The U.S. 6th fleet’s command and control ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), entered the final stages of its renovation and overhaul at the Viktor Lenac shipyard, in Rijeka, Croatia, July 11, 2015.
After successfully completing the majority of a seven-month docking, renovation, overhaul, and at sea trial, Mount Whitney is weeks from returning to its forward deployed port of Gaeta, Italy.
Mount Whitney underwent a three-day sea trial in the Adriatic Sea to test the operational capability of the vessel. The command utilized the sea trial as a means of performing necessary maintenance and performance checks on renovated weapon systems, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I), control mechanisms, generators, and fuel systems. The purpose was to validate the effectiveness of installation and alteration work, as well as to ensure all systems are ready to support operations at sea.
The flagship is now entering its beautification stage, undergoing physical modifications on its flight deck, passageways, ceremonial quarterdeck, and compartment spaces.
Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, is scheduled to be in dry dock until mid-summer. U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.