The Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Cowpens (CG 63) returned to the 7th Fleet area of operations after essential repairs Sept. 29.
Home-ported in San Diego, Cowpens and is on deployment in the 7th Fleet area of operations promoting maritime security in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
Cowpens swapped hulls earlier in March with the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) in Yokosuka, Japan and underwent essential repairs in San Diego. Cowpens, with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 Det. 6, are scheduled to join the George Washington Carrier Strike Group in support of theater security operations.
“It’s remarkable; to look back on my 23 years of service, I have to say the team I have here finished off an unprecedented amount of work in just four months,” said Capt. Gregory W. Gombert, commanding officer of Cowpens. “Cowpens has a bone in her teeth again and Navy leadership can be proud of these Sailors.”
The crew spent the last several months returning their ship to fighting shape and is scheduled to participate in multi-national exercises alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73).
“Theater security cooperation, building partner capacity, and performing exercises with our partners during our patrol will enhance our interoperability as cornerstones to ensure regional peace and stability,” said Gombert.
[mappress] Press Release, October 03, 2013