U.S. Navy frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) is scheduled to return to Naval Base San Diego April 17 from its final deployment, where it operated in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet and U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.
During the seven-month deployment, Gary, the embarked “Scorpions” of Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 49 Detachment 4, and a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET), played an integral role in Operation Martillo.
While supporting Operation Martillo, Gary participated in more than 70 small boat operations and coordinated with several U.S. Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and surface units to include U.S. Navy and Canadian warships, U.S. Coast Guard cutters, and Panamanian, Colombian, Costa Rican, and Ecuadorian Coast Guard vessels in an effort to share resources and strengthen operations while reinforcing commitment to the region. The team successfully interdicted 13,921 kilograms of cocaine, with a wholesale value of $278.4 million and 18 pounds of marijuana, valued at $17,100.
The ship’s helicopter detachment, HSM-49 Detachment 4 flew more than 700 hours of flight operations throughout the deployment and their return to Naval Air Station North Island April 16 marks the last active-duty deployment of the SH-60B Seahawk. The sundown ceremony for the SH-60B is scheduled May 11 at Naval Air Station North Island.
Following Gary’s return, the ship will begin to make preparations for decommissioning.
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Image: US Navy