USS San Diego returns to operations after Greece pit stop

US Navy’s amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22) got underway from Souda Bay, Greece, October 21, after completing a scheduled mid-deployment voyage repair maintenance there.

San Diego’s port visit allowed the crew and contractors to carry out repairs and maintenance ensuring the ship remained in operational condition for its deployment.

“We had contractors come out to our ship to help us understand the technical side of some of the maintenance we needed to get done,” said Engineman 2nd Class Tyler Foster, assigned to San Diego’s engineering department.

San Diego also had the chance to complete paint and preservation projects to reduce corrosion on the outside of the ship.

“We were able to paint most of the side of the ship during our stay in Souda Bay,” said Seaman Andrew Picard, assigned to San Diego’s deck department. “We busted rust with our needle guns, primed that area, then painted the side with the glorious haze grey.”

Commissioned in 2012, San Diego is the sixth ship in the San Antonio-class of amphibious landing transport dock ships. Designed as a multi-mission amphibious warship, these ships are able to support a broad range of expeditionary operations.

San Diego is deployed with the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to support maritime security and theater security cooperation in efforts in the US 6th Fleet area of operations.

The America ARG, led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3, consists of San Diego, the America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), and the Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52). They will operate with embarked forces of the 15th MEU, the “Wildcards” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, and detachments from Assault Craft Unit 5, Naval Beach Group 1, Beachmaster Unit 1, Fleet Surgical Team 1 and Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 11.