as was the case with Russia's military exercise and the missile test launch.

Talk about some artful scheduling! You know those guys were out on liberty in Naples and saying, as they saw events unfold, "Ooooh, crap, we've pulled the short straw." Nothing like those edgy times to contribute to a bit of mission focus....

YEVPATORIA, Ukraine — An anti-submarine boat may have been the first casualty of the Russian incursion into Crimea, but it was hardly an act of violence, much less war: The Russian navy sank one of its own, junked vessels to create an obstacle, a Ukrainian official said Wednesday.

Ukraine Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Alexei Mazepa said Russian sailors pulled the anti-submarine vessel Ochakov out of a naval junkyard and sank it in the straits that connect the Black Sea with a body of water known as Donuzlav Lake. He said the act was intended to prevent Ukrainian navy ships from leaving a nearby base and going to sea.

http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/russians-sink-a-boat-off-ukraine-coast-their-own-1.271385

I'm sure that's not what he planned for the rest of his life. He's got to readjust his vision, there because he'll probably be taking orders to "CIVLANT" pretty soon.

There's probably a little damage up front that needs fixin', and the new skipper needs to be assigned. They're probably finishing up the preliminary inquiry too.

If you believe that, I want to talk to you are some fabulous opportunities in oceanside property in Wyoming.

The ship is scheduled to train with Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces for an unspecified period of time, conducting joint maneuvers and landing aircraft on ships. The spokesman, Lt. Shawn Eklund, said the visit is unrelated to Russia’s recent incursion into Ukraine.

“Truxtun’s operations in the Black Sea were scheduled well in advance of her departure from the U.S.,” he said.

http://www.stripes.com/news/destroyer-uss-truxtun-heads-for-black-sea-amid-heightened-tensions-over-crimea-1.271401

They've gotta allocate the fuel funding well ahead of time. They just got lucky. Make no mistake, this ship will have additional orders.

It is not uncommon that exercises are planned not just to insure a little bit of training and get the interoperability routine down, but also to "show the flag" and sometimes do a little humanitarian this-n-that.

It's very convenient, but I don't think it's serendipitous.

And a displacement of 2,200 tons vs 9200 tons.

- I guess we lay out the good silver when we're having guests......

It's been in a movie with Tom Hanks.

the Russians a pass. Thanks W. Still screwing shit up six years later.

All that AND a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Gotta love it.

addressed it, unlike when Russia invaded. As for Russia, how about Georgia and Chechnya? They have ZERO moral authority over us. ZERO.