NSA SOUDA BAY, Greece –
The Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of responsibility, returned in port Souda Bay, Greece, for a routine logistics stop, Sep. 1, 2020.
This is Hershel "Woody" Williams second visit to Souda Bay. The ship previously arrived in port Souda Bay, Greece for a scheduled logistics stop, Aug. 18th and got underway Aug. 20 to conduct scheduled interoperability training with regional forces.
Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams is conducting integration and familiarization training in the Mediterranean as it prepares for its U.S. Forces Africa mission set and is not in response to any current situation.
While in the region, the ship will support operations with allies and partners in the Mediterranean, and the waters around East, South and West Africa, to include the Gulf of Guinea. This ship is a key element in integration between U.S Navy and Marine Corps operations, especially Marine aviation and support to amphibious operations. Other operations and training the ship can conduct include support to special operations, command and control, and staging of equipment and other assets as directed.
Naval Support activity Souda Bay serves as a naval logistics hub for U.S. 6th Fleet, providing support to U.S. warships and logistics ships in the region.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conduct the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.