SOUTH CHINA SEA - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) is on a routine patrol in the South China Sea as part of a Pacific Surface Action Group (PAC SAG) deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
“Spruance is currently operating in the South China Sea in support of maritime security and stability of all nations, especially in the Indo-Asian-Pacific,” said Cmdr. Manuel Hernandez, commanding officer of Spruance. “Spruance is ready and capable. The Spruance team has trained extensively for this deployment.” Spruance recently completed Oceania Maritime Security Initiative (OMSI) in the Central and Western Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard and regional partner nations.
Spruance departed homeport in San Diego on April 19 and remained under the operational control of Commander, 3rd Fleet, shifting operational and tactical control to Commander, 7th Fleet and Destroyer Squadron 15, depending on individual mission tasking while in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. Spruance is accompanied in the PAC SAG by Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Decatur (DDG 73) and USS Momsen (DDG 92).
“In the past two weeks, we have operated in the Eastern Pacific with the U.S. Coast Guard and Pacific Island partners. Now, we are conducting operations in the South China Sea,” Hernandez said. “The versatility to conduct multiple missions proves our capability to execute a variety of maritime operations across thousands of miles of ocean.”
The PAC SAG initiative is designed to leverage the technological and tactical assets of the three modern destroyers, allowing for a quick response to virtually any situation in the region.