USS Port Royal Leaves Timor-Leste for Horn of Africa

The United States Navy reports that the USS Port Royal (CG 73), an Aegis guided missile cruiser, completed a port visit at Dili, Timor-Leste, and is now on its way to deployment with the US 5th Fleet.

It will support operations at the Horn of Africa, and also Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The Horn of Africa has recently been in the news because of pirate attacks on local shipping. It is likely that the Port Royal will patrol the area, protecting shipping from attacks. International forces have been on the lookout for a pirate mother ship, one that launches smaller craft far out at sea where merchant ships feel safer and are less likely to be on guard.

Recently, the USS Porter sank a pirate skiff, and the USS Whidbey provided water and food to the crew of a freed Japanese vessel.

If the Port Royal meets any pirates, it can use its (Mk 45) lightweight gun to fire on them. The gun is served by three crew members, throws a five inch shell, and can shoot about 20 shells in about a minute. While the pirates in the area are well equipped to terrorize merchant vessels, they won't stand much of a chance against the Port Royal.

The award winning photograph here captures a shell in flight, credit going to IS1 Joshua Busey of the USS Chafee

The Port Royal is the final ship in its class, but the first to deploy with women crew members.

Two of those women have won the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for braving a fire at an oil terminal, which was expected to explode at any moment, to save the life of an Iraqi worker. Their names are Chief Hospital Corpsman Doreen E. Lehner and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Heather A Watts.

As the Sailors departed the platform, its steel girders were actually sagging from the heat. The victim was in bad shape, but the Corpsmen resuscitated him to the thanks of his friends, then transported him in a boat to the ship for further treatment.

The medals are awarded to those who have risked their lives to save those of others, in non-combat situations. It is the second highest noncombatant award.