SOUTH CHINA SEA (March 4, 2024) Sailors refuel an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from embarked Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 49 on the flight deck of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Mobile (LCS 26) in the South China Sea, March 4, 2024. Mobile, part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 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 Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jen S. Martinez)