US Navy Destroyer Departs Black Sea

March 24, 2014

The U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed the Black Sea, on March 21.

While in the region, Truxtun conducted port visits in Romania and Bulgaria, and executed training scenarios with both navies that included a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) at sea.

The PASSEX, conducted with Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces, provided participants the opportunity to operate together and develop productive relationships through diverse and challenging operational scenarios.

Highlights during the training evolution included visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) evolutions with tactics and technique exchanges; fast roping exercises and other flight operations related training. Bulgarian naval cadets also embarked the ship, observing and participating in a series of training events that served to strengthen seamanship and crisis response of the cadets and Truxtun’s crew.

“Truxtun’s presence in the Black Sea demonstrated the United States’ commitment to working closely with allies to enhance maritime security and stability, readiness, and naval capability,” the U.S. Navy said in a press statement.

Truxtun, with a crew of approximately 300 Sailors, is currently on a scheduled deployment as part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts a full range of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation missions in concert with coalition, joint, interagency, and other parties in order to advance security and stability in Europe and Africa.