USS Robert Smalls returns to San Diego after Pacific deployment

The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego on October 9, following a seven-month deployment in the Pacific.

Departing from Yokosuka, Japan, on March 9, the vessel supported U.S. 7th Fleet operations, including the Abraham Lincoln and George Washington carrier strike groups, as well as the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. During its deployment, the ship covered more than 40,000 nautical miles across the areas of responsibility for both the Third and Seventh Fleets.

Captain Francisco X. Garza, the ship's commanding officer, noted the crew's involvement in complex air defense operations in the South China Sea and their role in carrier sea trials. The deployment also included a historic visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, to underscore bilateral commitments.