USS Jason Dunham Leaves the Black Sea

The Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) departed the Black Sea, April 14, 2015, after a series of engagements that promoted peace and stability in the region.

The vessel’s presence in the Black Sea served to reaffirm U.S. commitment towards strengthening partnerships and joint operational capabilities amongst U.S., NATO and regional Black Sea partners.

Cmdr. Darren Dugan, USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) commanding officer, said:

Working alongside our NATO allies in the Black Sea was absolutely invaluable to improving the mutual interoperability of our forces.

Jason Dunham entered the Black Sea in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, April 3. During its time in the Black Sea, the vessel conducted several engagements and operations. It visited Varna, Bulgaria on April 4 and conducted two separate underway engagement with the Bulgarian Navy minehunter BGS Tsibar (32) and Romanian Navy corvette ROS Sebastian (F 264), respectively, on April 5.

The vessel conducted PASSEX during which it engaged with the Bulgarian Romanian naval forces and practiced maneuvering in formation, simulated minehunting, maritime interdiction operations, air defense scenarios and a simulated underway replenishment. Jason Dunham participated in another underway engagement with the Turkish Navy frigate TCG Turgutreis (F-241) and submarine TCG Yildiray (S-350) April 12 and 13. With the Turkish naval forces the vessel practiced surface detection, communications and defense against sub-surface threats.

Jason Dunham arrived in Constanta, Romania for a scheduled refueling before heading back out to sea April. 11.

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Image: US Navy