Donald Cook in Warnemünde

Walkers in Warnemünde watch in amazement as something threads its way into the sea channel: an unusual silhouette moves towards the Warnow in slightly hazy weather. It is a destroyer of the United States Navy, the "Donald Cook" (DDG - 75) of the Arleigh Burke class.

The US Navy destroyer is on an informal visit to Rostock and has moored in the industrial harbour. According to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state command, the ship has requested host nation support, which means it is being replenished, refuelled and disposed of whatever a ship needs. The "Donald Cook" will leave the Warnow again on Monday.

There has been no official word on the background to the visit, but we do know that the Alliance's presence in the Baltic Sea is currently the reason.

The "Donald Cook" has been in service with the Navy since 1998. It took part in many missions in carrier groups and attracted international attention when it entered the Black Sea at the beginning of April 2014, which was seen as a provocation in Russia due to the Crimean crisis. The US Navy currently has 68 units of this class. The destroyers displace 8,315 tonnes, are 154 metres long and have a draught of 9.5 metres. The crew consists of 340 men and women. With over 100,000 hp from 4 gas turbines, the speed is 31 knots. It has 90 vertical launch cells, from which various missiles can be deployed, two triple torpedo launchers and a 5 inch (127mm) gun.