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Hawes to deploy Saturday for 6 months

NORFOLK NAVAL STATION, Va. — The frigate Hawes will deploy independently Saturday out of Norfolk Naval Station on a six-month cruise that will carry its more than 200 sailors to the European and Central Command areas of operation.

Hawes will take part in ongoing maritime security operations, which the Navy says aim to suppress piracy and enhance freedom of navigation and regional stability in overseas areas of interest. But the Navy’s 2nd Fleet added that the deployment is “designed to be flexible” and that Hawes will generally support joint and allied forces, both afloat and ashore.

The deployment apparently was not planned to coincide with the recent “surge” of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, launched last week to beef up the U.S. presence in the Persian Gulf. The Hawes deployment was scheduled in early 2006, according to 2nd Fleet.

Currently, 31 percent of the Navy’s 276 ships — all told, 85 ships, including 13 submarines — are deployed, according to the Navy.