U.S. 7th Fleet and Armed Forces of the Philippines Begin Maritim

231122-N-NO824-1003 SOUTH CHINA SEA (Nov. 22, 2023) The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) conducts Maritime Cooperative Activity operations with the Pohang-class corvette Philippine Navy ship BRP Conrado Yap (PS 39), Nov. 22. Gabrielle Giffords, part of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Annie Rafferty)