A Pearl Harbor-based guided missile destroyer returned to her homeport following a deployment to 5th and 7th Fleets, April 30. Arleigh Burke-class guided missile cruiser USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) and an embarked detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 6 conducted operations in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Arabian Sea, both independently and as part of Carrier Strike Group 11. During their time in the 5th Fleet area of operations, the crew of John Paul Jones conducted maritime security operations alongside regional and coalition partners.
They participated in multi-lateral exercises Nautical Defender 21 with the UK and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Iron Defender 21 with the United Arab Emirates. They provided overwatch for commercial and military vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of Coalition Task Force (CTF) Sentinel, and while operating in direct support to the Combined Maritime Forces, John Paul Jones successfully interdicted more than 2,000lbs of suspected narcotics from a vessel in the international waters of the Arabian Sea, Dec. 4.
While operating in U.S. 7th Fleet, John Paul Jones conducted multiple presence operations reinforcing regional security and stability and a free and open Indo-Pacific. U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary to flawlessly execute U.S. Navy’s timeless roles of sea control and power projection. U.S. 3rd Fleet works in close coordination with other numbered Fleets to provide commanders with capable, ready assets to deploy forward and win in day-to-day competition, in crisis, and in conflict.
USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53) is the third Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer and the first ship of the class homeported on the west coast. She is named after American Revolutionary War naval captain John Paul Jones and the second ship to be so named. She was built at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine. The ship is currently part of Destroyer Squadron 23, and administratively reports to Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific.The ship is equipped with the Aegis combat system and is capable of conducting both offensive and defensive operations using Tomahawk cruise missiles, RGM-84 Harpoon and RIM-66 Standard missiles, CIWS, and 5-inch (127 mm) gun.
