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TAMPA, Fla. — Members of Coast Guard Station St. Petersburg participated in the International Special Forces Week 2016 capabilities demonstration, Wednesday, in downtown Tampa.
This marks the first time Coast Guardsmen have played an active role in the demonstration of this bi-annual event.
The Station St. Petersburg crew, aboard a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium, served as the “enemy vessel” for the demonstration. As the “enemy vessel”, the crew performed a threatening maneuver against a “victim vessel” while the responders suppressed them with defensive maneuvers and by firing simulated rounds. Additional Coast Guardsmen piloted small combat rubber raiding craft, used to retrieve paratroopers toward the end of the event.
During the demonstration, special operations forces from various U.S. military branches joined with special operations forces from 15 different partner nations to conduct various rescue and assault scenarios on land and in the bay. The event highlighted unique skills, equipment, training, and personnel involved in special forces operations.
This demonstration was part of the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa.
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