Fitzgerald departed San Diego on Jan. 3 as a part of the Abraham Lincoln Service Strike Group (ABECSG) and served because the ballistic missile protection commander for ABECSG earlier than detaching to conduct impartial operations.
“I’m tremendously pleased with my Sailors’ sense of possession and dedication to one another and the mission,” mentioned Cmdr. David Catterall, Fitzgerald’s commanding officer. “We operated efficiently throughout a large spectrum of operations with allies and companions around the globe and displayed the immense functionality of Fitzgerald Sailors and the U.S. Navy.”
Whereas deployed to U.S. fifth Fleet, Fitzgerald carried out operations throughout a number of warfare areas, offering regional stability and supporting companions such because the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Whereas within the North Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, Fitzgerald embarked a complicated interdiction crew from the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct maritime interdiction operations, together with the inaugural operations of a brand new coalition activity drive, Mixed Job Drive 153. Fitzgerald Sailors additionally devoted time in port to construct group relations by tasks at an animal shelter and a neighborhood faculty in Bahrain.
Throughout U.S. seventh Fleet, Fitzgerald contributed to enduring partnerships which might be crucial to sustaining a global rules-based order, together with work with the Japanese Maritime Self Protection Drive throughout a complicated anti-submarine warfare train. Fitzgerald and a Royal Australian Navy frigate carried out flight operations, tactical maneuvering and a personnel change earlier than taking part in Train Milan 2022, a multinational train in India with ships from 13 nations the place Fitzgerald was the primary U.S. ship to ever take part. In Sri Lanka, Fitzgerald carried out bilateral go to board search and seizure coaching with the Sri Lanka Navy Particular Boat Service.
Fitzgerald concluded deployment in U.S. third Fleet by conducting two vital worldwide workout routines, together with Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, the most important multinational maritime train on the planet, which is hosted each two years in and across the Hawaiian Islands with 26 taking part nations.
Fitzgerald’s last train of deployment was Pacific Dragon (PACDRAGON) 2022, a recurring biennial multinational air and missile protection train designed to enhance tactical and technical coordination and interoperability regarding regional air and missile protection functionality.
“I’m extremely pleased with this crew for at all times rising to the event,” mentioned Catterall. “I’m additionally extremely grateful to the households and mates again dwelling who supported our Sailors throughout these final seven months.”
An integral a part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. third Fleet leads naval forces within the Indo-Pacific and supplies the reasonable, related coaching essential to flawlessly execute our Navy’s position throughout the total spectrum of navy operations—from fight operations to humanitarian help and catastrophe reduction. U.S. third Fleet works along with our allies and companions to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of regulation, and different rules that underpin safety for the Indo-Pacific area.
For extra Fitzgerald data, please go to the ship’s web site at https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/ddg62/ or www.dvidshub.internet/unit/CSG3.
