By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Santos Huante, Navy Public Affairs Support Element, Norfolk
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Norfolk-based guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53) returned to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk, Va., Oct. 7 following a six-month deployment.
Hawes had been deployed to the Carribbean and Western Atlantic in support of Operation Carib Venture. This homecoming marks the completion of Hawes' first counter narcotics deployment to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations.
While in the 4th Fleet area of operations, Hawes performed detection, interdiction and support operations resulting in the seizure of 200 barrels of cocaine.
"We are in our backyard stopping drugs from coming into our streets, so you feel the importance of what we are doing as a mission," said Cmdr. Kristin Jacobsen, commanding officer.
Jacobsen said morale on board was high throughout the deployment due to the importance of the ship's mission.
"We are stopping the financing of a lot of terrorism," Jacobsen said and continues, "we are doing something important that's tangible, stopping specifically [narcotics] from coming into the U.S."
Hawes also participated in several multinational exercises with naval forces from Great Britain, Canada, Netherlands, France, Trinidad and Tobago (Coast Guard), Barbados and Colombia.