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HomeNewsArchivesBrief: U.S. Navy Frigate Docking in Charlotte Amalie Thursday

Brief: U.S. Navy Frigate Docking in Charlotte Amalie Thursday

Dec. 3, 2007 — Beginning Thursday, the U.S. Navy will return to the territory for rest-and-relaxation port calls.
"The arrival of the USS Stephen W. Groves to the port of Charlotte Amalie on Thursday, Dec. 6, will culminate significant efforts by my administration in urging the U.S. Navy to return to the Virgin Islands," Gov. John deJongh Jr. said Monday, according to a Government House news release.
Government House has actively worked the issue of the Navy’s return since February, and deJongh said he was pleased to welcome the Navy to the Virgin Islands once more.
"Naval visits are always welcome by our community, and the arrival of navy personnel provides more than rest and relaxation, as often the sailors become involved in charity work while they are in port," deJongh said. "Additionally, we all know of the economic boost that a naval visit provides for."
The USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) is a member of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided missile frigates, according to the release. She was designed to provide local-area protection to battle groups, underway replenishment groups, amphibious forces, and military and merchant shipping, and to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations. However, with the removal of her guided-missile system, Stephen W. Groves has shifted roles and now primarily conducts enhanced-maritime interception operations (E-MIO) and counter narco-terrorism (CNT) operations.
Weapons on the Stephen W. Groves include the rapid-fire, dual-purpose 76mm gun; a close-in-weapons system gatling gun (capable of firing 4,500 rounds per minute at incoming air targets); anti-submarine torpedo tubes; two light airborne multi-purpose system (LAMPS) MK III helicopters; and an array of small arms weapons, including 25mm guns and 50-caliber machine guns.
The ship will dock at the West Indian Company dock Thursday morning and remain in port for three days, departing at 9 a.m. Sunday. The governor will be on hand to personally greet the ship’s captain and crew on its arrival.
"Our efforts to get regular calls by naval ships in the Virgin Islands have begun to pay off, and I extend my sincere thanks to Admiral James Stavridis, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, for his assistance in working with my administration in our bid to host the U.S. Navy on a regular basis," deJongh said. "He is truly a friend of the Virgin Islands."
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