Guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) returned to Naval Station Norfolk, July 21, after completing a group sail in preparation for its upcoming deployment as part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2.

The group sail improved Mahan's at-sea interoperability with other Destroyer Squadron 22 and CSG 2 assets.

During group sail the crew refined their operational readiness through live-fire exercises, flight quarters, damage control training, anti-submarine and navigation exercises.

"There was only one ship out there doing live fire exercises that hit above 90 percent, and that was USS Mahan," said Cmdr. Marc Davis, Mahan's commanding officer. "Most of the grades have to do with accuracy and timing. We were given an average of 94 percent across all of our live-fire events. My crew fired straight, they fired true and they fired quickly."

The crew passed several events, including achieving the highest rating for communications. They received a T1 rating, one of two earned throughout the entire strike group during group sail.

"This group sail went very well; all evolutions were safe and we knocked everything required out of the park," said Davis. "We topped the list for quite a few items, which always makes me smile."

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