USS Delbert D. Black arrives in Civitavecchia, Italy

ByPettyOfficer1stClassRobertPrice

Carrier Strike Group 10

CIVITAVECCHIA, Italy The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119) arrived in Civitavecchia, Italy for a scheduled port visit, March11,2023.

Thisistheship’sfirstportvisitintheU.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations since enteringtheMediterraneanSeathroughtheSuez Canal in February 2023 The visit provides an opportunity to bolster the partnership between the U.S. and Italy and gives Sailors from Delbert D. Black a chance to explore theregion.

During their time in Civitavecchia, the crew will have opportunities to explore the local area, make trips to Rome and Vatican City, and take in the history, cuisine, and cultureofItaly.

“Afteroveramonthatsea,wearegrateful for the opportunity to visit Civitavecchia, Italy, to enjoy some regional liberty and explore the area,” said Cmdr Adam Stein, commanding officer of Delbert D. Black. “This visit is an incredible professional reward for our crew’s performance during the past seven months of deployment, and willsurelybeahighlightthatourSailorswill carrywiththemfortherestoftheirlives.”

The ship arrived in Civitavecchia following the successful completion of the NATO antisubmarine warfare exercise Dynamic Manta DelbertD.Black,homeportedinMayport, Florida, is part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (CSG) operating in the U.S. Sixth Fleet area of operations for a scheduleddeployment.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron(DESRON)26,theInformationWarfareCommander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS LeyteGulf(CG55)

The ships of DESRON26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and Delbert D.Black.

The squadrons of CVW-7 embarkedaboardtheGeorge H.W. Bush are the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the “Jolly Rogers” of VFA-103, the “Knighthawks” of VFA-136, the “Pukin Dogs” of VFA-143, the “Bluetails” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the “Patriots” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the “Nightdippers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the “Grandmasters” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron(HSM)46

For over 80 years U.S. Naval Forces Europe U.S. NavalForcesAfrica(NAVEURNAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundationofsharedvaluestopreservesecurity andstability HeadquarteredinNaples,Italy,NAVEURNAVAFoperatesU.S.navalforcesintheU.S.

ADRIATIC SEA(Mar 11,2023) Gunners Mate 3rd ClassJoshua Lesnar(left) and Gunners Mate 3rd Class Jesse Deese (right) assigned to theArleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyerUSS Delbert D.Black(DDG 119) stand small caliberaction teamwatch during a sea and anchorin Civitavecchia,Italy Mar 11,2023.The George H.W.Bush CarrierStrike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S.Naval Forces Europe area of operations,employed byU.S.Sixth Fleet to defend U.S.,allied,and partnerinterests (U.S.NAVYPHOTOBYMASS COMMUNICATIONSPECIALIST3RDCLASSCHRISTOPHERSTACHYRA)

EuropeanCommand(USEUCOM)andU.S.

Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrumofjointandnavaloperations.

TheGeorgeH.W.BushCSGisonascheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europeareaofoperations,employedbyU.S. SixthFleettodefendU.S.,allied,andpartner interests.

Editorial Staff

MilitaryEditor | MC1 Maddelin Hamm 757-322-2853 | maddelin.v.hamm.mil@us.navy.mil

AssistantEditor | MC2 Leo Katsareas

757-322-2853 | news@flagshipnews.com

GraphicDesigner | TeresaWalter teresa.walter@virginiamedia.com

Contributing Staff

Ninoshka Basantes Travis Kuykendall Kaitlyn Hewett MC3 Jordan Grimes 757-322-2853 | news@flagshipnews.com Flagship, Inc. MNVMilitary Manager | Ski Miller ski.miller@virginiamedia.com

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