U.S. Navy destroyer sails all the way around Africa

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) has sailed all the way around Africa, stopping in Kenya, Ghana and Cabo Verde for fuel and supplies on a voyage of thousands of nautical miles from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic.

U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa announced the completed transit on Oct. 14 in a release. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer relied on the three countries for refueling, anchorages and other logistics support along Africa’s eastern, southern and western coasts, the U.S. Navy said, with the final stop a refueling visit to Mindelo, Cabo Verde, on Oct. 10.

The voyage capped a long deployment. McFaul, homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, operated in the Middle East with the U.S. 5th Fleet from at least January 2026, sailing in the Arabian Sea alongside carrier strike groups. By Sept. 21 the destroyer was in the Indian Ocean, and on Sept. 23 it took on fuel from the cargo and ammunition ship USNS Oscar V. Peterson (T-AKE 9) before heading south around the continent and moving into the U.S. 6th Fleet area, which covers Europe and Africa.

“The execution of this transit is a testament to the strength of our maritime partnerships across the African continent and the professionalism of the McFaul team,” said Vice Adm. J.T. Anderson, commander of U.S. 6th Fleet. “Operating alongside our partners ensures the safety and security of vital sea lines of communication and reinforces our shared commitment to regional stability.”

A destroyer like McFaul cannot carry enough fuel for a trip of that length on its own, so the voyage depended on finding fuel along the way, either from U.S. Navy supply ships at sea or from ports in friendly countries. Rounding southern Africa instead of using the Red Sea and Suez Canal adds thousands of miles to a trip between the Middle East and the Atlantic, and the U.S. Navy did not say why McFaul took that route.

“Voyages of this scale are sustained by the trust and teamwork of our global allies and maritime partners,” said Cmdr. Adam Samson, McFaul’s commanding officer. “We extend our sincere gratitude to our host partners across Africa. Their responsiveness and professionalism demonstrated our mutual dedication to maritime safety.”

Commissioned in 1998, McFaul carries the Aegis combat system and SPY-1D radar, vertical launch cells for air defense, strike and anti-submarine missiles, and a flight deck for helicopters. The ship is named for Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Donald L. McFaul, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989.

McFaul remains on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations, which is headquartered in Naples, Italy.