US and French navies complete combined strike group operations
MANAMA, Bahrain — The U.S. and French navies completed five weeks of rare combined carrier strike group operations in the Middle East Sunday.
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group and French Navy Task Force 473 — which includes the French carrier FS Charles de Gaulle — began operating together in late December.
Officials said this involved full integration of strike group operations to conduct routine maritime security, along with various training events.
During the five weeks, U.S. F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets landed and conducted operations from the Charles de Gaulle, and French aircraft landed and launched from the Truman, the main differences being use of hand and launch signals, according to a Navy press release.
http://www.stripes.com/news/us-and-french-navies-complete-combined-strike-group-operations-1.265315