The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) entered the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations April 29.

The ship departed Naval Station Norfolk April 23 for a regularly scheduled deployment in support of crucial defense operations in the Navy's U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.

Vella Gulf Sailors trained long and hard to ensure mission readiness prior to the journey across the Atlantic.

"Exiting an extended maintenance period, Vella Gulf's crew worked at an exemplary level to meet all training and certification requirements." said Capt. Mark Oberley, commanding officer USS Vella Gulf. "Vella Gulf's training cycle has produced steadfast professionals ready to fulfill the ship's mission."

Vella Gulf is deploying as an independent forward-deployed unit in support of maritime security and ballistic missile defense operations in international waters across the globe.

The ship was commissioned Sept. 18, 1993, and is named after the decisive victory against the Japanese at Vella Gulf during the Solomon Islands Campaign of WWII.

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 on USS Vella Gulf please visit the ship's Facebook www.facebook.com/cg72

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

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