US war ship arrives Nigeria

Posted by admin Latest Politics Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

The Nigerian Navy said it has deployed three of its Cat class vessels to further protect Nigeria’s strategic interest at the Gulf of Guinea.
The deployment came just as a United States combat ship, the USS Robert G. Bradley, arrived Nigeria with 205 officers and men of the United States Navy.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogbor, said the vessel with its crew of 15 officers and 190 men, would be spending 10 days in Lagos.
The FOC said that the NNS Nwamba, Obula and Kyanwa were deployed to the Gulf of Guinea before the botched elections to protect Nigeria’s strategic interest in the area.

He said the US war ship, while in Nigeria, will embark on a military exercise with the Nigerian Navy to see the areas of weakness and strength of both naval forces.
USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49), is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate and attached to the United States Navy.

It is named after Lieutenant Robert G. Bradley who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism on USS Princeton (CVL-23) during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
Robert G. Bradley’s keel was laid down by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, on 28 December 1982. She was launched 13 August 1983; commissioned 30 June 1984. Ship is homeported in Mayport, Florida.
Daily Sun learnt that the vessel was attached to the African Partnership Station (APS), which was an international initiative developed by United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa. It works in cooperation with the U.S. and international partners to improve maritime safety and security in Africa as part of US Africa Command’s Security Cooperation programme.

A Statement from the vessel’s information unit said sailors aboard Bradley would conduct maritime training, participate in military-to-military sporting events, and host community relations projects during their port visit.
The state said the “programme helps strengthen our relationships with our African partners and allow us to interact with host nation’s civilians and military,” said Chief Logistics Specialist Ed Lafond, Programme coordinator aboard Robert G. Bradley. “For some of the Sailors this is the first time for them to interact with the host nation civilians and is an opportunity for them to have a good time helping others and see sights other than what they would see on a tour.”

APS training conducted with the Nigerian Navy It said will cover areas in visit, board, search and seizure team operations; search and rescue planning; damage control and signals familiarization. These areas of training were selected with the assistance of Nigerian officials to better enhance maritime safety and security along the coast of West and Central Africa.

-Sunwp_posts