Joint high-speed vessel USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and its embarked detachment of U.S. Navy Sailors, civil service mariners, and U.S., Spanish and British Marines began taking part in Exercise Obangame Express 2015, March 20.

Spearhead is functioning as a platform for Nigerian and Cameroonian forces to simulate maritime interdiction boardings for the multinational maritime security and interoperability exercise.

Quotes:
"We look forward to the Obangame Express 2015 portion of Africa Partnership Station. During this multinational maritime exercise, African, European, South American, and U.S. forces will work together to strengthen our Global Network of navies. This is emphasized by our embarked U.S, Spanish, and British Marines working alongside our embarked Cameroonian military forces."
- Cmdr. Matthew Flemming, Africa Partnership Station 2015 mission commander

"Our engagement with the Nigerian military forces will not only be beneficial to them, but our embarked Cameroonian military forces as well."
-Chief David Reams, special boat operator


Quick Facts:
* Participating nations in Obangame Express 2015 include Angola, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Spain, Togo, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States.

* These 23 countries and regional organizations will be working in maritime operations centers and aboard ships to cooperatively leverage the Yaounde Code of Conduct for West and Central Africa, which provides a regional framework for cooperation and information sharing.

* Africa Partnership Station is the mechanism by which international maritime forces share professional skills, knowledge and experience to enhance collective efforts to combat sea-borne illicit activity.

* Spearhead is on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the international collaborative capacity-building program Africa Partnership Station.

* 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.

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