US Navy USS Roosevelt DDG 80 conducts joint operations with Ukrainian Naval Forces in Black Sea.

According to information released by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa on September 29, 2020, the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), conducted joint operations with Ukrainian Naval Forces in the Black Sea, on September 29, 2020.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Ships from the Ukrainian Navy execute a passing exercise with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), Sept. 29, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

Off the coast of Ukraine, in the Black Sea, Roosevelt, along with its embarked MH-60R helicopter, operated with three Ukrainian Navy vessels; the Gurza-M-class UKRS Kastopol (P 180), and UKRS Nikopol (P 176), and the Island-class patrol boat UKRS Starobilsk (P 191), as well as a Ukrainian Navy Mil MI-14 helicopter.

The passing exercise served as an opportunity for the U.S. and Ukrainian naval forces to refine ship handling and maneuvering capabilities. U.S. Navy vessels routinely conduct training with NATO Allies and partners in order to enhance collaboration and increase capacity in order to strengthen the regional maritime security.

The Black Sea is a critical waterway for maritime commerce and stability throughout Europe. The U.S. Navy routinely operates in the Black Sea to work with our NATO Allies and partners, including Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine. It is in the world’s best interest to maintain a stable, prosperous Black Sea region and deter aggressive actors who seek destabilization for their own gain.

The ship’s operations in the Black Sea strengthens interoperability among NATO allies and partners and demonstrate collective resolve to Black Sea security under Operation Atlantic Resolve.

This is the sixth time a U.S. Navy ship has visited the Black Sea in 2020. The last ship to visit was USS Porter (DDG 78) in July during exercise Sea Breeze 2020. Roosevelt is focused on enhancing regional maritime stability, combined readiness, and naval capability.

Joint training operations provide vital readiness opportunities for U.S. military forces and demonstrate our capability to integrate platforms across multiple domains with our NATO Allies and partners in the Black Sea region.

The USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in service with the United States Navy. This ship is the 30th destroyer of her class. USS Roosevelt was the 13th ship of this class to be built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and construction began on 15 December 1997. She was launched on 10 January 1999 and was christened on 23 January 1999. On 14 October 2000 the commissioning ceremony was held at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

The USS Roosevelt is armed with one 5 inches (127 mm)/54 caliber Mk 45 naval gun, two 25 mm Mk 38 automatic cannons, four .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns, two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS Clise-In Weapon Systems, two Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes for Mk 46 torpedo and 96-cell Mk 41 VLS able to launch RIM-66M Standard surface-to-air Missile, BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missile and RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC anti-submarine missile.

The Gurza-M-class is a series of small armored gunboats in service with the Ukrainian Navy. The ship is armed with BM-5M.01 Katran-M remote-controlled naval combat module mounted at the forward and aft sections of the ship. The second armament includes a 30mm ZTM-1 automatic gun, 7.62mm CT machine gun, and laser-guided man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS).

The Island-class patrol boats were built for the US coast guard by the American shipyard Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport (Louisiana) from 1985 to 1992 in the amount of 49 units.

Island-type boats have a full displacement of 165 tonnes and are able to reach speeds of up to 30 knots, with a cruising range exceeding 5,300 km. They are able to operate autonomously for up to five days. The ship can accommodate a crew of 16 people (including two officers).

The boats are equipped with AN / SPS-73 radar and a descent motorboat, the armament consists of a 25-mm tank automatic gun mount Mk 38 Mod 0 Bushmaster and two 12.7 mm M2NV machine guns. Usually, armaments are dismantled on boats transferred abroad, however, the boats were transferred to the Ukrainian side with artillery mounts, but without barrels installed (it is reported that the Ukrainian Navy is going to install 25-mm machine guns from old Soviet 2M-3M gun mounts on these gun mounts)