PHOTOS: US destroyers arrive in India for Malabar 2012

Ahead of the Indo-US military exercise 'Malabar' in the Bay of Bengal from April 9, guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, one of the vessels in the seventh fleet of the United States Navy, docked at Chennai port on Saturday.

Apart from USS Bunker Hill, crew from aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, guided-missile destroyer USS Halsey, a logistics ship, a P-3C aircraft and a submarine will take part in the exercise, officials said.

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INS Satpura, INS Ranvir, INS Ranvijay, INS Kulish and INS Shakti would represent the Indian side.

The exercise will have two phases during which Indian and US navies will demonstrate their ocean defence capabilities off the eastern seaboard in the Bay of Bengal, from Visakhapatnam to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that guards approaches to the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest waterways, officials said.

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While Phase I will be conducted in the vicinity of Chennai, Phase II will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal and west of Nicobar Islands.

"(The) training will include subject matter expert and professional exchanges on counter-piracy operations, carrier aviation operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations and anti-submarine warfare operations," a US Navy release said.

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Events planned include communications exercises, surface action group operations, helicopter cross-deck evolutions, visit, board, search and seizure, maritime strike, air defence and encounter exercises, the release said.

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The Indian Navy and the US 7th Fleet have a common understanding and knowledge of a shared working environment at sea. This exercise helps to advance the level of understanding between our sailors and we hope to be able to continue this process over time.

A press release issued by the US navy said, "The United States and India share common values and seafaring traditions. Our navies are natural partners, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen the bonds and personal relationships between our navies."

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