USN

USS SAIPAN

U.S. Navy

**USS Saipan** refers to two ships in United States Navy history. The first, **USS Saipan (CVL-48)**, was a light aircraft carrier commissioned in 1946 after World War II. She served primarily as a training and transport vessel, later converted to a command ship as **USS Arlington (AGMR-2)**, and was decommissioned in 1970. The second, **USS Saipan (LHA-2)**, was an amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1977, designed to transport and land Marines, helicopters, and equipment during major operations, including peacekeeping in Lebanon and the Gulf War. USS Saipan (LHA-2) was decommissioned in 2007 after three decades of distinguished service.

Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26), known as the “Tridents,” is a distinguished U.S. Navy maritime patrol squadron established in 1943. Originally flying the PB4Y-1 Liberator, VP-26 conducted anti-submarine warfare and reconnaissance missions during World War II. Over the decades, the squadron transitioned through several aircraft, including the P-3 Orion and currently the P-8A Poseidon, expanding its capabilities in surveillance, intelligence gathering, and anti-surface warfare. VP-26 has participated in numerous operations worldwide, consistently demonstrating excellence in maritime patrol and contributing to U.S. and allied security.

NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads was a United States Navy base located in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, established in 1943 during World War II as a strategic support and training facility in the Caribbean. Named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the base played a crucial role in anti-submarine warfare, logistics, and as a staging ground for U.S. naval operations throughout Latin America and the Atlantic. During the Cold War, it supported regional security initiatives and served as a key hub for joint military exercises and disaster relief efforts in the Caribbean basin. NAVSTA Roosevelt Roads was officially closed in 2004 as part of a Department of Defense realignment and its facilities were transferred to the Puerto Rican government.

USS O'Hare

U.S. Navy

USS O’Hare (DD/DDR-889) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1945, named in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Commander Edward “Butch” O’Hare. Initially serving in the Pacific shortly after World War II, O’Hare participated in various Cold War operations, including anti-submarine warfare and NATO exercises. The ship was reclassified as a radar picket destroyer (DDR) in 1949 and reverted to DD-889 in 1963. After a distinguished career, USS O’Hare was decommissioned in 1973 and later transferred to the Spanish Navy, where she served as Méndez Núñez (D-63) until her final decommissioning.

The USS Yorktown is the name borne by several distinguished ships in the United States Navy, most notably the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) and its successor, USS Yorktown (CV-10). The first, CV-5, was commissioned in 1937 and played a pivotal role in the early Pacific battles of World War II before being sunk at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Her successor, CV-10, was commissioned in 1943 and participated in numerous major operations in the Pacific Theater, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea and Okinawa. After World War II, CV-10 served in the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and as a recovery ship for the Apollo 8 mission before being decommissioned and preserved as a museum ship in Charleston, South Carolina.

COMSIXTHFLEET, also known as the Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet, is a major operational fleet of the United States Navy with headquarters in Naples, Italy. Established in 1950, the Sixth Fleet has played a critical role in maintaining maritime security and projecting American naval power throughout the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding regions. Over the decades, COMSIXTHFLEET has participated in numerous operations, including peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance, and joint exercises with NATO allies. The unit continues to serve as a forward-deployed force, responding to crises, deterring aggression, and supporting U.S. and allied interests in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, located in Sicily, Italy, was established in 1959 to support U.S. and NATO operations in the Mediterranean region. Originally a small airfield, it quickly expanded during the Cold War, serving as a critical logistics and support hub for naval aviation and maritime patrol missions. Over the decades, NAS Sigonella has played a central role in numerous operations, including support for U.S. intervention in Lebanon, Operation El Dorado Canyon in Libya, and ongoing missions in the Middle East and North Africa. Today, it remains a vital strategic asset, hosting U.S. Navy, NATO, and partner nation forces for a wide range of operational, logistical, and humanitarian missions.

USS Acadia (AD-42) was a Yellowstone-class destroyer tender commissioned by the United States Navy in 1981. Designed to provide maintenance and logistical support to destroyers and other surface ships, Acadia played a crucial role during the Gulf War, deploying to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. The ship became notable as the first U.S. Navy combat vessel to deploy with a mixed-gender crew during wartime. After over a decade of service, USS Acadia was decommissioned in 1994 and later sold for scrap.

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier commissioned into the United States Navy on July 25, 1998. Named after the 33rd President of the United States, the carrier has served as a flagship for Carrier Strike Group 8, participating in multiple deployments to the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, and other regions in support of operations such as Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve. Truman has played a critical role in power projection, maritime security, and joint exercises with allied navies. The ship is homeported in Norfolk, Virginia, and continues to be a cornerstone of U.S. naval capability.