The amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and embarked Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) departed the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations (AOO), March 26.

Carter Hall's time in U.S. 6th fleet was spent conducting shipboard training and participating in the Romania-led bilateral exercise Spring Storm 2017 in Capu Midia, Romania.

Spring Storm was a bilateral exercise designed to increase the interoperability between Romanian and American forces and enhance their enduring relationship through a series of exercises.

"Having an opportunity to go up there and show a strong force with the 24th MEU and accomplishing that mission with Romania was an absolute home run," said Cmdr. Timothy Carter, commanding officer, USS Carter Hall. "It was a great opportunity for us to work together as a unit, and a great opportunity for us to show our nation's flag in the Black Sea."

Carter Hall completed a scheduled port visit to Souda Bay, Greece, to receive supplies, parts and mail in preparation for Spring Storm 17. While in port, crew members had the opportunity to participate in a community relations event to help clean up Agioi Apostoloi Beach. The ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation committee also organized several tours of the area.

Carter Hall's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team and the 24th MEU's Maritime Raid Force remained in Souda Bay for a week of VBSS training. During this week they practiced boarding procedures on training vessels, increasing weapons proficiency and maneuvering rigid-hull inflatable boats to board vessels.

"It was valuable training for them to prepare for VBSS operations if they ever come about," Carter said.

Carter Hall transitioned from the U.S. 6th Fleet AOO to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO.

The ship is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, visit http://www.navy.mil/.