USS Bradley spending Easter in Malta
The USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) is visiting Malta for a port call over the Easter weekend.
In addition to sightseeing around the island, crew members will be volunteering some of their time in community assistance activities.
Earlier this week, the Bradley conducted a series of at-sea Search and Rescue training exercises with the Armed Forces of Malta to support the AFM’s search and rescue and maritime security capabilities.
As part of the training, several members of the AFM Air Wing and Malta Sea Cadets embarked the Bradley in St. Paul’s Bay to observe the ship’s operations first-hand. The AFM personnel gained practical experience onboard the Bradley as it continued its journey to the Grand Harbour, and had the unique opportunity of spending the night onboard a US Navy ship.
Commenting on the exercise, the US Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, Jason Davis, said that the USS Bradley’s work with the AFM “supports our shared goal of keeping the Mediterranean safe for travel and trade".
Following its port call in Malta, the Bradley will remain in the Mediterranean to participate in Phoenix Express 09, a multi-national naval exercise focused on combating illicit activities on the high seas such as drug and human trafficking. Last year, Malta participated in this exercise by hosting the exercise’s Maritime Interdiction Operations Center.
The USS Bradley, which is an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, has a crew of 215, commanded by navy Commander Clinton A. Carroll.
The ship was named after Second World War hero Robert G. Bradley, who lost his life along with 108 fellow crew members during a heroic attempt to save their ship, the USS Princeton, after a Japanese air attack at the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines in 1944.
Caption: AFM personnel boarding a small boat in St. Paul’s Bay to take them on board the USS Bradley.
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Mary Ann Borg
Apr 9th 2009, 16:26
@Jesmond Zammit & J Cachia: Why do I suspect the US Navy is more welcome in Malta than the two of you, who probably make a quarter of the 'whole' Graffiti group? You deserve to live well and 'free' so perhaps North Korea or Tibet will be a good place to spend Easter and leave the rest of the Maltese population welcome the US Navy. Proabably some of your great/grandparents didn't share your views when the US ship Ohio sailed into Valletta in 1942!
joseph cachia
Apr 9th 2009, 00:12
Let's hope for a change of captain and his ship, a change that is possible in reality when we
notice how the gap which is was very small between the LP and my party changing everyday,
Then we will be rid of these MAN-O-WAR sea power whose intentional use is to devastate
countries and transport invaders/occupiers of same.
One cannot understand why the MALTESE services personnel accept to board these ship
and share activities with their crew, when they can legally refuse under our constitution
manifest.
We WELCOME at MALTA TOURIST and the ships that bring them to our shores, who spend
their pension money not salaries smeared with blood of innocents.
Steven Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 23:16
A bit and warm welcome to the American Heroes , Happy Easter to you all , why don 't you jesmond and your graffiti friends go and stop those somali pirates?
chris sant
Apr 8th 2009, 22:10
Welcome USS Bradley!
Graffiti leave everyone alone you only cause unnecessary trouble
looks like the economic crisis also hit the us navy the Bradley is a inflatable dingy
I Grech
Apr 8th 2009, 21:32
@ Denis Catania;
I somewhat agreee with you but what cargo ships are you talking abt? This Malta not Somalia!
Wilfred L Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 21:20
That's a pathetic reaction Jesmond. They are in Malta to train AMF personnel and will leave behind some greenbacks apart from volunteering some of their time in community assistance activities. Andy all yo can say is "You are not welcome?" Put your head back in the sand where it belongs......
Denis Catania
Apr 8th 2009, 21:02
@jesmond zammit: I somewhat agree with you, but who will protect the cargo ships?? YOU or GRAFFITI.
Joe Camilleri
Apr 8th 2009, 20:14
Anybody have seen GRAFFITI ?? :)
jesmond zammit
Apr 8th 2009, 20:07
U R NOT WELCOME
no to warships
Joe Boswell
Apr 8th 2009, 19:36
I thought the USS Bradley was a frigate, not a dinghy...would have been nice to have a photo of the ACTUAL USS Bradley attached to this article!
Mark Spiteri
Apr 8th 2009, 19:13
@ jOSEPH BORG Vapur bhal da ihalli iktar flus !!!!!!
Joseph Borg
Apr 8th 2009, 18:56
Ahna vapuri tatturisti irridu li jhallu warajhom flus.
Robert Sant Fournier
Apr 8th 2009, 18:14
Nobody does search and rescue better than the U.S. Coast Guard!
GiovDeMartino
Apr 8th 2009, 18:13
WELCOME!
G.Mangion
Apr 8th 2009, 18:13
Wellcome to Malta, USS Bradley. Wish You the Best Of Luck For The Easter.
Denis Catania
Apr 8th 2009, 17:33
Happy Easter USS Bradley. Enjoy Malta and eat some figoli.
Joseph Cauchi
Apr 8th 2009, 17:28
It’s good to hear this; we welcome the US Navy to our shores! One needn’t be a fortune-teller to forecast that once the US Navy is in harbour, the Graffitti movement will be again out in force with their usual pathetic demonstrations! ../..
Joe Mizzi
Apr 8th 2009, 16:57
An appropriate photograph indeed.