This marks the fifth time an Italian ship has joined the strike group because the begin of its scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe space of operations demonstrating the flexibility and interchangeability of the 2 NATO allies.
“Working with our allies within the Bush Service Strike Group displayed the breadth of our capabilities and the convenience with which we are able to combine into one warfighting group,” stated Italian Navy Cmdr. Fabio Casamassima, commanding officer of Fasan. “We stay up for future alternatives to coach and function collectively.”
Casamassima additionally visited with Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander, U.S. sixth Fleet and Hanging and Help Forces NATO, and Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, deputy commander, U.S. European Command (EUCOM), throughout a key chief engagement hosted by CSG-10 aboard George H.W. Bush on March 8.
“It has been our distinctive pleasure to work extensively with our Italian allies all through our time in theater,” stated Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. “We‘ve constructed upon the already sturdy relationship between the U.S. and Italy to ship interchangeability among the many NATO alliance for safety and prosperity.”
Fasan accompanied George H.W. Bush throughout its scheduled port go to in Souda Bay, Crete, additional demonstrating the depth of the NATO alliance.
George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, CVW-7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Data Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).
The ships of DESRON 26 inside CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).
The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Knighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin Canine” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of VAW-121, the “Patriots” of Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has solid strategic relationships with allies and companions, leveraging a basis of shared values to protect safety and stability.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the EUCOM and U.S. Africa Command areas of accountability. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces by way of the complete spectrum of joint and naval operations.
