The guided-missile destroyer USS O’Kane has returned to Naval Base San Diego following a seven-month deployment with the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, the Navy reported Monday.
During the deployment, the O’Kane and another San Diego-based destroyer, the USS Stockdale, successfully escorted merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, fighting off multiple missile attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists without damage.
The O’Kane departed San Diego on July 17 last year and returned on Friday.
“I am incredibly proud of the exemplary work this team has invested in themselves and their equipment over the past few months,” said the ship’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Rich Ray.
“We are proud of the work we accomplished this deployment, and we are looking forward to continuing that success into the next challenge,” he added.
During the deployment, the warship docked in Karachi, Pakistan, to promote diplomatic relations and conducted a maritime exercise with the Pakistan Navy.
