MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Nov. 3, 2023) The aircraft carriers USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), front, and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) lead ships from their carrier strike groups, including U.S. Sixth Fleet command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), and Italian navy frigates Carlo Margottini (F 592) and Virginio Fasan (F 591) during a formation transit of the Mediterranean Sea, Nov. 3, 2023. The two carrier strike groups are operating in the area at the direction of the Secretary of Defense to bolster deterrence in the region. The ships from the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group include the first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Paul Ignatius (DDG 117). The ships from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group include the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS Mason (DDG 87). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)