SAN DIEGO — Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Savannah (LCS 28) Gold crew relieved Savannah’s Blue crew during an exchange of command ceremony aboard the ship at Naval Base San Diego, May 19. Cmdr. Dan Sledz, commanding officer of Savannah Blue and native of Long Island, N.Y., turned over command to Cmdr. Jenna K. Van Zeyl, commanding officer of Savannah Gold crew and native of New Lenox, Ill. The exchange of command ceremony marked the end of Blue crew’s 18-month rotation aboard the ship. "I am pleased that Savannah Blue and Gold crews were able to conduct a thorough turnover of our ship,” said Sledz. “Savannah Blue was successful in leading the 14th Independence-variant littoral combat ship through its introduction to the operational Fleet, and we look forward to assisting Gold Crew through their Basic Phase events."
During Blue crew’s rotation, the crew moved aboard the ship in Mobile, A., in November 2021, ran aboard the ship during its commissioning in February 2022 in Brunswick, Ga., sailed the ship to San Diego via the Panama Canal, conducted Final Contract Trials and Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials, and participated in the North American Maritime Security Initiative Pacific Exercise 2023. “Savannah Gold has worked incredibly hard over the last few months with executing various basic phase certifications such as Fleet Support Operation Medical, Anti-Terrorism Force Protection, and Damage Control,” said Van Zeyl. “We are excited to rotate on-hull for the first time, preparing the ship for deployment.”
Blue crew will use the off-hull time for training and final certifications prior to rotating back on-hull for Savannah’s maiden deployment. Savannah, homeported in San Diego as part of Littoral Combat Ship squadron ONE, is a fast, optimally-manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence missions around the globe.
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