aircrews, 18 aircraft maintenance personnel, and one P-3C Orion to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany and established Combined Task Group (CTG) 67.2.

CTG 67.2 was formed for the exercise and is comprised of 92 Sailors from three squadrons. CTG 67.2 was commanded by VP-4 Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Christopher Smith.

Joining the Skinny Dragons as members of CTG 67.2 was a P-8A Poseidon from VP-26, a P-3C from VP-62, and numerous aircraft maintainers from both squadrons. VP-4 Combat Aircrew 7 also flew one mission out of Lielvrde Air Base, Latvia.

CTG 67.2 aircraft flew 18 missions during the exercise, totaling over 67 hours of on-station training with NATO and partner forces.

The Poseidon and Orion crews flew a diverse set of missions but their primary focus was anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and anti-surface warfare.

The aircrews honed their ASW skills working with three submarines and over 40 surface combatants.

U.S. 6th Fleet headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/.