Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), along with an embarked detachment from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 “Easyriders”, returned to its homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam following a independent deployment to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations, Nov 7.
“Our forward operations demonstrated the U.S. Navy’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Cmdr. Dawn Allen, commanding officer aboard William P. Lawrence. “Nowhere in the world will you find a better fighting team that is ready both to preserve peace and prevent conflict. As advertised, the Sailors of William P. Lawrence ‘never give in!’”
During its time in 7th Fleet, William P. Lawrence conducted operations in the South and East China Seas, joined the Reagan Carrier Strike group off the coast of Australia during joint exercise Talisman Sabre, and participated in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus Maritime Security Field Training Exercise 2019 as well as the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2019 in Singapore. The Maritime Security Field Training Exercise, which included 18 participating countries, focused on enhanced cooperation between ADMM-Plus nations and information sharing, interoperability and multinational response to maritime security issues.
The destroyer also joined numerous bi-lateral and multi-lateral operations, which included sailing with the Indian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the Republic of Philippine Navy in the South China Sea in May.
The ship covered approximately 60,000 nautical miles over the course of its deployment.
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with U.S. 7th Fleet to provide commanders with capable, ready assets across the spectrum of military operations in the Indo-Pacific.
For more news from Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c3f/.
For more information on USS William P. Lawrence, please visit https://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ddg110/Pages/default.aspx.