Guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) departed Naval Station Mayport for a scheduled deployment with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG), Jan. 21.

Hue City will be conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to sail with and conduct operations with our foreign allies," said Capt. Dan Gillen, Hue City's commanding officer. "Strengthening our working relationship with other navies is critical to accomplishing the mission abroad."

Hue City spent many months preparing for this deployment. Exercises such as Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and GHWBCSG group sail conducted this last year tested the crew in all mission areas and prepared them for the operational challenges of deployment.

"We're ready," said Gillen. "We have prepared, we've been tested, and now the time has come to put our training into action. We have some of the best Sailors in the fleet aboard USS Hue City, and I know that they will be prepared to accomplish any mission we face."

GHWBCSG is comprised of the staff of CSG-2; aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77); the nine squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8; Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff and guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103); and Mayport-based USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and Hue City.

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