Montgomery, Cesar Chavez operate near West Capella

SOUTH CHINA SEA (May 7, 2020) The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (LCS 8), their embarked MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the "Wildcards" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, and the Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) conduct routine operations near Panamanian flagged drillship, West Capella, May 7. Montgomery is on a rotational deployment to USINDOPACOM, conducting operations, exercises and port visits throughout the region and working hull-to-hull with allied and partner navies to provide maritime security and stability, key pillars of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Operations Specialist 1st Class Stephen Kuhs)