USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) Visits Saipan

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Nathan Serpico | 170210-N-FT178-045 SAIPAN (Feb. 10, 2017) Seaman Robert Costin, from Denver, tosses line to the pier as Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) moors in Saipan for a scheduled port visit. Lake Champlain is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific regularly and routinely for more than 70 years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan K. Serpico/Released)  

SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

02.10.2017

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathan Serpico 

Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet           

While in Saipan, Lake Champlain Sailors will participate in several community outreach projects to include playing bingo and talking with senior citizens, visiting a local elementary school to interact with the students, and taking part in a canoeing trip with a local canoeing team.

Commanded by Capt. Chris Cegielski, the ship and crew of more than 350 Sailors departed Naval Base San Diego for a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of U.S. 3rd Fleet into the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, Jan. 6.

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have regularly patrolled the Indo-Asia-Pacific for more than 70 years and will continue to do so. Carl Vinson has deployed to the region several times, starting with a deployment to the Western Pacific in 1983, a year after commissioning. Most recently in 2015, Vinson conducted port visits and exercises with regional navies in the South China Sea.

Commissioned August 12, 1988, Lake Champlain is named after the Battle of Lake Champlain, also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh. The Battle of Lake Champlain ended the final invasion of the northern states of the United States during the War of 1812 and denied the British leverage to demand exclusive control over the Great Lakes and any territorial gains against the New England states.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. Third Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.

For more information please visit the ship’s website:
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cg57/Pages/default.aspx or
http://www.facebook.com/UssLakeChamplain/

-USN-

• Date Taken: 02.10.2017
• Date Posted: 02.13.2017 15:44
• Story ID: 223356
• Location: SAIPAN, MP