The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon has finally returned to Naval Station Norfolk after completing a deployment that lasted nearly 280 days. The U.S. Navy vessel operated independently in the areas of operations of the Second, Fifth, and Sixth U.S. Fleets, including protective actions in the waters of the Red Sea.
According to the U.S. Navy, the USS Laboon was deployed for 279 days in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, “…providing deterrence and defense for U.S. partners….”
The Laboon was one of many U.S. Navy ships that provided protection to merchant vessels in the Red Sea. During its presence in the region, the destroyer shot down several unmanned aerial vehicles and at least one anti-ship ballistic missile launched by Houthi forces from Yemen. The USS Laboon was also targeted by a missile, which was intercepted by fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Carrier Air Wing.
The arrival of the USS Laboon in Norfolk was attended by Rear Admiral Kavon Hakimzadeh, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2. The officer stated, “…We are honored to welcome back the men and women of USS Laboon who have demonstrated their competence and determination during a demanding deployment… From safeguarding critical maritime routes to deterring threats in volatile regions, the crew of Laboon has exemplified the best of our Navy’s tradition of excellence. We are deeply proud of what they have accomplished and thank every sailor and their families for their unwavering dedication to our nation’s security….”
While deployed independently, Laboon participated in the multinational Operation Sentinel to protect international shipping routes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. In support of freedom of navigation, the destroyer and its crew countered multiple attacks carried out by Iran-backed Houthi terrorist forces in the Red Sea.
For the Commander of the USS Laboon, “…It has been a challenging nine-month deployment in hostile waters, but this team proved time and again how capable our warships are and that we have the most professional and well-trained fighters in the world, ready to take the fight to any enemy…”
During its Fifth Fleet operations, the USS Laboon upheld the tradition of Father Jake, rescuing three sailors in distress in the Gulf of Aden who had been adrift at sea for ten days.
Cover image: US Navy – Chief Mass Communication Specialist Matthew N. Jackson
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