U.S. Sixth Fleet ships, Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) participating in U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) largest and premier annual exercise African Lion, June 13, 2021

DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

U.S. Sixth Fleet ships, Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4), Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71), and expeditionary fast transport USNS Trenton (T-EPF-5) are participating in U.S. Africa Command’s (AFRICOM) largest and premier annual exercise African Lion, June 13, 2021.  Exercise African Lion 21, is a joint, combined exercise led by Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and sponsored by U.S. Africa Command.  In addition to U.S. forces, participants include allies and African partners from Morocco, Tunisia, and Senegal. Participants will work together to strengthen U.S. and partner nation’s capability to promote regional stability and support interoperability.

AGADIR, Morocco  U.S. Army Major General Rohling, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa commander and the  U.S. Army and Africa deputy commanding  general on the Expeditionary Sea Base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) (credit: africom.mil)

“Maritime security drives economic prosperity and it is imperative that we continue to exercise with our African partners to ensure security and stability in the region. African Lion highlights our shared commitment to protecting and navigating the waters surrounding Africa and is a premier opportunity for our combined forces to rehearse and train together to strengthen collective defense capabilities and counter transnational threats.”

-said Rear Adm. Benjamin Reynolds, Director of Maritime Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Africa.

Exercise African Lion involves U.S. service members from all service components, including the Reserves and National Guard. It provides a critical opportunity for members of the joint team to build and test their strategic readiness to deploy, fight and win in a complex, multi-domain environment, according to AFRICOM. 

The maritime portion of the exercise, led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa, includes a naval gunfire exercise, multiple sea-based maneuvers, and crisis response capabilities.