US Navy’s fifth Fleet Cyclone-class patrol ships USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Whirlwind (PC 11) arrived in Karachi, Pakistan, for a scheduled port go to January 25. Whereas in Karachi, the crewmembers are slated to conduct go to, board, search and seizure coaching with the Pakistan Navy. Squall and Whirlwind are transiting the Center East area in assist of naval operations that guarantee maritime safety and stability. This port go to displays the sturdy relationship and cooperation between the Pakistan Navy and U.S. fifth Fleet. The U.S. fifth Fleet space of operations encompasses roughly 2.5 million sq. miles of water and consists of the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Pink Sea and elements of the Indian Ocean.

“As we strengthen this partnership with Pakistan, we’re in a position to construct belief via priceless cross coaching and ship a strong interdiction functionality to the Pakistani commander of CTF 150,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Todd Sturdy, commanding officer of Squall. On Jan. 18, Pakistan Navy Commodore Vaqar Muhammad assumed command of Mixed Job Power (CTF) 150, certainly one of three activity forces underneath Mixed Maritime Forces that operates outdoors the Arabian Gulf to disrupt illicit actions by felony organizations, together with the unlawful transport of medicine, weapons and other people.

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“We’re extraordinarily excited to go to Pakistan as we construct our relationship and sharpen our aggressive edge in a really dynamic area,” mentioned Lt. Cmdr. Martin Dineen, commanding officer of USS Whirlwind (PC 11).

Lt. Cmdr. Martin Dineen, commanding officer of USS Whirlwind (PC 11), greets a Pakistani officer after arriving in Karachi, Pakistan, for a scheduled port go to Jan. 25. Whirlwind is at the moment working within the Center East area to assist guarantee maritime safety and stability. (Picture by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. fifth Fleet )

The Cyclone-class patrol ships are a category of United States Navy coastal patrol boats. Most of those ships had been launched between 1992 and 1994. The first mission of those ships is coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance, an essential side of littoral operations outlined within the Navy’s technique, “Ahead…From the Sea.” These ships additionally present full mission assist for U.S. Navy SEALs and different particular operations forces. These ships present the US Naval Particular Warfare Command with a quick, dependable platform that may reply to emergent necessities in a low depth battle surroundings. As of 2015, ten of the U.S. Navy’s 13 Cyclone-class patrol ships had been deployed to the Persian Gulf to take care of a possible battle with Iran.

USS Squall (PC-7) is the seventh Cyclone-class patrol ship. Squall was laid down 17 February 1993 by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana and launched 28 August 1993. She was commissioned by the US Navy 4 July 1994. USS Whirlwind (PC-11) is the eleventh Cyclone-class patrol ship. Whirlwind was laid down 4 March 1994 by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana and launched 9 September 1994. She was commissioned 1 July 1995 in Memphis, Tennessee. The U.S. Navy has decided its deliberate ship retirement schedule for fiscal 2022. The checklist consists of 5 Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships (PCs). Cyclone-class patrol ships USS Squall (PC 7) and USS Whirlwind (PC 11) scheduled to be decommissioned 24 April 2022.