Pre-deployment exercises to the mission in Lebanon are carried out on Frigate ‘Liberal’
From July 18 to 29, 2016, the crew of the Frigate 'Liberal' was given the Pre-deployment Basic and Advanced Field Exercises (EBOP/EAOP, acronyms in Portuguese). This crew will take over the Mission of the Flagship of the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF-UNIFIL) in September, replacing the Frigate 'Independência'.
The UN Pre-Deployment Basic Field Exercise consists of training in the Tactical Simulator of Almirante Marques de Leão Training Center (CAAML, acronym in Portuguese), of the Brazilian Navy, and on board of the anchored vessel. The UN Pre-Deployment Advanced Field Exercise consists of training at sea. It permits a higher level of realism in the simulated threats and a best evaluation of the actions undertaken on the vessel.
The UN Pre-Deployment Basic Field Exercise, on board, included exercises of Damage Control (CAV, acronym in Portuguese); manning of the Response Group to Asymmetric Threats (GRAA, acronym in Portuguese) and of the Boarding team, and Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) exercises. These last exercises were carried out by CCOPAB in the Tactical Simulator and in the auditorium of CAAML.
In the UN Pre-Deployment Advanced Field Exercise, there was a shooting exercise with the main batteries (4,5'' cannon) and the secondary ones (.50 caliber machine gun and 40mm cannon) at a target adrift. Moreover, there was an air defense exercise and the attacking group was represented by two AF-1 aircrafts (A-4 Skyhawk), and another one was to man and send the Boarding Team, with Frigate 'União', functioning as the contact of interest.
CCOPAB also carried out daily trainings on Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) with the several teams of the Bridge teams and of the Combat Operations Center (COC), using the Tactical Control System (SICONTA, acronym in Portuguese) of Frigate 'Liberal'.
It was the first time the exercise included Air Operations simulating Aeromedical Evacuation (AE), requiring the Medical Team on board to complete all the procedures of first aid, stabilization, on board transit, and the issuing of the required documents to remove onboard patients by an aircraft. Besides, there was the simulation of a Large Scale Rescue Operation at Sea, representing the encounter with a refugee vessel in the Mediterranean.
Translation: LT Eduarda Coelho
