USS Porter Participates in Exercise Breeze 2015

From U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet

VARNA, Bulgaria (NNS) -- Senior members of the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) attended the Exercise Breeze 2015 pre-sail conference in Varna, Bulgaria, July 7.

The focus of the exercise is on interoperability, anti-submarine warfare, and maritime interdiction operations, among other warfare capabilities.

Quote:

"This exercise and port visit provides us the opportunity to meet our naval counterparts, exchange ideas, and work together for regional stability. My crew is excited about this exercise with our Bulgarian and NATO allies, and very much appreciates their warm hospitality,"

-Cmdr. Blair Guy, USS Porter commanding officer

Quick Facts:

-U.S. forces scheduled to participate are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter and a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and aircrew assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 47.

-Breeze 2015 is a Bulgarian led exercise. The U.S. goal is to train and exercise multinational and multi-warfare capabilities with the participating nations.

-Forces from the U.S., Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Greece and NATO standing groups will participate.

-Porter arrived in Varna, Bulgaria, July 6 to participate in the exercise.

-The exercise includes an in port pre-sail phase; a three-day underway phase; and an in port evaluation phase.

-Porter entered the Black Sea July 5 in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The United States continues to demonstrate its commitment to the collective security of our NATO allies and support for our partners in Europe, in light of the on-going Russian intervention in Ukraine. All DoD efforts in support of our NATO allies in Eastern Europe fall under the umbrella of Atlantic Resolve.

-Porter, forward deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in the Black Sea region.

-VP 47, currently on deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet theater, is supporting with one P-3 operating from Souda Bay, Greece.

-U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.