US Navy:
Guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) returned to Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Dec. 30.
San Jacinto deployed June 1 as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), supporting combined task forces (CTF) 51, 55, and 61.
The ship also served as the air and missile defense commander (AMDC) under the guidance of Commanding Officer Capt. Dennis Velez in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
“This deployment was a huge win for our crew and for the Navy,” Velez said. “The deployment was a culmination of long weeks of training, preparation, and assessments following compressed basic and advanced phases. The crew came together and demonstrated their ability to perform every mission with superb professionalism. I could not be more proud of the crew and the fantastic job they did.”
San Jacinto traveled more than 52,500 nautical miles during the deployment through the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, and Arabian Gulf. The ship conducted port visits to Naples, Italy; Manama, Bahrain; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; and Piraeus, Greece. The ship completed 29 replenishments-at-sea, on-loading more than 5.2 million gallons of fuel and more than 1,000 pallets of stores for sustainment.
The embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, Det. 1, flew missions almost daily using two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. The squadron conducted more than 950 flight hours for surface search and classification (SSC) and anti-submarine missions.
San Jacinto hosted a number of distinguished visitors, including U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah’s 3rd Congressional District; Vice Adm. Robert P. Burke, chief of naval personnel; Rear Adm. James J. Malloy, commander, CSG-10; and Commodore Konstantinos Leondaras, harbor master of Piraeus, Greece….
