Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4) kicked off its first deployment today, leaving Virginia for an extended deployment primarily to U.S. Africa Command. “We are going to participate in military-to-military operations and exercises to increase our interoperability to help maintain those enduring partnerships and relationships. “We’ve already got a great mission set set up, where we’re going, what we’re going to do and who we’re going to work with. Much like Woody Williams will, Puller swaps out its blue and gold crews periodically, leaving the ship in theater for constant presence and rotating the crews to keep them fresh. Asked for more details on the missions Woody Williams would conduct, Gray confirmed there would be a heavy emphasis on counter-piracy and partner training.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 27, 2020 20:33 UTC