Guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) departed Naval Base San Diego June 16 for a deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
Cape St. George will participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world’s largest international maritime exercise, and then proceed to the 7th Fleet AOR to conduct Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) missions.
“The crew has trained and worked extremely hard to get the ship ready for deployment,” said Capt. Mike Doran, commanding officer of Cape St. George. “Cape’s officers and crew are enthusiastic about representing our country and the Navy at RIMPAC, and then operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet.”
Cape St. George has 36 officers and 314 enlisted personnel aboard and will embark two-helicopter detachments from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 78 based at Naval Air Station North Island.
Cape St. George provides deterrence, promotes peace and security, preserves freedom of the seas, and can provide humanitarian/disaster response when necessary.
[mappress] Press Release, June 17, 2014; Image: US Navy