战舰踏浪、砺剑远洋，海军第48批护航编队开展多项针对性训练

Warships Riding the Waves, Sharpening Swords for the High Seas

—— The 48th Naval Escort Task Force Conducts Multiple Targeted Training Exercises

■ Du Jiangfan Zhang Dong

The task force conducts joint training between ships and aircraft. Photo by Du Jiangfan

Recently, the 48th Naval Escort Task Force conducted multiple targeted training exercises in a certain area of the Gulf of Aden, effectively enhancing the task force's coordinated combat and emergency response capabilities.

“Several 'suspicious small boats' are approaching me at high speed.” Onboard the Tangshan ship, the urgent battle alarm suddenly sounded.

“Transition to Level One anti-terrorism and anti-piracy deployment.” After the order was issued, the Tangshan ship quickly maneuvered to isolate the escorted merchant vessel from the “suspicious small boats,” deterring them from continuing to approach the merchant ship. Meanwhile, special operations team members rapidly occupied shooting positions according to combat formations.

As the warning siren sounded, the Tangshan ship used an external loudspeaker and VHF channel 16 to issue verbal warnings to the targets and fired signal flares to implement warning and deterrence. However, the “suspicious small boats” ignored the warnings and continued to approach. “Conduct blocking fire.” The special operations team members executed precise blocking fire at different distances and speeds, creating a barrage on the sea surface, successfully driving away the “suspicious small boats.”

“The small boats are fast and highly maneuverable. The team must firmly establish practical combat standards during training and respond accordingly.” Team leader Ma of the special operations unit explained that since undertaking escort missions, the unit has regularly conducted training in special shooting, tactical hand signals, small boat climbing, and on-site inspections and captures, continuously improving the special operations team members' emergency response capabilities in complex maritime conditions.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the special operations team members quickly boarded the ship's helicopter with weapons and established a vigilance position at the door, closely monitoring the movements on the sea surface. They successively completed tasks such as patrol vigilance, covert reconnaissance, and target identification.

As night fell, the training shifted to night takeoff and landing exercises. The ship's surface guide used specialized light signals to relay altitude and speed information in real-time. Inside the cockpit, the pilot closely monitored the instrument parameters, continuously adjusting the flight posture. Ultimately, the helicopter accurately entered the landing approach and smoothly landed on the flight deck of the Tangshan ship.

Flipping through the training schedule of the 48th Naval Escort Task Force, anti-piracy drills, live-fire training, and day-and-night flight training for shipborne helicopters... training subjects followed one after another. The task force commander introduced that while executing routine escort missions, they fully utilized the complex maritime environment to organize targeted training closely aligned with escort tasks, continuously honing the task force's ability to carry out diverse missions.