laststandonzombieisland

According to U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) will enter the Black Sea Friday, May 23, “to promote peace and stability in the region.” (Code for = letting the Ukrainains know we are there to wish them the best of luck). Although the fact that Vella Gulf fired a good many Tomahawks in 1999 against Yugoslavia on behalf of NATO could prove a moment of pause for Tsar Putin.

Vella Gulf

The Black Sea, long seen as Turkey and Russia’s swimming pool with Bulgaria and Rumania having toe-dipping rights, is governed by the
post-WWI Montreux Convention, which limits foreign warships not belonging to a Black Sea nation, from passing through the straits at
Istanbul into the Sea. As such, no capital ships (1936 definiton of 15,000-tons) can enter, no more than nine ships totaling 30,000-tons can
enter at one time, and they are permitted to operate in the Black Sea for no more than 21 days.

Hence, although the Aegis destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) entered the sea in April and was promptly buzzed by a couple of Su-24s about a dozen times, she had to beat feet after the maximum 21-days allowed
by Montreux.

Therefore, the rotation in by the Vella Gulf, who will likely be replaced by another 6th Fleet ship in three weeks or so.