The Oscar Austin is headed to its new homeport in Rota, Spain because the Navy beefs up its destroyer presence there from 4 to 6 warships.
The Oscar Austin, which obtained underway from Naval Station Norfolk on Monday, is the primary of two destroyers set to affix the present Ahead Deployed Naval Drive-Europe. One other unnamed destroyer will arrive in Rota in 2026, the Navy stated.
“Shifting Oscar Austin’s homeport to Rota is the following step in bolstering U.S. and NATO maritime presence and fight energy in Europe in addition to growing the capability to execute the One Atlantic idea,” Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, stated in a Navy information launch final month. “The One Atlantic idea improves the flexibility to share, leverage, and totally make the most of naval forces in response to threats and strategic opponents whereas conducting multi-mission operations throughout the Atlantic by a number of Combatant Commanders.”
The Navy unveiled plans to bolster its destroyer presence in Rota in 2022. Whereas the Navy stated that Russian provocations didn’t immediate the transfer, the announcement got here after 5 East Coast destroyers carried out a surge deployment in early 2022 to the U.S. sixth Fleet to supply extra flexibility and to help NATO allies.
Destroyers Arleigh Burke, Roosevelt, Paul Ignatius and Bulkeley are stationed in Rota as a part of Ahead Deployed Naval Drive-Europe. The power operates all through the waters of Europe and Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Arctic Circle, based on the Navy.
The Oscar Austin is known as after Medal of Honor and Purple Coronary heart recipient Personal 1st Class Oscar P. Austin, who served within the Vietnam Struggle.
