USS Cleveland (LPD 7) is scheduled to return to its homeport of San Diego Aug. 4, completing a five-month deployment to the South Pacific as the lead vessel in Pacific Partnership 2011.
Cleveland embarked more than 300 personnel from all branches of the U.S. armed forces, the State Department, multiple partner nations and non-government organizations with specialists from the medical, dental, engineering, veterinarian and other fields. The Pacific Partnership team saw 38,696 medical and dental patients, distributed 21,232 pairs of eye glasses, and treated 933 animals.
The crew participated in more than 110 community service and community relations events that included painting, construction support, cleaning, repairing, reading and sporting events.
Cleveland steamed more than 19,000 miles, flew more than 250 flight hours, offloaded 242 pallets, conducted 52 days of well deck operations, and visited five countries including Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Federated States of Micronesia with port visits to New Caledonia and Australia since leaving San Diego March 21.
The ship hosted seven separate flight deck receptions for more than 150 guests including the president of Timor Leste, multiple cabinet level officials, three U.S. Ambassadors, multiple high commissioners and several flag officers.
Cleveland helps provide deterrence, promote peace and security, preserve freedom of the sea and humanitarian/disaster response within 3rd Fleet's 50-million square mile area of responsibility in the Eastern Pacific, as well as supporting the Navy's Maritime Strategy when forward deployed.
Article by Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Public Affairs