US,Danish Warships Exercise in the Arctic - revised

A US Navy and Royal Danish Navy warship have held drills near the Danish possession of Greenland,the largest island in the world.The PASSEX,or passing exercise,was conducted by the USS Gravely (DDG 107),an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer,and HDMS Absalon (L16),an Absalon-class command and support ship.At one point,a Royal Danish Navy Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter touched down aft on the Gravely.*
A PASSEX is a series of drills by two navies that ensures their ability to communicate and cooperate closely during a crisis.These may include close manoeuvres;flag-hoist drills;flashing light drills;and semaphore drills;as well as electronic communications and target acquisition drills.*
The USS Gravely has been conducting Arctic operations during an eight-month deployment.According to CDR Michael O'Reilly,commanding officer:
The exercise was a unique opportunity for Gravely to conduct training with the Danish navy and demonstrate interoperability in strategically important waters.*
Later in the deployment,crew members of the Gravely qualified on a machine gun while plying the Arctic waters.*