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Caribbean Sea – (Sept. 10, 2022) — The Freedom-variant littoral fight ships USS Wichita (LCS 13), left, USS Billings (LCS 15), and an MH-60s Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 6, take part in a photograph train within the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 10, 2022. Wichita and Billings are deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations to help Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s mission, which incorporates counter-illicit drug trafficking missions within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific. (U.S. Navy picture by Mineman 2nd Class Justin Hovarter/Launched)
Billings, together with the “Valkyrie” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 8, deployed in April 2022 to help Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s counter-narcotics operations within the Caribbean Sea and Jap Pacific Ocean. The united statesBillings (LCS 15) carried out the primary east coast littoral fight ship abroad (OCONUS) alternate of command and has operated forward-deployed since December 2021.
Throughout the deployment, Billings, together with her embarked U.S. Coast Guard Regulation Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), assisted in disrupting an estimated 3,065 kilograms of cocaine together with 1,841 kilos of marijuana price an estimated road worth of $217.7 million and eliminated twelve suspected drug traffickers from the narcotics commerce.
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Guantanamo Bay, Cuba – (June 4, 2022) — Electronics Technician 1st Class Christian Chen, heart, from Miami, tosses a heaving line to the pier throughout an inbound sea and anchor element to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, aboard the Freedom-variant littoral fight ship USS Billings (LCS 15), June 4, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations to help Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s mission, which incorporates counter-illicit drug trafficking missions within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific. (U.S. Navy picture by Chief Operations Specialist LaShelby Conley/Launched)
“I’m as soon as once more extremely happy with the Sailors on Billings for the whole lot they achieved this deployment,” mentioned Cmdr. Brett Seeley, Billings’ commanding officer. “They professionally sailed the mighty Billings from the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean and crossed the equator for the primary time in the ship’s historical past. The crew constructed upon the successes of her maiden deployment a yr in the past and succeeded at working with our associate nations strengthening our interoperability and taking narcotics off the streets. We stay up for watching our sister crew proceed the sustained operations downrange because the mighty Billings leads the way in which for the littoral fight ship group.”
Billings carried out bilateral maritime workout routines with Jamaica and took part within the French led multi-national maritime humanitarian help/catastrophe aid (HADR) train CARAIBES 2022 to strengthen partnerships and construct interoperability amongst forces.
Throughout a port go to to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, the ship hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, the honorable Noah Nickolas “Nick” Perry together with senior members of the Jamaican Defence Drive to showcase the capabilities of the usBillings (LCS 15) and talk about the continued partnership and dedication shared between our two international locations.
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OCHO RIOS, Jamaica – (Sept. 17, 2022) — U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica, Noah “Nickolas” Perry and his official occasion pose for an image whereas aboard the Freedom-variant littoral fight ship USS Billings (LCS 15) throughout a scheduled port go to in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Sept. 17, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations to help Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s mission, which incorporates counter-illicit drug trafficking missions within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific. (U.S. Navy picture by Mineman 2nd Class Justin Hovarter/Launched)
“Billings’ Gold Crew Sailors once more confirmed superior efficiency in countering malign actions and conducting theater safety cooperation,” mentioned Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet. “They continued to construct onto the agency basis of demonstrating forward-deployed operations and upkeep, and met U.S. Southern Command goals for the area.”
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OCHO RIOS, Jamaica – (Sept. 19, 2022) – The Freedom-variant littoral fight ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and Her Majesty’s Jamaican Ship (HMJS) Alexander Bustamante together with a helicopter assigned to the Jamaican Protection Drive (JDF) take part in a photograph train offshore of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Sept. 19, 2022. Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations to help Joint Interagency Job Drive South’s mission, which incorporates counter-illicit drug trafficking missions within the Caribbean and Jap Pacific. (U.S. Navy picture by Mineman 2nd Class Justin Hovarter/Launched)
The Billings’ Blue Crew has relieved the Gold Crew and the Billings will stay deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet space of operations.
U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet helps U.S. Southern Command’s joint and mixed navy operations by using maritime forces in cooperative maritime safety operations to keep up entry, improve interoperability, and construct enduring partnerships with a purpose to improve regional safety and promote peace, stability and prosperity within the Caribbean, Central and South American area.
