US destroyer docks in Bali for `r & r'

Indah Setiawati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Denpasar   |  Mon, 02/02/2009 4:06 PM  |  Bali

The United States' ship Lassen (DDG 82), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, anchored at Benoa harbor Saturday morning for a four-day rest and recuperation period for its 330 crew members.

The seven-year-old-warship, which is 155 meters long and 18 meters wide, departed from Dili, Timor Leste, on Jan. 29, where its crew partook in a humanitarian aid mission, according to the official website for the US 7th Fleet.

Cmdr. Anthony Simmons, the ship's commanding officer, said the holiday represented a chance for his crew to get to know the Balinese locals during a number of events, including a dinner hosted by the Indonesian Navy.

"While here, we are going to a reception hosted by the Indonesian Navy. My sailors plan to get out and do some tours in order to gain another recreation and to get the nice opportunity to be here in Bali as well as participating in other sporting events held by the Indonesian Navy," he told reporters on Saturday.

He declined to reveal the next destination of the US$800 million destroyer, saying, "It's a standing US policy that we don't discuss particular routes we take".

Also present on board Saturday, was Vice Admiral John Bird, the 46th commander of the US 7th Fleet, who came to Indonesia to visit senior officers of the Indonesian Navy in Jakarta and Surabaya, East Java, to maintain ties between both Navies.

"We have overall 150 engagements per year with the Indonesian Navy, small and large. Some different exercises and engagements we do on a navy to navy level," he said, adding that the US Navy's warships had visited other countries in Asia.

Bird said he had appreciated the supportive reception of the Bali provincial administration during his first visit to island.

The Arleigh Burke class is one of the largest and most powerful destroyers in the United States' Navy.

Lassen, which was christened after a naval helicopter pilot who earned the Medal of Honor after an intrepid mission to save two downed aviators in Vietnam, is a graceful and extremely fast warship. Two Seahawk helicopters could be seen on its deck.

Lassen is assigned to the 15th Destroyer Squadron and is deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. The ship is part of the US 7th Fleet, the largest in the country's Navy, with some 60 to 70 ships, 200 to 300 aircraft and 40,000 sailors and marines on active duty.k warship

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