The Navy frigate USS Gary, which helped fight drug trafficking off Central America, is set to return Friday to Naval Base San Diego from its final deployment, the Navy said Monday.
The team interdicted 13,921 kilograms of cocaine with a wholesale value of $278.4 million and 18 pounds of marijuana, valued at $17,100.
Following Gary’s return, the ship will begin preparations for decommissioning. The ship’s helicopter detachment flew more than 700 hours of flight operations throughout the deployment. Its return to Naval Air Station North Island April 16 marks the last active-duty deployment of the SH-60B Seahawk.
During a seven-month deployment, Gary, the embarked “Scorpions” of Helicopter Maritime Strike 49 Detachment 4 and a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment played an integral role in Operation Martillo.
Operation Martillo is a U.S., European, and Western Hemisphere partner nation effort launched in January 2012 targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus.
Partner nations work together to counter the spread of transnational criminal organizations, and to protect citizens in Central America from the violence, harm and exploitation created by these criminal groups.
“This has been a very successful deployment in many regards — a deployment I would refer to as a ‘strong finish’ for the last remaining West Coast frigate in the fleet,” said Cmdr. Steven McDowell, Gary’s commanding officer. “When we departed for this deployment, our intent was to make a difference. And we did.”
While supporting Operation Martillo, Gary took part in more than 70 small boat operations and coordinated with several U.S. Maritime Patrol Aircraft and surface units to include U.S. Navy and Canadian warships, U.S. Coast Guard cutters, and Panamanian, Colombian, Costa Rican and Ecuadorian Coast Guard vessels in an effort to share resources and strengthen operations while reinforcing commitment to the region.
Lt. Parker Pouser, U.S. Coast Guard officer in charge, said he was very pleased with the success of the joint Navy and Coast Guard team.
“The intercountry/interservice coordination and partnership conducted in support of Operation Martillo has been invaluable,” Pouser said. “We were able to seamlessly integrate from day one to make a solid partnership that proved immensely successful in combating the flow of illicit narcotics.”
The sundown ceremony for the SH-60B Seahawk helicopters is scheduled May 11 at Naval Air Station North Island.
“Our embarked helicopters bring a tremendous capability to the ship, but only through the phenomenal teamwork between the sailors of Gary and of HSM-49 does that capability really pay dividends,” said Lt. Cmdr. Chris Gzybowski, officer in charge of the detachment.
Joint, interagency and international relationships strengthen U.S. 3rd Fleet’s ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.
