USS Frank Cable Visits Visakhapatnam, Crew Meets Indian Officials and Local Students
Visakhapatnam: Last week, the USS Frank Cable completed a four-day visit to Visakhapatnam. U.S. Sailors from the Emory S. Land-class submarine tender met with Indian counterparts, hosted local students for a tour of the ship, met with children at the Government Observation Home for Boys, and visited Andhra University to meet the Vice Chancellor, plant trees, and speak with cadets.
Upon arrival, the ship received a musical welcome from Eastern Naval Command (ENC). Captain John T. Frye, Commanding Officer of the USS Frank Cable, then called on Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Chief of Staff, ENC, and Rear Admiral AY Sardesai, Flag Officer Submarines. The U.S. vessel later hosted discussions with Indian naval officers on the submarine tender’s expeditionary repair, rearm, and resupply capabilities, as well as efforts to support improved platform interoperability.
“This visit reflects the strength and commitment of our relationship with the Indian Navy,” said Capt. Frye. “It also advances cooperation and interoperability between our Navies, as professional engagements such as these allow us to learn from each other.”
The USS Frank Cable also hosted a bilateral dinner onboard the ship. Attendees included 29 guests from various subordinate commands of the Indian Navy Eastern Naval Command and representatives from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad.
“It was an honor to host the bilateral dinner onboard our ship,” said Frye. “Our visit contributed to providing additional options for supporting submarines and surface combatants in the Pacific theater, and we enjoyed the opportunity to present our submarine tender’s unique expeditionary capabilities and reinforce our strong relationship with the Indian Navy.”
U.S. Sailors from the Frank Cable also participated in multiple community relations events during their time in Visakhapatnam. Working together with the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, they conducted a tour of the ship for a group of female students from the Consulate’s English Access Microscholarship Program that included discussions about women’s leadership and empowerment from female members of the crew. Another group of crewmembers played sports with children at the Government Observation Home for Boys. Lastly, several U.S. sailors visited Andhra University, where they met with the Vice Chancellor, participated in a tree planting ceremony with female cadets of the National Cadet Corps, and spoke with students and cadets at the American Corner on campus.
“The United States is a proud Indo-Pacific nation. Working together with India, our goal is to foster a free and open, interconnected, prosperous, resilient, and secure region,” said David Moyer, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad. “The visit from the USS Frank Cable will help us reach that goal, while the sailors’ engagements with local students and schools showcase the values that underpin the U.S.-India relationship.”
The Frank Cable is currently on patrol, conducting expeditionary maintenance and logistics in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. For more information about the USS Frank Cable, please visit the ship’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/