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NEWS | Dec. 19, 2018

VP 26 Closes Out Harry S. Truman CSG Deployment in U.S. 6th Fleet

By Lt. j.g. Sean Hickey, Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 Public Affairs

Twenty-one Sailors assigned to the “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 operated out of Naval Station Rota, Spain, to participate in training exercises with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ross (DDG-71) and USS Porter (DDG-78), Dec. 3-12, 2018. This marked the conclusion of operations for the Harry S. Truman CSG in the U.S 6th Fleet area of operations.

"It has been an absolute honor to support the Harry S. Truman Strike Group as well as some of our other surface assets,” said Lt. Cmdr. Graham Gill, the officer in charge of the Trident Det. “We are a small piece of the puzzle and anytime we can contribute to the readiness of the Strike Group, it is a great opportunity."

The week-long det. focused on coordinated operations between the P-8A Poseidon and U.S. surface assets. The Tridents supported testing and training of shipboard defense systems during their four missions, two with the Carrier Strike Group and one with each of the destroyers. Several of the Tridents also provided an aircraft tour to Ross Sailors.

"The team has performed exceptionally,” said Lt. James Dawson, who flew his first tactical missions as an aircraft commander while on the Det. “From the maintenance of the aircraft, to the on-station excellence, I am very proud of the efforts from the Det. team."

VP-26, based out of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, is in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operation in support of U.S National security interests in Europe and Africa.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts 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.