USS Halsey arrives in Vizag for Tiger Triumph exercise

Visakhapatnam: USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the US Navy arrived here for participation in the sea phase of India-United States bilateral exercise Tiger Triumph-2024 on Sunday.

The Indian Navy personnel extended a rousing reception to USS Halsey (DDG-97) on its arrival. A pre-sail conference was conducted here to discuss nuances of the upcoming sea phase. Plans were presented to the commanders with the Commanding Officers of the participating units of the US Navy and the Indian Navy.

Tiger Triumph is a Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) being conducted between the two navies. After completion of harbour phase on March 25, the ships with troops embarked will sail for the sea phase and undertake amphibious and HADR operations in accordance with the injected situations.

Meanwhile, narrating their experience, crew of the USS Somerset said that they will always remember their visit to Visakhapatnam and the great experience of the joint exercises with the Indian Navy as part of Tiger Triumph. The crew was talking to the media on USS Somerset stationed at Visakhapatnam Port. The ship is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship. Every deck of the ship contains mementos of Flight 93, including a dedicated passageway leading to the Memorial Room, which bears the names of the passengers.

“Over 1,000 sailors and marines travel in this ship that has a capacity of carrying dozens of military vehicles, a workshop for repair of boats and on the flight deck, aircrafts and helicopters can land and station,” said Ashley Ambuehl, a pilot on the ship.

The USS Somerset has a museum of 9/11 memories. United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked during the terrorist attacks, but the passengers and crew prevented the plane from reaching its intended target, but it tragically crashed in Stonycreek Township in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.