030609-N-4374S-015 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- The aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) sails in the Baltic Sea during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030609-N-4374S-013 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- A member of Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure (VBSS) team from the aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) takes a turn boarding a RHIB boat to conduct operations during the annual maritime training exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030609-N-4374S-007 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- A cloud of propellant-gas discharge is expelled from the 5-inch gun aboard the aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030609-N-4374S-006 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- Seaman Apprentice Calais Thamous reports a surface contact as he stands the starboard lookout watch aboard the aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030609-N-4374S-004 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Corey Lightfoot assigned to the Proud Warriors of Light Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Forty Two (HSL-42) tracks a surface contact via APS-124 search radar aboard an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter on a routine flight mission. The Proud Warriors are embarked aboard the Aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030609-N-4374S-002 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- The start-up signal is given to an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter assigned to the Proud Warriors of Light Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Forty Two (HSL-42). The helicopters are aboard the Aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise which is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030608-N-4374S-014 Baltic Sea (Jun. 9, 2003) -- German Navy ship FGS Lubeck (F 214) and Russian Navy ship RFS Nastoychivyy sail in formation behind the U.S. Navys Aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) during exercise Baltic Operations (BALTOPS) 2003. The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030607-N-2143T-004 Central Command Area of Responsibility (Jun. 7, 2003) -- Sailors assigned to Deck Department aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) work together to lower Rear Admiral Samuel J. Locklear's, Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group Five, barge while visiting the Kingdom of Bahrain. Nimitz Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVN-11) are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraqs weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Airman Maebel Tinoko.

030608-N-7902K-024 Philippine Sea (Jun. 08, 2003) -- Sailors aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) enjoy a swim call and a steel beach picnic in the warm waters of the Western Pacific. Steel beach picnics give Sailors a day to relax and have fun after being out to sea for extended periods of time. Antietam is part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group on deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030608-N-4374S-020 At sea aboard USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) Jun. 8, 2003 -- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Cooper, assigned to the Aegis cruiser USS Vella Gulf, stands aft lookout watch during a high-line transfer with the German Bremen class frigate FGS Lubeck (F 214) during the annual maritime exercise Baltic Operations 2003 (BALTOPS 2003). The United States and 12 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting support operations at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment at sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Michael Sandberg.

030605-N-7902K-060 Philippine Sea (Jun. 5, 2003) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) conduct a small boat exercise with the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61). The ships are part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group conducting battle group operations in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030605-N-7902K-103 Philippine Sea (Jun. 5, 2003) -- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Brian Norman defends the ship with a Mark 38 .25mm machine gun supported by the phone talker, Torpedoeman's Mate 2nd Class Edwin Holland during a small boat training exercise aboard the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61). The exercise is being conducted with the support of the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) and the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). The ships are part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group conducting battle group operations in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030605-N-7902K-116 Philippine Sea (Jun. 5, 2003) -- Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Patrick Stewart and Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jeff Comer secure the forward steadying line while retrieving the rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) aboard the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) after a completing a small boat training exercise. The exercise is being conducted with the support of the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) and the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). The ships are part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group conducting battle group operations in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030605-O-0000K-001 Gdynia Harbor, Poland (Jun. 05, 2003) -- Polish Sailors watch as the guided missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) pulls along side the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) prior to the start of Baltops 2003. The United States and 11 other nations are participating in this year's exercise. BALTOPS 2003 is intended to improve interoperability between allies and Partnership for Peace countries by conducting a peace support operation at sea including exercises in gunnery, replenishment-at-sea, undersea warfare, radar tracking, mine countermeasures, seamanship, search and rescue, maritime interdiction operations, and scenarios dealing with potentially real world crises. Polish Navy photo by Marian Kluczynski.

030603-N-7902K-006 Philippine Sea (Jun. 03, 2003) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) approaches the port side of the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) during a leap frog training exercise. The exercise allows ship handlers to practice the approach and stabilization alongside and a breakaway in a simulated underway replenishment environment. Ingraham and Antietam are part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group on deployment in the Western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030603-N-7902K-022 Philippine Sea (Jun. 03, 2003) -- The guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) approaches the guided missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) during a leap frog training exercise. The exercise allows ship handlers to practice the approach and stabilization alongside and a breakaway in a simulated underway replenishment environment. Ingraham and Antietam are part of the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Carrier Strike Group on deployment in the western Pacific Ocean. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jeremie Kerns.

030602-N-3874J-001 Naval Station San Diego, Calif. (Jun. 2, 2003) -- Sailors aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Valley Forge (CG 50) "man the rails" as they pull into their homeport of San Diego, Calif. Family and friends on the pier cheer in celebration and excitement for their heroes as they return from their combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The crew of Valley Forge played a major role in eliminating the regime of Saddam Hussein and freeing the Iraqi people. U.S. Navy photo by Photographers Mate 2nd Class Daniel A. Jones.

030602-N-6132R-008 Naval Station San Diego, Calif. (Jun. 2, 2003) -- USS Valley Forge (CG 50) is assisted toward the pier by tugs at Naval Station, San Diego as the guided missile cruiser returns from a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraqs weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Louis Rojas.

030519-N-3399W-001 Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (May 19, 2003) -- The Honorable Hansford T. Johnson, acting Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), and Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle cut a cake aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70). Gov. Lingle and the acting SECNAV met with the crew to discuss the the Navys lead ship involved in missile defense testing. U.S. Navy photo by Captain Kevin Wensing.

030425-N-4441P-002 At sea aboard USS Princeton (CG 59) Apr. 25, 2002 -- Operations Specialist 2nd Class Angel Diaz from Brooklyn, New York, monitors aircraft activity in the USS Princetons (CG 59) area of operation. The guided missile cruiser is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Michael J. Pusnik, Jr.