In an unprecedented event for the military history of Colombia, for the first time a nuclear submarine emerges in national waters to participate in a tactical defense exercise.
At 95 nautical miles, 176 kilometers, from Cartagena, the US and Colombia closed ranks to show the military power of an alliance, in which, according to the United States Senate, Colombia is its main military ally outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO.
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the nuclear submarine Minnesotaspecialized in pursuit and attack
a nuclear submarine, which emerges for the first time in Colombian waters to be part of this binational defense exercise
For almost 7 hours, two Colombian frigates: ARC Almirante Padilla and ARC Independiente; as well as a national submarine, the ARC Pijao, formed and executed tactical movements alongside the mighty american warship Billing’s, and the USA Minnesota nuclear submarine, specialized in pursuit and attack.
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“We located two submarines towards the bow and two frigates, escorting an American Coastal Combat Ship type vessel. We had a nuclear submarine emerging in Colombian waters for the first time to be part of this binational defense exercise,” said Frigate Captain Héctor González, commander of the ARC Almirante Padilla Frigate.
In the global context of military tensions due to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which already claims several hundred deaths, the National Army and the United States Navy showed the power of an alliance that defends the waters of the Caribbean.
United States warship in military practices in the waters of Cartagena.
Photo:John Montaño/ THE TIME
low military exercise
adverse weather conditions
We carry out a tactical maneuver with changes in the formation of ships, in a frog-jumping movement, with an approximation of 100 meters of distance between the ships
But this was also a maritime and air military tactical exercise: the boats were escorted by 2 CN235 house planes, and two helicopters: a Bell 412 and a Dauphin AS365.
In the midst of adverse wind and sea conditions, nearly 600 men and women from both nations attended this tactical military exercise that began at 8 a.m. yesterday, Sunday, with the arrival of the boats at the point of operations and ended at 4 in the afternoon.
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“We carried out a tactical maneuver with changes in the formation of the ships, in a frog-jumping movement, with an approximation of 100 meters of distance between the ships, then, once the ships were in line, we fired with 76 and 40-millimeter cannons. ”, added Frigate Captain Héctor González.
The night before, the ARC Almirante Padilla showed part of the power of his war artillery with the execution of cannon shots and bursts.
Warplane in military exercises over the waters of Cartagena
Photo:John Montaño/ THE TIME
This military exercise, to which attended by the Minister of National Defense, Diego Molano, and part of the military leadership, had been postponed twice due to adverse weather conditions.
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John Montano
Correspondent of THE TIME
Cartagena
On Twitter: @PilotodeCometas
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