Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) pulled into Souda Bay, Greece, after four months at sea, Oct. 24.

The ship's crew, embarked Amphibious Squadron 6 staff, and embarked Marines of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) spent 121 total days underway, interrupted only by a brief stop for fuel in Rota, Spain, in July.

Quotes:

"As we reach the end of our fourth consecutive month out to sea, our team has continued to demonstrate exceptional fortitude, resilience, and grit. We have traveled more than 22,000 miles, performed more than 4,500 aircraft launches and recoveries, and successfully completed over a dozen replenishments-at-sea with no mishaps. It has been challenging, but I couldn't be prouder of every Sailor and Marine on board this ship." - USS Wasp Commanding Officer, Capt. Andrew Smith.

"Wasp's crew has performed exceptionally well over a long period of time and deserves to enjoy some liberty, and while I'm confident we will all enjoy some time on dry land, we will also have to maintain our focus on the current operations of this ARG (Amphibious Ready Group)." - Commander, Amphibious Squadron 6, Capt. F. Byron Ogden.

Quick Facts:

Since Aug. 1, the 22nd MEU had been conducting precision air strikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in Sirte, Libya, from Wasp as part of Operation Odyssey Lightning (OOL) to support Libyan Government of National Accord-aligned forces fighting there.

After 2 1/2 half months of daily operations, amphibious transport dock USS San Antonio (LPD 17), part of the Wasp ARG, has relieved Wasp to continue supporting that mission.

Wasp is deployed as part of the Wasp ARG to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. Commander, Amphibious Squadron 6 commands the Wasp ARG, which consists of amphibious dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41), San Antonio, and Wasp. The 22nd MEU is currently embarked on the Wasp ARG.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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

For more information about USS Wasp and the Wasp ARG, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lhd1, www.facebook.com/ussWasp/ or www.facebook.com/phibron6/.

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