U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG 111) and USS Decatur (DDG 73) arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii last week for the final port visit in their Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) Western Pacific deployment.
Decatur and Spruance, operating under CDS 31, were most recently underway conducting routine patrols in the South China Sea prior to pulling into port.
While in Hawaii, the ships will also embark riders for a tiger cruise. Tiger cruises provide family members and friends of the crew the opportunity to stay aboard the ship to see the daily operations of a surface naval vessel up close.
Decatur, Spruance and the embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49 “Devil Fish” are part of the U.S. 3rd Fleet PAC SAG. USS Momsen (DDG 92) and the embarked helicopter detachment “Warbirds” of HSM 49 are also members of the PAC SAG.
Under the operational control of 3rd Fleet, the PAC SAG conducted routine patrols, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation activities with allies and partners to enhance regional security and stability throughout their deployment. Since departing in April, the PAC SAG conducted several multilateral exercises with Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea, Australia and France and also conducted joint exercises with U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps assets.
Momsen and Spruance spent part of the deployment participating in the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI). OMSI is a Secretary of Defense program utilizing Department of Defense assets transiting the region to increase the Coast Guard’s maritime domain awareness, ultimately supporting its maritime law enforcement operations in Oceania.
Later this month, Decatur and Spruance are scheduled to return to their homeport of San Diego, and Momsen will return to its homeport of Everett, Washington.