Family Reunion in the Gulf of Ceylon

CARAT (Sri Lanka) 2026 just wrapped up in Trincomalee, following a series of exercises and exchanges between the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the U.S. Navy. The 32nd iteration of the exercise saw the SLN work alongside deployed VP-26 P-8A Poseidons from CTF 72, staff from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, CTF-73, CTF-76, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, and a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Engagement Team. Of note to our audience will be a few steaming formation shots of SLNS Samudura (P261)/ex-USCGC Courageous, which has been in service with the force since 2005, and SLNS Vijayabahu (P627)/ex-USCGC Munro. which was transferred in 2021. Samudura/Courageous is an ASBC-built 210-foot Reliance-class cutter commissioned in 1968, while Vijayabahu/Munro is a 378-foot Avondale-built Hamilton-class cutter that entered service in 1971. Note that the former 210 now carries fore-and-aft 40mm Bofors L70s, flanked forward by two Chinese Type 58 (ZPU-2) 14.5mm AAGs, while the 378 still has her MK 75…