The guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego on Monday following a six-month independent deployment.
The Ticonderoga-class warship and its helicopter squadron were deployed to the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations in the Pacific Ocean.
While with 7th Fleet in the western Pacific, the Lake Erie monitored ocean shipping in support of United Nation’s sanctions against North Korea. The crew worked to identify not only North Korean ships, but also the feeder networks that contributed to smuggling in violation of sanctions.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this crew and the way they handled themselves during this unique deployment,” said Capt. Christine O’Connell, the ship’s commanding officer. “Our efforts operating forward were in support of a multinational coalition bringing unity and reassurance to areas of uncertainty in the Western Pacific and the Lake Erie crew excelled through every challenge faced in that dynamic environment.”
“We are all looking forward to hard-earned rest with loved ones,” she added.
The ship, one of 22 cruisers in the fleet, covered approximately 52,000 nautical miles over the course of its deployment.
The Lake Erie is named after the U.S. Navy’s decisive victory against the British in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.