U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command > Press Room

211214-N-DB801-0003

MAYPORT, Fla. – (Dec. 14, 2021) -- Rear Adm. Jim Aiken, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet, delivers opening remarks during the annual Maritime Synchronization Conference onboard Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 14, 2021. The conference joins U.S. Navy attachés, section chiefs and other theater stakeholders from the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America to discuss common naval issues and concerns to develop innovative solutions for current and future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Steven Khor/Released)

Dec. 17, 2021

U.S. 4th Fleet Hosts Maritime Synchronization Conference to Strengthen Partnerships

MAYPORT, Fla. — Focused on the future, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet hosted its annual Maritime Synchronization Conference (MSC) onboard Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 14-17.

Dec. 17, 2021

USS Sioux City Returns Home for the Holidays

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Dec. 17, 2021, after completing its deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility.

Senior Chief Navy Diver Sean McConnell, a master diver assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, watches as wreckage separated from a sunken vessel is hauled up and moved into wet storage.

Nov. 23, 2021

U.S. 4th Fleet Completes Salvage Operation in Panama

PANAMA CITY — Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 Sailors and personnel from the Navy’s Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) completed a salvage operation at Vasco Nuñez de Balboa port in Panama City, Nov. 22.

Nov. 22, 2021

U.S. Navy Conducts Salvage Operation in Panama

PANAMA CITY — U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet deployed personnel to Vasco Nuñez de Balboa port in Panama to conduct a salvage operation Oct. 29.

Members of U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 102 and Sailors assigned to the “Sea Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 participate in a drug interdiction aboard the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), Oct. 11, 2021. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juel Foster/Released)

Nov. 21, 2021

Sioux City Conducts Back-to-Back Drug Busts in the Caribbean

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 102 seized over $49 million in suspected cocaine, Oct. 11-12, 2021.

SINT EUSTATIUS, Netherlands - (Nov. 16, 2021) -- Members of the rifle team on the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) conduct a 21-gun salute in honor of Statia Day, Nov. 16, 2021. Statia Day is a national holiday celebrated on the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius. It celebrates the “first salute” when Sint Eustatius, locally known as Statia, became the first country to recognize the United States as a nation 245 years ago when after the U.S. declared independence, a Continental Navy ship fired a gun salute upon entering the harbor, and the island, by order of the Dutch governor, returned the salute. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juel Foster/Released)

Nov. 18, 2021

USS Sioux City Celebrates Statia Day, Saluting American History

SINT EUSTATIUS, Netherlands — Sailors aboard the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) conducted a ceremonial 21-gun salute in celebration of Statia Day, off the coast of Sint Eustatius, Nov. 16.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), the Dominican Republic coastal patrol vessel Orion (GC 109), and Dominican Republic Boston Whaler interceptor Regulus (LI-165) participate a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise, Oct. 30, 2021.

Nov. 2, 2021

Sioux City and Dominican Republic Conduct Bilateral Maritime Interdiction Exercise

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Santo Domingo, Oct. 30.

he Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) transits the Caribbean Sea, July 10, 2021.

Oct. 30, 2021

USS Billings Returns Home After U.S. 4th Fleet Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) returned to Mayport, Fla. Oct. 30, following its successful maiden deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) departs Naval Station Mayport for a deployment, Sept. 9, 2021.

Oct. 28, 2021

USS Sioux City Interdicts Over $20 Million Worth of Cocaine

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment 102, interdicted over $20 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 19-20, 2021.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15), participates in a photo exercise with the Dominican Republic navy coastal patrol vessel Canopus (CG 107), the special mission support U.S. Motor Vessel Kellie Chouest, Oct. 24, 2021.

Oct. 27, 2021

U.S. and Dominican Republic Conduct Bilateral Maritime Interdiction Exercise

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Santo Domingo, Oct. 24, 2021.

This is an official U.S. Navy website