Gridley departed Everett in path to U.S. seventh Fleet on Dec. 30, 2021. The destroyer served as an air protection and anti-submarine unit for CSG-3 and as an escort for the Nimitz-class plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Whereas in seventh Fleet, Gridley performed a number of presence operations within the South China Sea which immediately supported the Navy’s mission of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Gridley was additionally independently deployed to the U.S. fifth Fleet space of operations. Whereas assigned to fifth Fleet, the ship labored with U.S. Coast Guard companions in counter-smuggling operations by integrating with a U.S. Coast Guard boarding workforce within the Gulf of Oman. Additional, as an air protection succesful platform, Gridley accomplished missions in assist of regional safety. The ship continued to construct relationships with regional companions by conducting workout routines with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Pakistan, together with a port go to in Karachi, Pakistan.
Gridley concluded their deployment with participation in train Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022.
“I’m tremendously pleased with my Sailors and their accomplishments throughout this extremely dynamic deployment, which featured new, demanding and often-changing mission units,” stated Cmdr. Meghan Bodnar, commanding officer, USS Gridley (DDG 101). “They demonstrated an awe-inspiring stage of tenacity, grit and sheer expertise each day, and it’s really an honor and a privilege to serve with them at sea.”
Gridley’s hangar bay housed Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71. Over the course of the deployment, HSM-71 performed a whole lot of hours of flight operations. Gridley additionally supported joint helicopter operations with Pakistan, the UAE, and France.
Throughout port visits to Bahrain and Karachi, Gridley Sailors demonstrated their dedication to fostering relations with strategic companions whereas taking part in numerous group relations tasks and symposiums.
For extra data and information from USS Gridley (DDG 101), go to https://fb.com/gridley101/ or https://www.dvidshub.web/unit/DDG-101.
