SPLIT SPLIT, March 23 (Hina) - The US ship La Salle, flagship of the US Navy's Sixth Fleet, entered the port of Split on Thursday morning for a five-day visit.
SPLIT, March 23 (Hina) - The US ship La Salle, flagship of the US
Navy's Sixth Fleet, entered the port of Split on Thursday morning
for a five-day visit. #L#
The ship's commanding officer, Captain Stephen A. Ewel, and members
of his staff met Split County Prefect Branimir Luksic and Mayor Ivan
Skaric. Captain Ewel also attended a reception at the Croatian Navy
Command.
This is the first visit of the US flagship since Croatia gained
independence.
The ship, which has a crew of 600 and whose home port is in Italy,
recently underwent upgrading and today it is one of the most
advanced command ships. Before joining the US Navy Sixth Fleet, the
La Salle was the flagship of the Fifth Fleet, located in the Persian
Gulf. The ship took part in Operation Desert Storm and Operation
Allied Force.
Also on the visit to Split is the Sixth Fleet commander, Vice-
Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, who also serves as Commander of NATO
Strike and Support Forces in Southeastern Europe.
(hina) rml