190407-N-DS741-0099 ATLANTIC OCEAN (April 7, 2019) Sailors aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) conduct flight operations with an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Leyte Gulf is underway as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group deployment in support of maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. With Abraham Lincoln as the flagship, deployed strike group assets include staffs, ships and aircraft of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7; as well as the Spanish navy Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Mendez Nuñez (F 104). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary Pearson/Released)