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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 14, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires its 5-inch gun during a naval surface fire support exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy as part of exercise African Sea Lion, Jan. 14, 2018. Among African Sea Lion’s objectives is to test and evaluate US and Moroccan ability to conduct coordinated, combined naval surface fire support exercises on the Tan Tan firing range. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 14, 2018) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) fires its 5-inch gun during a naval surface fire support exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy as part of exercise African Sea Lion, Jan. 14, 2018. Among African Sea Lion’s objectives is to test and evaluate US and Moroccan ability to conduct coordinated, combined naval surface fire support exercises on the Tan Tan firing range. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 14, 2018) Explosive rounds from the 5-inch gun aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) hit targets during a naval surface fire support exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy as part of exercise African Sea Lion, Jan. 14, 2018. Among African Sea Lion’s objectives is to test and evaluate US and Moroccan ability to conduct coordinated, combined naval surface fire support exercises on the Tan Tan firing range. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Emily Bertalan/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 10, 2018) Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) clean the ship during a fresh-water wash down Jan. 10, 2018. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

180108-N-RG482-258 NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (Jan. 8, 2018) Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Jennifer Connelly mans the rails aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) as the ship gets underway from Rota, Spain. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

180110-N-RG482-434 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 10, 2018) Fire Controlman (Aegis) 2nd Class Connor Rehm helps attach a flag staff aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) as the ship pulls into Agadir, Morocco. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners, and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

AGADIR, Morocco (Jan. 10, 2018) Fire Controlman (Aegis) 3rd Class Mark Bowman heaves a mooring line as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) pulls in to Agadir, Morocco, Jan. 10, 2018. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

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USS Ross Conducts Live-Fire Exercises with the Royal Moroccan Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Jan. 10, 2018) Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) clean the ship during a fresh-water wash down Jan. 10, 2018. Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on its sixth patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of regional allies and partners and U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kyle Steckler/Released)

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Photo by: Ensign Nicholas L. McGrath 

AGADIR, Morocco - The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) arrived here, Jan. 10, 2018, departed Jan. 13, after a scheduled port visit to participate in exercise African Sea Lion with the Royal Moroccan Navy frigate Tarek Ben Ziyad.

One of African Sea Lion’s objectives is to test and evaluate U.S. and Moroccan ability to conduct coordinated, combined naval surface fire support exercises on the Tan Tan firing range.

“Engagements such as these strengthen the bonds between the U.S. and our partners as we work peace and prosperity in the region,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bryan S. Gallo, Commanding Officer, USS Ross (DDG 71).

“It was a pleasure working with the Royal Moroccan Navy, and we look forward to holding additional exercises in the future to maintain the warfighting readiness of both our respective naval forces.”

These types of visits allow us to gain enhanced ties with our partners and allow our crew to experience the hospitality of Agadir along with the rich history of Morocco,” said Ross

Strengthening partnerships during the port visit to Agadir builds enduring relationships and emphasizes U.S. and Morocco shared commitment to promoting security and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance interoperability as UN members.

Previous engagements with Morocco include USS Vella Gulf’s November 2017 participation in exercise Atlas Handshake, a three day exercise which included maritime interdiction operation and visit, board, search and seizure training. Morocco is additionally a routine participant in the multinational maritime exercise Obangame Express. Obangame Express is one of three Africa regional Express series exercises facilitated annually by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet.

Ross, forward-deployed to Rota, Spain is currently conducting a routine patrol to support U.S. national security interests in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.