Littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) pulled into Muara, Brunei, for a scheduled port visit Feb. 16.

While in port, Coronado will host multiple ship tours and present a static display of a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter and a MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. Sailors will also have the opportunity to participate in a sports day with members of the Royal Brunei navy (RBN) and experience the culture and sites of Brunei while on liberty.

"We are honored to visit Brunei and enhance mutual cooperation with a key maritime partner," said Cmdr. Scott Larson, commanding officer, Coronado. "This is a great opportunity for our Sailors to engage with counterparts from the RBN while also experiencing the local culture."

Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23 Dets. 4 and 5 assigned to Coronado will be providing the static display, as well as conducting a professional exchange on search and rescue mission coordination and shipboard helicopter operations.

Lt. Patrick Norwood, operations officer, HSC 23 Det. 4, talked about the port visit and the unique opportunity it presents.

"I'm looking forward to meeting with our counterparts in Brunei and learning how they plan and execute their operations," said Norwood. "There is always a chance that we could conduct operations with these same pilots in the future, and the relationships we build during port visits are essential toward future coordination."

Currently on a rotational deployment, Coronado is a fast and agile warship made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future.

On behalf of Commander, Task Force 73, Destroyer Squadron 7 serves as operational commander for littoral combat ships rotationally deployed to 7th Fleet, and conducts advanced planning, organizes resources, and directly supports the execution of maritime engagements such as the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series, the Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with Vietnam, and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise with Bangladesh, Cambodia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

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