The USS Montgomery has arrived at an important strategic port in its maiden deployment.
The Independence-class littoral combat ship arrived in the Philippines last week and will host local military and civic leaders during its time in port.
“My crew and I are very much looking forward to visiting Davao City,” Montgomery’s commanding officer (Blue Crew) Cmdr. Edward A. Rosso said. “Port visits allow us to demonstrate our commitment to maritime security in the region, while strengthening relationships with our friends, partners and allies.”
The ship is the second to be named after Montgomery. It was commissioned in 2016, five years after the U.S. Navy decided on the name. It aced tests before being commissioned, but encountered some early problems with engines and marine growth that delayed the departure of the ship.
It carried the bell of the original USS Montgomery, which is more than 125 years old, that now rests at Montgomery City Hall. It traveled to Mobile, Alabama, to Cuba, Florida, through the Panama Canal, and into port in San Diego.
Andrew Yawn contributed this report
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