FS Guépratte (F 714)

French navy stealth frigate FS Guépratte (La Fayette -class) arriving Helsinki Finland July 2001. (Photo: Juhani Sierla)

FS Guepratte (F714)

FS Guepratte (F714). (Photo: Neil Haste)

FS Guepratte (F714)

French navy La Fayette-class frigate FS Guepratte (F714) prepares to come alongside the guided-missile frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) as part of a leap frog exercise simulating an underway replenishment as part of Africa Partnership Station (APS) East. APS is an international security cooperation initiative designed to improve maritime safety and security in Africa. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class William Jamieson/Released)

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)

Guided-missile frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) drops anchor in Bristol harbor. The ship is here to participate in New England Navy Week from June 20 through July 4th. New England Navy Week is one of 26 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2007. Navy weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in the Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant everyday Navy presence. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lewis S. Hunsaker)

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)

The guided-missile frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) steams through the Atlantic Ocean during the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX provides a realistic training environment to ensure the strike group is capable and ready for its upcoming scheduled deployment. (Photo: U.S. Navy /Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky)

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)

The guided-missile frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) steams through the Atlantic Ocean during the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX). COMPTUEX provides a realistic training environment to ensure the strike group is capable and ready for its upcoming scheduled deployment. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29)

Sailors aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) man the rails as the ship fires a gun salute in a re-enactment of the salute given to USS Andrew Doria by Governor Johannes de Graaff of Sint Eustatius on November 16, 1776. The salute was the first formal recognition of what would become the United States of America by a sovereign nation. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Regina L. Brown)

USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22)

The Military Sealift Command USNS Loyal (T-AGOS 22) sits moored to the pier on board Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka. The Victorious-class ocean surveillance ship arrived in Yokosuka to take shelter from the typhoon expected later this week. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gabriel S. Weber)

USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194)

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) completes a connected replenishment (CONREP) with Military Sealift Command (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194). Stethem is operating with the Kitty Hawk Carrier Strike Group just completing Talisman Saber 07, an exercise designed to maintain a high level of interoperability between U.S. and Australian forces, demonstrating the U.S. and Australian commitment to our military alliance and regional security. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Lt.j.g. Danny Ewing Jr)

USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23)

The military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS Impeccable (T-AGOS-23) is one of five ocean surveillance ships that are part of the 25 ships in the Military Sealift Command Special Mission Ships Program. Impeccable directly supports the Navy by using both passive and active low frequency sonar arrays to detect and track undersea threats. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Released)

USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187)

The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) approaches the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) to conduct a replenishment at sea. Enterprise and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 are on a deployment conducting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jared M. King/Released)

USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187)

The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans pulls alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) for refueling during a scheduled three-month deployment. New Orleans and embarked Navy and Marine Corps units are participating in Southern Partnership Station 2010, an annual deployment of U.S. military training teams to the U.S. Southern Command areas of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brien Aho/Released)

USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187)

The Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) performs maneuvers in preparation for an underway replenishment with the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). Lake Champlain is on a scheduled deployment as part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility supporting global maritime security. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Barker/Released)