Free Republic

One of the U.S. destroyers tasked with launching a Tomahawk Land Attack Missile on a Syrian airfield last week has returned to its homeport in Spain, the service announced on Tuesday. USS Porter (DDG-78) returned to Naval Station Rota making the completion of a five-month European patrol in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. “During the patrol, Porter conducted port visits in Valencia, Spain; Venice, Italy; Souda Bay, Greece; and Constanta, Romania,” read a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet. Last week, 59 TLAMS from Porter and USS Ross (DDG-78) struck targets at the al-Shayrat air base in Syria destroying Su-22...

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- For the second time this year, USS Porter (DDG 78) transited through the Turkish Straits in April to engage with Black Sea navies. Planned engagements with Romania, Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria will directly support the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (CNE) strategic priority of strengthening enduring partnerships in the region. “These are our new friends,” Commodore, Task Force (CTF) 67 Capt. Bob Lally said of the countries Porter will be interacting with. “The excitement is because they invited us and want to engage with the U.S. Navy. Building new partnerships and strengthening existing ones, especially in...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 600 Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) and the frigate USS Carr (FFG 52), homeported in Norfolk, deployed Nov. 28 in support of the global war on terrorism. Porter and Carr will participate in regional exercises with allies as a Surface Strike Group (SSG). The SSG will make diplomatic port calls and respond to any contingency operations, including those associated with the war on terrorism. “The primary focus is going to be enhancing the U.S. diplomatic missions by interacting with foreign countries,” said Cmdr. Douglas Nashold, commanding officer of Porter. Nashold...