The United States warship USS Gravely, docked in Palma today as she heads to the Middle East to join the fight against ISIS.
The USS Gravely (DDG-107) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named after Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. Gravely is the 57th destroyer in her class. She was authorized on 13 September 2002 and her keel was laid down on 26 November 2007 at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Gravely was launched on 30 March 2009. She successfully completed sea trials in June 2010. Alma B.C. Gravely, Admiral Gravely’s widow, christened Gravely, Northrop Grumman’s 27th Aegis guided missile destroyer, on 16 May 2009.
Retired Navy Admiral J. Paul Reason was the principal speaker at the ceremony, which was held at Northrop’s facility in Pascagoula.
Gravely was commissioned at Wilmington, North Carolina on 20 November 2010 under the command of Commander Douglas Kunzman. She is currently part of Carrier Strike Group Two which set sail for the Middle East on 17 November. The Gravely is part of The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) - centred on the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) - which is on course to join the US-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL). The Truman CSG deployment will also include guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG-68) and guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), and USS Gonzalez (DDG-66) as well as Carrier Air Wing 7.
“While deployed, the strike group will serve in the US 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theatre security co-operation efforts,” read a statement from US Fleet Forces ahead of the group’s departure.
Navy officials say the primary goal for the Truman Strike Group will be to provide air support to the Middle East.
“As we watched what happened in Paris this ship is trained and we’ve all trained, including myself, to get ready for this seven-month cruise right here,” said Aircraft Handling Officer Lt. Kent Davis, whose son will be on the USS Harry S. Truman with him. “It’s a very unique situation, not many people ever have this opportunity,” said AR3 Jordan Davis.
The Carrier Support Group’s arrival in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East will seriously beef up the coalition hardware in the area as the war against ISIS is being stepped up.