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News
NEWS | June 15, 2022

USS Arleigh Burke begins second FDNF-E patrol

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Austin G. Collins

Forward-deployed Naval Forces-Europe (FDNF-E) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) departed Naval Station Rota, Spain to begin its second (FDNF-E) patrol, June 1, 2022.

While on patrol, Arleigh Burke and her crew will sail alongside regional partners and allies throughout the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations.

“Patrol number two is shaping up to provide the crew of Arleigh Burke the opportunity to show our ability to operate with our NATO allies and partners across Europe and flex the lethality that is inherent in the most capable ship in the fleet,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tyrchra Bowman, executive officer of Arleigh Burke. “The crew will put into action the training they have gained and of course, just as important, visit the countries and experience the culture of many of our partner nations.”

Bowman and the Arleigh Burke crew quickly moved into joint operations as soon as their patrol began.

“We started our patrol by sailing with the Spanish and will quickly find ourselves operating throughout the NAVEUR area of operations,” said Bowman. “Arleigh Burke will certainly be provided the opportunity to show that it is ‘America's Lead Destroyer’.”

Arleigh Burke completed its first FDNF-E patrol in December of 2021, establishing the ship as a critical component of the FDNF-E force. The ship shifted homeports to Rota from Naval Station Norfolk in April 2021.

“Our crew has been stationed in the European area of operations for over a year now and being forward-deployed has prepared us for the seas that we sail here,” said Command Master Chief Rafael Barney, the senior enlisted leader of Arleigh Burke. “Since returning from our first patrol this past December, our Sailors have been eager to get this patrol started. This is a great place to be homeported as we have so many powerful partnerships here.”

Four U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers are based in Rota, Spain and are assigned to Commander, Task Force 65 in support of NATO’s Integrated Air Missile Defense architecture. These FDNF-E ships have the flexibility to operate throughout the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, demonstrating their mastery of the maritime domain.

For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with our allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. 

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.