U, S. Navy Signalman 3rd Class Allen Hovik checks his Spanish language guide during UNITAS X during lull in communications. Below: A U. 5. and Colombian destroyerman apply destroyerman's talent during a civic action project. Right: Members at UNITAS X get underway from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Far right: Colombian sailor sends message to USS Leahy.
For THE 10TII STRAIGHT YEAR, U, S, and South American navies cooperated in the recently com­pleted UNITAS.
All of the participants engaged in learning and re­fining tactics of ocean control and antisubmarine war­fare. And meanwhile, the United States gained good­will with the people—sailors and civilians—of the Latin nations involved.
While the U. S. ships maneuvered with their South American counterparts off the coast, a Navy band toured the interior of various countries. And when the ships pulled into port. North and South Americans continued to combine their efforts in civic action proj­ects, sports and recreation,
Last year's exercise, UNITAS X, began in July when four U, S. ships left San Juan to begin a 19,000-mile counterclockwise cruise around South America. Ships of eight South American countries joined them for vari­ous parts of the cruise, scheduled to end in December,
The U. S, ships are uss Leahy (DLG 16), uss Sarsfield (DD 837), uss ]. K. Taussig (DE 1030) and uss Grampus (SS 523).
The combined task force was directed by Rear Ad­miral James A. Dare, Commander South Atlantic Force, U. S. Atlantic Fleet. Operational command of exercises was rotated among senior officers of the par­ticipating navies.
Altogether some 50 ships, 70 aircraft and 15,000 men of the nine navies of North and South Amer­ica took part in various UNITAS exercises. In some phases, 20 ships from four countries have operated together at the same time.
Typically, an American destroyer may have detect­ed a submarine (Grampus or a sob from one of the other navies), reported to a Uruguayan captain, and then joined Brazilian and Argentine destroyers in tracking it down. Men speaking three languages were
Cooperation
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ALL HANDS