USS Sioux City (LCS 11) Arrives in Fredericia, Denmark
26 August 2022
FREDERICIA, Denmark - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) arrived in Fredericia, Denmark for a scheduled port visit, Aug. 24, 2022.
After completing operations in U.S. Fifth Fleet, Sioux City arrived in U.S. Sixth Fleet as part of a historic deployment to both fleets. The ship’s arrival in U.S. Sixth Fleet demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to the collective defense of European regions and reinforces the strong bond between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark.
“We’re very excited to be back in the Sixth Fleet area of operations and we look forward to conducting exercises with our maritime partners to ensure regional maritime stability,” said Cmdr. Justin Neff, executive officer of Sioux City. “Our ships motto is ‘Forging a New Frontier’, and that is what we intend to do here in the Sixth Fleet as we show what the littoral combat ship can bring to the fight.”
Sioux City began its deployment to the Fifth and Sixth Fleet area of operations after departing Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Apr. 25, 2022. Prior to arriving in Fredericia, Sioux City sailed through the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and North Seas and made stops in Augusta Bay, Italy; Rota, Spain; and Zeebrugge, Belgium.
While in port in Fredericia, Sioux City and her crew will perform routine maintenance and host tours. Sailors will also have the opportunity to explore the city of Fredericia and surrounding areas.
The size, speed, and agility of littoral combat ships allows them to perform maritime security operations, theater security cooperation engagements, and freedom of navigation patrols – keeping critical maritime commerce routes open, deterring conflict and coercion, and providing a comparable ship to strengthen partnerships with other countries.
For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and ensure stability throughout the region.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and the U.S Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility, U.S Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.