USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Benfold (DDG 65) and USS Halsey (DDG 97) returned to San Diego Nov. 3 following a six-month deployment as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (PELESG).
PELESG ships, which deployed from San Diego May 4, conducted maritime security operations (MSO) and theater security cooperation activities in the 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Operation.
Capt. Jon Padfield, commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 (COMPHIBRON 3) and leader of the PELESG, said that Cape St. George and Benfold supported MSO through presence activities and interaction patrols in the Arabian Gulf, while Halsey conducted MSO near the Horn of Africa.
During the deployment, Benfold made port visits to Phuket, Thailand; Manama, Bahrain; Hong Kong and Sasebo, Japan. Cape St. George stopped in Penang, Malaysia; Manama, Bahrain; and Brisbane, Australia. Halsey visited Penang, Malaysia; the Seychelles; as well as Fremantle/Perth and Sydney, Australia.
The other ships that make up the PELESG, USS Peleliu (LHA 5), USS Dubuque (LPD 8) and USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), are scheduled to return to San Diego Nov. 4.
(Source: Navy News Service)