NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A guided-missile cruiser is leaving Virginia for a seven- month deployment operating around Europe.

The USS Leyte Gulf is scheduled to depart Naval Station Norfolk on Wednesday.

The Navy says the ship will be operating in the Navy’s Sixth Fleet area of responsibility, which includes the Mediterranean Sea.

While deployed, the Navy says the Leyte Gulf and a helicopter anti-submarine squadron will integrate with multinational forces in support of NATO maritime security operations.

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