USS Laboon Arrives In Tallinn, Estonia

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USS Laboon Arrives In Tallinn, Estonia
UNITED STATES - 1 MAY 2010

TALLINN, Estonia -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) arrived in Tallinn, Estonia April 30 for a three-day theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit.

Sailors will take part in various events including community relations (COMREL) projects, sporting events with the Estonian Navy and a reception hosted aboard Laboon.

The U.S. Ambassador to Estonia, Michael C. Polt, Capt. Aaron C. Jacobs, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 24 commodore, and Cmdr. Donald J. Donegan, Laboon's commanding officer, will host the reception aboard Laboon's flight deck.

"Estonia is one of our valued NATO partners, and they are an important partner for us in maintaining safety and security around the world, most especially at sea," said Donegan. "When we can work together to contribute to maritime safety and security, it's one of the best things we can do to build partnerships around the world."

Distinguished guests include various nations' ambassadors to Estonia and officials from the Estonian Ministry of Defense and Estonian Navy.

Sailors will have the opportunity to participate in soccer and basketball games against Estonian teams, as well as volunteer for a COMREL project at local parks, where they will clean up the grounds, fix playground equipment and plant flowers.

The events are part of a scheduled U.S. 6th Fleet TSC port visit, focused on promoting maritime safety and security through strengthened relationships with partner nations.

After departing Estonia, Laboon and other U.S. Navy ships led by DESRON 24 will conduct follow-on TSC port visits to countries in the Baltic Sea region.


ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 28, 2010) Gunner's Mate 1st Class Robert McCoy and Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Zachary Maciejewski depress the air drive motor for the 5-inch gun barrel after a freshwater wash-down aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58).



ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 25, 2010) An U.S. Navy SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HSL) 46 aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58).



ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 25, 2010) Flight deck personnel aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) rig a fuel line for an SH-60B Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HSL) 46 during a helicopter in-flight refueling exercise.



File Photo: U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58)

 

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USS Laboon Wraps Up TSC Port Visits in Baltic Sea Region
UNITED STATES - 7 MAY 2010

ABOARD USS LABOON, At Sea -- Sailors aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Laboon (DDG 58) set sail to return to their homeport of Norfolk, Va., May 5, after port visits to countries of the Baltic Sea region.

Laboon is heading home after conducting theater security cooperation (TSC) port visits to Tallinn, Estonia and Helsinki, Finland following the ship's participation in the United Kingdom-led, multinational exercise Joint Warrior 10-1 off the coast of Scotland.

Cmdr. Donald Donegan, Laboon's commanding officer, expressed satisfaction with the port visit to Finland, where he had the opportunity to host Finnish military and government officials aboard Laboon.

"It was an excellent visit and a great opportunity to cooperate and engage with our Finnish allies," said Donegan.

During the transit from Tallinn to Helsinki, Laboon hosted more than 20 distinguished visitors, including Ambassador Bruce J. Oreck, United States Ambassador to Finland, for the three-hour transit to Helsinki.

The embarked guests watched Laboon depart the Port of Tallinn and took tours of the ship.

Laboon's visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) team suited up in their gear to demonstrate the ship's maritime interdiction operations capabilities.

The damage control team displayed fire-fighting gear, and on the mess decks, the visitors learned about Laboon's namesake, Father Jake Laboon, from Culinary Specialist 1st Class Natasha Rodgers.

After the distinguished guests disembarked at Helsinki, Laboon Sailors enjoyed liberty in the Finnish city.

Laboon conducted port visits in the Baltic Sea region after participating in the independent certification event Joint Warrior 10-1, a semi-annual exercise that encompasses multinational and multi-warfare evolutions designed to improve interoperability between allied navies and prepares engaged crews to execute combined operations during deployment.