US destroyer begins third forward deployed patrol from Spain

U.S. Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) set sail from Naval Station Rota, Spain, on March 15, to begin it’s third forward deployed patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

“It’s time for our third patrol and we’ve worked hard preparing for it,” said Cmdr. Peter Halverson, commanding officer, USS Carney (DDG 64. “Our last patrol was demanding but rewarding. We’re looking forward to working with our allies, contributing to the security in the region and seeing new places along the way.”

During Carney’s second patrol the ship and crew supported the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group during Operation Odyssey Lightning in vicinity of Sirte, Libya. Carney also rescued 97 migrants on a small craft in the Mediterranean Sea.

USS Carney (DDG 64) is the fourth and final destroyer to be forward deployed to Rota, Spain. The deployed destroyers have upgraded Aegis combat systems capable of performing ballistic missile defense.

While in U.S. 6th Fleet, these four ships form a centerpiece of NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and perform other missions including training and maritime security operations.