The Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble (DDG 88) navigated through the Strait of Malacca as part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), Nov. 19.

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, 500-mile-long strait that connects the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean and is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world with nearly 1 million vessels passing through each year.

"The Strait of Malacca borders Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia," said Lt. Philipp Gordley, operations officer aboard Preble. "It's a major international strait and the most direct route for many Asian-industrial goods to navigate to Europe, which is why it is such a heavily-trafficked area."

The TRCSG strait transit was a chance for the United States to work together in formation, and to show other countries that the U.S. Navy is committed to maintaining freedom of sea lanes worldwide.

Safe passage through the strait requires the strike group to utilize strict maneuvering postures and maintain an especially watchful eye for small ships in the area.

"We saw cargo ships, fishing vessels and small ships," said Gunner's Mate Seaman Alex R. Carr, a member of the Small Craft Action Team. "A lot of the ships were transiting alongside us fairly closely, but the movements were well-organized."

Preble rehearsed many strait transits with TRCSG during the Composite Training Unit Exercise in August and recently completed a successful transit through the Tsushima Strait off the coast of Japan and South Korea.

Preble is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet AOR with the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of CSG 9, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), and guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sampson (DDG 102). The TRCSG deployment is an example of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in waters around the globe, displaying commitment to stability, regional cooperation and economic prosperity for all nations. Preble departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a regularly scheduled deployment, Oct. 16, to the U.S. 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts.


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