A P-3C Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 conducted two flights as part of Exercise Sea Shield 2016, July 20-21.

Sea Shield is an exercise the U.S. Navy participates in on an annual basis. NATO Black Sea allies including Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, train to enhance anti-submarine warfare techniques, procedures, and tactics.

Quote:

"Sea Shield was a great training exercise for both the U.S Navy and NATO allies in the Black Sea. This dynamic mission scenario was a challenge, and all participating units are better prepared for the future because of it. It was great having members of the Romanian navy ride along with us to get great military-to-military cross training." - Lt. Sarah Freshwater, Combat Aircrew 12 mission commander, detachment officer-in-charge.

Quick Facts:

The "Skinny Dragons" of VP-4 deployed one combat aircrew, 14 maintainers and one P-3C Orion to Constanta, Romania.

VP-4 is in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation in support of U.S national security interests in Europe and Africa.

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 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/.