Amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego Feb. 25 following completion of the ship’s maiden deployment to the Western Pacific and the U.S. Central Command areas of operation.
The only ship in the U.S. Navy stationed in its namesake city departed for the seven-month, 40,000 nautical mile deployment, as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) on July 25.
San Diego’s Engineering Department was able to conduct several major maintenance and repair evolutions while at sea ensuring the ship’s mission was uninterrupted. This allowed for a 26-day full-power run from the northern Red Sea to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which can be a challenging feat for a ship of any class.
Deployment highlights:
San Diego’s 410 Sailors and Marines conducted maritime security operations and theater security cooperation exercises and events in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation and assisted in the evacuation of three National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists as part of the Makin Island ARG and 11th MEU emergent recovery operation at the Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument.
San Diego, accompanied by amphibious dock landing ship USS Comstock (LSD 45), was the command ship for Malus Amphex 14, a bi-lateral amphibious exercise with the Royal Malaysian Navy.
The vessel also took part in Cougar Voyage 2014 with the Royal British and French Navies; Red Reef 15 with Saudi Arabian Forces; and participated in sustainment training exercises in Kuwait and Djibouti.
During the deployment, San Diego made port visits to Aqaba, Jordan and Port Khalifa, UAE, for routine maintenance; Hong Kong and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for liberty.
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Image: US Navy