US Navy Fleet Begins Operations in Da Nang

Close-up of the US Navy cruiser USS Robart Smalls visiting Da Nang from June 25.

The US Navy fleet, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, along with two escort cruisers, USS Antietam – CG54 and USS Robart Smalls – CG62, arrived at Tien Sa port, Da Nang on the morning of June 25, beginning a 5-day visit to Vietnam.

This is the third time Vietnam has welcomed a US aircraft carrier (the previous visits were in 2018 and 2020). The visit to Da Nang is part of activities to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership (2013-2023).

The welcoming ceremony for the US Navy aircraft carrier group visiting Vietnam took place on the afternoon of June 25 at Tien Sa port.

Mr. Ho Ky Minh, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People's Committee, presided over the welcoming ceremony for the US naval ship. Attending the ceremony were representatives of the Ministry of National Defense, the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs, and a number of Vietnamese functional agencies. The US Ambassador to Vietnam, the US Defense Attaché, and a number of officials from the US Embassy in Vietnam attended.

During their visit to Da Nang, the US Navy Flotilla will pay courtesy calls to the leaders of the Da Nang People's Committee and the leaders of the Naval Region 3 Command. The groups of officers and sailors will participate in a number of community activities in Da Nang such as cultural, sports, culinary, and English exchanges; humanitarian activities at the Village of Hope and the Hoa Mai Orphanage.

The visit of the US Navy Ships to Vietnam contributes to maintaining and developing the Vietnam-US relationship, in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership. The event also continues to affirm Vietnam's capacity to ensure logistics and technology in welcoming foreign ships to visit, contributing to promoting the image of the country and people of Vietnam in the region and internationally.

The visit to Vietnam by the US Navy fleet contributes to maintaining and developing Vietnam - US relations, in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership.

The US Navy fleet includes the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, along with two cruisers USS Antietam (CG54) and USS Robert Smalls (CG 62).

USS Antietam and USS Robert Smalls are both Ticonderoga-class cruisers of the US Navy that entered service in the late 1980s.

Pictured is a cluster of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Mark 45 guns aft of the USS Robert Smalls.

Ticonderoga is the only US surface ship class capable of commanding and controlling air defense, and also serves as the brain coordinating all air defense operations in aircraft carrier strike groups.

Currently, the US Navy has only one class of cruiser, the Ticonderoga, and its role is to protect aircraft carrier fleets. The US Navy currently has 22 Ticonderogas in service.

During their visit to Da Nang city, the US Navy Fleet Command Group will pay courtesy calls to the leaders of the Da Nang City People's Committee and the leaders of Naval Region 3 Command.

Source: https://vtc.vn/doan-tau-hai-quan-my-bat-dau-cac-hoat-dong-tai-da-nang-ar801882.html