From U.S. Third Fleet Public Affairs
In this file photo, USS Russell (DDG 59) operates off the coast of Southern California earlier this year. (U.S. Navy/Lt. j.g. Tommy Rose) >>
SAN DIEGO - The guided-missile destroyer USS Russell (DDG 59) is scheduled to depart Naval Base San Diego Sept. 9 on an independent deployment to the Western Pacific Ocean and Middle East.
Prior to proceeding on deployment Russell will participate in an independent deployer certification exercise (IDCERTEX). The exercise provides a multi-ship environment to train and certify independent deployers in surface warfare, air defense, maritime interception operations, command and control/information warfare, command, control, computers and combat systems intelligence, and mine warfare.
While deployed to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operation, the ship and crew of more than 300 Sailors, assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23, will conduct presence operations and goodwill activities with partner nations.
Russell is a multi-mission ship with anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare surface combatant capabilities; designed to operate independently or with an associated strike group.
"I am very proud of the manner in which our Sailors have prepared themselves and our ship for deployment," said Cmdr. Gill McCarthy, commanding officer of Russell. "They have worked diligently throughout a condensed maintenance and training cycle to ensure that we will successfully carry out our mission while operating overseas."
The ship is homeported in San Diego and is part of Naval Surface Forces and U.S. 3rd Fleet.
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.