The submarine USS Hartford recently surfaced through a thick sheet of ice in the Arctic Circle near Ice Camp Sargo for Ice Exploration (ICEX) 2016. The crew will spend five weeks evaluating, testing, and researching the operational capabilities of the region while also doing scientific research.
ICEX 2016 is a five-week exercise designed to assess the operational readiness of the submarine force while also continuing to advance scientific research in the arctic region. The Navy’s Arctic Submarine Laboratory, based in San Diego, serves as the lead organization for coordinating, planning and executing the exercise involving two submarines, multiple nations and more than 200 participants.