U. S. Sixth Fleet
November 1, 2022
USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) Arrives in Croatia
The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) arrived in Dubrovnik, Croatia for a scheduled port visit, Oct. 31, 2022.
The port visit comes after Leyte Gulf’s participation in the NATO-led vigilance activity Neptune Strike 22.2 (NEST 22.2) in the Mediterranean Sea. NEST 22.2 demonstrated the combined capacity of the Alliance….
***
“Leyte Gulf is excited to be visiting Croatia, one of our closest NATO allies in the region,” said Capt. Michael Weeldreyer, commanding officer of Leyte Gulf….
***
Defense cooperation between the United States and Croatia in the form of training, equipment, infrastructure construction, and specialized military education remains a cornerstone of the U.S.-Croatia relationship. Recently, Leyte Gulf completed joint exercises with the Croatian missile boat PGG Dubrovnik (RTOP 42) during NEST 22.2.
…Croatia is a hub for U.S. Navy cooperation in the region….
Leyte Gulf, homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, is operating as part of the George H.W. Bush (GHWB) Carrier Strike Group (CSG), operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operation….
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is the flagship of CSG-10, GHWB CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and Leyte Gulf.
The ships of DESRON 26 within CSG-10 are USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).
The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Nighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron
(VAW) 121, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46.
Anti-bellum 