Gonzalez, Nicholas depart for the Med

[unhappycamper]

Sailors from the frigate Nicholas prepare to depart for a six-month cruise in the Mediterranean, where they will train and operate with NATO allies. Their deployment, along with destroyer Gonzalez, was delayed by a day due to forecasts of foul weather in the Atlantic.


Gonzalez, Nicholas depart for the Med
By Andrew Scutro - Staff Writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 5:53:17 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — The destroyer Gonzalez and frigate Nicholas left homeport here Tuesday for a Mediterranean cruise, after being delayed a day because of foul weather forecasts.

Cmdr. Alistair Borchert, commanding officer of Gonzalez, said 12 to 15 foot seas in the Atlantic were predicted two days after their planned departure on Monday, so they waited a day.

“If we don’t have to be out in rough seas we don’t want to do that,” he said in comments to local press this morning before departure.

Gonzalez and Nicholas will steam with NATO ships and conduct maritime security operations in the Mediterranean, he said.

Borchert took command 18 months ago, when Gonzalez returned from having three destroyer crews operate the ship in the Middle East for six months apiece during the Sea Swap experiment. After that grueling cruise, the ship “needed some love” he said, but yard periods and a hard effort by the crew got the ship back in shape.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/navy_gonzalez_080219/



uhc snarky comment: When I read the headline, I thought we were shipping Alberto to the Med.