Forrest Sherman’s return to homeport marks the completion of a six-month deployment because the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group (SNMG) 2, commanded by Rear Adm. Scott Sciretta. Because the flagship, Forrest Sherman led a multinational maritime group in operations all through the Mediterranean Sea, making certain safety and stability within the area whereas supporting deterrence and protection of NATO territory. The ship carried out 5 multi-national workout routines with NATO Allies and companions.
The crew traveled greater than 37,000 nautical miles, safely navigated a number of strait transits, carried out 36 sea and anchor evolutions, 570 hours of flight operations, one anchoring evolution, and 21 replenishments-at-sea, 15 of which had been with allied oilers.
“This yr introduced extraordinary challenges and unimaginable alternatives for the Forrest Sherman crew,” stated Cmdr. Lawrence Heyworth IV, commanding officer of Forrest Sherman. “The first mission of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is to supply NATO with an instantaneous operational response functionality whereas enhancing and enhancing our interoperability and interchangeability with our NATO Allies and companions.”
Forrest Sherman additionally accomplished 17 port visits to Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Spain and Türkiye, strengthening relationships with these essential allies and companions and reinforcing the U.S. dedication to the NATO Alliance and to the area. Whereas in port, Forrest Sherman Sailors attended planning conferences, participated in sporting occasions with Sailors from different navies, toured native areas, and took part in 4 neighborhood relations tasks.
By this wide selection of workout routines, operations, and port visits, Forrest Sherman’s crew demonstrated their unrelenting dedication to their mission and to the area.
“The Forrest Sherman crew completed simply that and a lot extra,” Heyworth stated. “By a two-month surge deployment within the spring, adopted by a six-month SNMG2 deployment, I’m extremely pleased with our crew’s embodiment of our ship’s motto: Relentless Preventing Spirit!”
As a NATO activity group, SNMG2 prioritizes its mandate to boost the collective readiness, responsiveness, deployable readiness, integration and interoperability of its forces. Its focus is on deterrence and protection towards all adversaries within the maritime area, upholding freedom of navigation, securing maritime commerce routes and defending the principle traces of communication.
SNMG2 is a multinational built-in activity group that tasks a continuing and visual reminder of the Alliance’s solidarity and cohesion afloat. This steady maritime functionality performs a variety of duties, together with workout routines and real-world operations in durations of disaster and battle.
