• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USS Samuel B. Roberts Completes Six-Month Deployment

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS111214-15
12/14/2011

By Lt. j.g. K. Matthew Wall, USS Samuel B. Roberts Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Families and friends welcomed home Sailors from USS Samuel B. Roberts during their scheduled return to Mayport Dec. 14.

The historic warship departed for Africa exactly six months earlier June 14 to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Africa Partnership Station (APS).

Roberts sailed more than 34,000 nautical miles operating in the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Horn of Africa and Indian Ocean. They also transited through the Straits of Gibraltar and Suez Canal twice during the deployment.

As an independent deployed ship, Roberts was accompanied by Jacksonville-based helicopter squadron, HSL-42 Detachment 1, "Yellow Belly Sliders." As a vital asset, they provided increased radar range for the Roberts and were instrumental during anti-piracy operations.

During deployment the ship conducted many joint military exercises with partnering African navies. As part of APS, Roberts embarked officers and Sailors from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and Seychelles to participate in a variety of training to include visit, board, search and seizure, ship navigation and damage control.

In addition to the training, the crew committed many hours of community outreach with projects and athletic events to engage and assist the peoples of East Africa. Some of these outreach projects included painting classrooms, planting trees in neighbourhoods and playing soccer games with children in the local schools.

The overall goal of APS is to strengthen relations between the U.S. and partner countries in Africa to improve maritime security and safety.

"I couldn't be more proud of this crew for the incredible job they did during this deployment," said Samuel B. Roberts' Commanding Officer Cmdr. Angel Cruz. "It was a complete success not only for the Sammy B, but for the Navy, our African counterparts and, most importantly, our country."

By the end of deployment Roberts advanced 20 Sailors ranging from the ranks of seaman to chief petty officer and qualified more than 60 enlisted surface warfare specialists.

The deployment adds to Roberts many accomplishments for 2011 to include a successful joint-Navy maritime training exercise, Joint Warrior, conducted in the United Kingdom between March and May and her record-setting board of inspection and survey in early March.

Samuel B. Roberts is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14 and is homeported in Mayport, Fla.