Fifth Fleet Admiral transits Strait of Hormuz on Warship with UK, French Commanders

ByNavcentPublicAffairs

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet

STRAIT OF HORMUZ The U.S. 5th Fleet commander transited the Strait of Hormuz aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) with naval counterparts from France and the United Kingdom,May19

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of

U.S.NavalForcesCentralCommand,U.S.5th FleetandCombinedMaritimeForces,visited crewmembersastheU.S.Navyincreasesthe rotation of ships and aircraft patrolling the strategicmaritimechokepoint.

Cooper was joined by Joint Commander oftheFrenchForcesDeployedintheIndian Ocean Vice Adm. Emmanuel Slaars, and United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander Commodore Philip Dennis.

While aboard, the leaders met with Paul Hamiltonleadership,observedpatroloperations and thanked crewmembers for their efforts

“ThePaulHamiltonteamisdoingremarkable work as we step up our patrols with regional allies and partners,” said Cooper “This effort is about enhancing our collectivevigilanceandpresence.”

During the transit through the narrow strait, Paul Hamilton and UK Royal Navy frigate HMS Lancaster (F 229) passed one another as Cooper, Slaars and Dennis observed Lancaster arrived in the region lastyearandrecentlyseized3,000kilograms of hashish worth $6 million from a fishing vesseltransitingtheArabianSea May8.

Paul Hamilton has been operating in the Middle East since February after departing itsSanDiegohomeportinJanuary