190414-N-DS741-0275 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (April 14, 2019) The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) fires its Phalanx close-in weapons system during a live-fire exercise. Leyte Gulf is is underway as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group deployment in support of maritime security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th, U.S. 6th and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of operation. 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, USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7; as well as the Spanish navy Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F 104). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Zachary Pearson/Released)