U.S. Navy ships centered around the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) are on the return leg of their deployment and have started arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickman.
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) already moored in Hawaii on June 13.
While moored, the ships will be joined by Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), where the primary mission for the sailors will be liberty after being out to sea for more than 65 consecutive days.
“In Hawaii, our main mission will be for sailors to enjoy their hard-earned liberty time, by relaxing and enjoying the Hawaiian culture,” said Capt. Chris Cegielski , commanding officer of Lake Champlain. “It was a long underway period for the crew, but the Sailors remained focused the whole time and accomplished every task and mission that was put before them with both efficiency and professionalism. However, the secondary mission for our ships will be to take on fuel and cargo and to conduct preservation operations, such as painting the ship, while in port.”
After this port visit, Wayne E. Meyer and Lake Chaplain are scheduled to embark friends and family members of the crews for a tiger cruise as they head back to their homeport in San Diego.
Since leaving Singapore April 8, Wayne E. Meyer and Lake Champlain have conducted routine operations and participated in multiple training exercises with the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).