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USS Taylor Returns Home

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050608-08
Release Date: 6/8/2005 11:10:00 AM

By Lt. j.g. John Boseman, Naval Station Mayport Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Taylor returned to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., June 6 after completing a six-month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism in the Mediterranean.

Taylor operated in the Mediterranean Sea as part of Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group (SNMG) 2 and performed numerous missions in support of Operation Active Endeavor, the NATO operation supporting the global war on terrorism.

Taylor's mission included the boarding of suspect vessels and conducting maritime surveillance operations to disrupt the flow of illegal waterborne logistics and personnel into Europe.

Additionally, as part of SNMG2, Taylor represented the United States in two major naval exercises, the Italian naval exercise Noble Marlin and the French naval exercise Trident D'or.

In both exercises, Taylor's crew performed exceptionally, employing the full capabilities of an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and an SH-60/B Helicopter (Magnum 444) in anti-submarine warfare, anti-air, surface warfare and multi-unit ship handling.

"The ship and the crew performed remarkably," according to Executive Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Dale Maxey. "We integrated with more than 40 ships from nine countries and it went very well."

While maintaining and operating the ship during the deployment, Taylor's crew did not miss the opportunity for professional development. Taylor qualified nine surface warfare officers and 42 enlisted surface warfare specialists.

Furthermore, during the course of the deployment, 29 Sailors were promoted in the petty officer ranks, and three chief petty officers were promoted to senior chief petty officers.

Among the recently promoted was Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Reynante Obis.

"I feel really good about getting promoted, and I am proud of what we have done," he said. "I am also very excited to see my family."

"This has been one of the most interesting and challenging deployments of my career," added Senior Chief Gas Turbine System Technician Scott Jackson. "The deployment could not have had a better ending than with the ship achieving a higher than Navy average in advancement."

During its deployment Taylor was able to participate in several port visits to Lisbon, Portugal; Augusta Bay, Italy; Catania; Italy; Aksaz, Turkey; Trieste, Italy; Algiers, Algeria; Barcelona, Spain; Souda Bay, Crete; and Rota, Spain.

With the successful completion of the 2005 deployment, Taylor is scheduled for maintenance and upgrades that will enhance Taylor's readiness to face the challenges of the 2006 deployment.