• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Port Royal takes a break Down Under

7th Fleet

Release Date: 2/19/2004

Expeditionary Strike Group 1 public affairs

MELBOURNE, Australia -- USS Port Royal (CG 73), one of seven U.S. warships that make up Expeditionary Strike Group 1 (ESG-1), arrived here Feb. 18 for a well-earned rest following an active deployment in support of the continuing war on terrorism.

The Pearl Harbor, Hawaii-based guided missile cruiser's visit comes following a Middle East deployment, which involved missions in support of Central Command's objectives in the global war on terrorism. ESG-1 participated in Iraq operations, as well as maritime interception operations in the North Arabian Gulf and the Horn of Africa. ESG-1 ships were recently involved in maritime interception operations that yielded drug seizures estimated at upward of $22 million, and the detention of individuals with possible links to terrorist activities. Also, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted anti-smuggling, humanitarian assistance and security operations in southern Iraq, and in the Horn of Africa.

Most recently, the strike group participated with units from 13 other coalition countries in exercise "Sea Saber", the fifth in a series of multi-national maritime interdiction exercises in support of the proliferation security initiative (PSI). This was the first PSI exercise led by the United States, and followed "Pacific Protector", a similar PSI exercise led by Australia in September.

ESG-1 is a product of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps' commitment to the U.S. defense secretary's transformation of the armed forces. It combines the capabilities of the traditional amphibious ready group and MEU with the more robust strike, anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine capabilities of a cruiser, a destroyer, a frigate and a fast attack submarine. In order to its intended goal is to present regional and combatant commanders a wider variety of options, and enables independent operations in more dynamic operating environments.

"This visit is more meaningful in the current operational environment," said Rear Adm. Bob Conway, commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 1. "Australia is one of the United States' closest partners in the global war on terrorism and, as demonstrated by the recent PSI exercises, is a global partner in the growing coalition against WMD proliferation."

ESG-1 is currently deployed to the commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet area of responsibility in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The group is currently scheduled to return to the United States in March.