Army attack helicopters teamed up with Navy ships to practice holding enemies 'at high risk' in the Middle East

In March, US Navy surface ships, including a destroyer, worked with Army Apache helicopters to practice responding to threats at sea.

The addition of Army aircraft expands the Navy's ability to do reconnaissance and to hold threats at bay, a Navy officer said.

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US Navy Expeditionary Landing Base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), assigned to US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT), has been conducting joint naval and air integration operations with US Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, assigned to US Army Central Command's (USARCENT) Task Force Saber, throughout the month of March.

The operations, which are designed to enhance the capabilities of US forces to respond to surface threats, have involved Puller performing as a landing base platform for the Apaches, while Cyclone-class Patrol Coastal (PC) ships select simulated targets for them to engage.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) also participated in the joint operations.