The U.S. 6th Fleet command and control ship USS Mount Whitney returned to Gaeta, Italy, April 13.

The Blue Ridge class flagship arrived in its forward-deployed port after it completed a 30-day required shipyard maintenance, and scheduled critical Command and Control, Computers, Communications, Combat Systems and Intelligence upgrades, in Rijeka, Croatia.


Quote:

"It is great to be back in Gaeta, Italy, with our family and friends. The USS Mount Whitney Sailor and civilian mariner crew showed superior professionalism and technical expertise in successfully completing our thirty day scheduled shipyard maintenance period in Rijeka, Croatia, on time. The crew also conducted valuable inport and at sea training across all assigned mission areas while underway for routine operations in the Mediterranean."
-- Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer, USS Mount Whitney

Quick Facts:

While in Croatia, Mount Whitney completed work on its electric generators for equipment and replaced several vital antennas throughout the ship.

New decking, piping, and painting were applied throughout several of the ships spaces.

Mount Whitney's Sailors and mariners will use this time in Gaeta to spend time with family, and prepare for their upcoming missions in support of the U.S. 6th Fleet.

Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners. The civil service mariners perform navigation, deck, engineering and supply service operations, while military personnel support communications, weapons systems and security. It is one of only two seaborne joint command platforms in the U.S. Navy, both of which are forward deployed.

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