Top American warships for naval exercise

New Delhi, September 22

Top of the line US warships and a nuclear powered submarine will be in the Bay of Bengal next month for a naval exercise involving the US, India and Japan. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a 1 lakh tonne sea-borne aircraft carrier with space for 90 fighter jets and helicopters on board, will lead the US fleet.

It is currently deployed in the Persian Gulf and is used by the US to launch attacks on terror group IS-controlled areas. The nuclear powered warship is 332 m long and is one of the most potent warships from US’ Nimitz-class carriers.

Littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth, nuclear-powered Los Angeles-class submarine and guided-missile carrying cruiser USS Normandy will be part of the fleet for the naval exercise — ‘Malabar’.

The Indian Navy will field its stealth frigate INS Shivalik and warships INS Ranvir and INS Betwa, besides a diesel-electric powered submarine and a fleet tanker. The Japanese have so far confirmed the participation of its warship JS Fuyuzuki. — TNS