Within its scheduled deployment to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility, the U.S.Navy’s frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) dropped anchor in Nouakchott, Mauritania for a port visit, on Wednesday.
The visit is aimed at building up relations with the Mauritian leaders and bolstering maritime partnerships. It will pave the way for a bilateral exchange in damage control, boarding techniques, and expeditionary medical care. This knowledge exchange will lay the groundwork for both services for an at-sea boarding exercise immediately following the visit.
USS Elrod set sail on a six-month deployment on 14th of January, during which the ship will conduct several exercises with African nations and security operations.
This is 11th deployment for USS Elrod since her commissioning. The ship completed three deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, five to the Persian Gulf, one to the Adriatic Sea, and one to the Caribbean Sea.
The ship belongs to the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, designed in US in the 1970s with general purpose to escort vessels. This will be the last deployment for Elrod which has spent 30 years in active service, as the ship is scheduled for decommissioning once it returns.
[mappress] Naval Today Staff, January 31, 2014; Image: Wikimedia