USS Arleigh Burke relocated to Spain

In Rota, Spain, four American destroyers from the Arleigh-Burke-class. They have their official home port there and are part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces Rota. With the departure of the USS Arleigh Burke in Norfolk on the east coast of the US, a change is now in the offing. After her arrival in Rota, she will take over the Donald Cook which has been stationed in Spain since 2014. While the Cook back to Norfolk, Rota will be the home port for the next few years for the Arleigh Burke. Many family members move to Europe with the soldiers of the occupation.
Rota is home to the headquarters of the Commander Naval Activities Spain, who acts as the coordinator for all US activities on the Iberian Peninsula. He is also the commander of the naval base there. Around 3,000 Americans have found a temporary home in and around the base, including 1,300 soldiers and 1,700 family members. The Naval Station includes an airfield, three actively used piers and 400 buildings. Rota supports American and NATO ships in the region. Air Force troop movements are also handled via the base.

Last farewell greeting from the crew

With the Arleigh Burke is the type ship of the class of the same name. It was the first destroyer to be equipped with the Aegis weapon system. Prior to its deployment, it was upgraded to the latest version Baseline 9. In preparation for its new tasks in Europe, the Arleigh Burke as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group in a Composite Training Unit Exercise (Computex). It demonstrated its ability to be used in a fully integrated and flexibly deployable Strike Group.
With the relocation to Spain, the Arleigh Burke Part of Destroyer Squadron 60, this forward-deployed squadron is primarily responsible for defence against incoming ballistic missiles (Ballistic Missile Defence, BMD). The Burke and her three sister ships, the USS Ross, USS Roosevelt and USS Porter are therefore equipped with the SM-2 ER missile, among other things.

Text: mb; Photos: US Navy