According to information published by the U.S. Navy, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), and expeditionary fast transport USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5) are participating in U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) largest and premier annual exercise African Lion.
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USNS Trenton, USS Ross, and RMNS Allal Ben Abdellah (Picture source: U.S. Navy)
Exercise African Lion 21, is a joint, combined exercise led by Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and sponsored by U.S. Africa Command. In addition to U.S. forces, participants include allies and African partners from Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal. Participants will work together to strengthen U.S. and partner nation’s capability to promote regional stability and support interoperability.
Exercise African Lion involves U.S. service members from all service components, including the Reserves and National Guard. It provides a critical opportunity for members of the joint team to build and test their strategic readiness to deploy, fight and win in a complex, multi-domain environment.
The maritime portion of the exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, includes a naval gunfire exercise, multiple sea-based maneuvers, and crisis response capabilities.
USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5), is a Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessel. Spearhead-class ships are used to support overseas operations, conduct humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and support special operations forces. This type of vessel also has an aviation flight deck and can operate in shallow waters. Trenton completed acceptance trials on 13 March 2015 and was delivered to the United States Navy on 13 April 2015.
The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (EPF) is a United States Navy–led shipbuilding program.
The EPF will reach speeds of 35–45 knots (65–83 km/h; 40–52 mph) and will allow for the rapid transit and deployment of conventional or special forces as well as equipment and supplies.
RMNS Allal Ben Abdellah is a corvette in service with the Royal Moroccan Navy. She is the second ship of her class of Sigma Frigate 9813 developed by Damen Group.
