USS Oak Hill departs the Black Sea

The Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) began its southbound transit from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, June 25, after conducting maritime security operations alongside the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78), 6th Fleet of the U.S. Navy announced.

While in the Black Sea, the Oak Hill and Porter conducted maneuvering operations at sea with the Bulgarian corvette BGS Reshitelni (13), Romanian frigate ROS Regina Maria (F222), Turkish corvette TCG Kinaliada (F-514), before conducting additional operations alongside multiple cutters from the Georgia Coast Guard.

Oak Hill is part of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which also includes the flagship Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) and the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), which are operating in the Mediterranean Sea.

Oak Hill entered the Black Sea on June 18, where it joined Porter to strengthen interoperability with NATO allies and partners and demonstrate the collective resolve to Black Sea security.

Oak Hill’s entrance represented the fourth time a U.S. Navy ship has entered the Black Sea in 2020.