The squadron was part of the escort screen for Task Group 78.3, the amphibious assault force that invaded Leyte in October 1944.

During this period, Barton and Ingraham collided, and Moale was detached to escort the two damaged destroyers back to Saipan for repairs.

[3] With the courtesy title of commodore, the commander of Destroyer Squadron 60 (COMDESRON 60) not only oversees U.S. 6th Fleet surface naval warfare operations in the Mediterranean Sea but also throughout Europe and Africa.

[3] 2013 saw two major changes on the command responsibilities for the squadron: In this new "type" capacity, COMDESRON 60 supervises the training, readiness, maintenance, schedules, material, supply, discipline, and morale for those assigned BMD-capable destroyers.

En route to the region, the Fort McHenry augmented its passenger list with specialists from France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain and officers from Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana.

During its seven-month deployment, CTF-365 visited Senegal, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, and Sao Tome and Principe.

The SWIFT visited 10 West Central Africa countries engaging with Heads of State, Ambassadors and Senior Military representatives.

[4] On 31 January 2014, the first BDM-arm destroyer, the Donald Cook, departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, for its new home-port of Rota, Spain.

[29] On 4 September 2013, the US Navy announced that USS Mahan had departed for its home-port of Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, leaving four Burke-class destroyers operating in the Eastern Mediterranean.

[31] On 12 September 2013, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that the remaining four Burke-class destroyers will remain in the eastern Mediterranean as Russian and American diplomats negotiate the turn-over of Syria's stockpile of chemical weapons to the United Nations, with Pentagon spokesman George E. Little noting: "We have no plans at this time to change our military posture in the Mediterranean.

[33] On 14 March 2014, Desron-60 guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) departed for its first patrol as a forward deployed naval vessel of the U.S. Sixth Fleet.

"[36] On 12 April 2014, the Donald Cook was operating in the western Black Sea when a pair of unarmed Russian Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft enter the area.

[37] In the aftermath of this incident, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Warren stated: "This provocative and unprofessional Russian action is inconsistent with international protocols and previous agreements on the professional interaction between our militaries.

"[38] On 14 April 2014, the Donald Cook paid a port call at Constanța, Romania, which included a visit by Romanian president Traian Băsescu.

[39] The Donald Cook conducted a multilateral training exercise with the Romanian warships Regina Maria and Mărășești, as well as the frigate Taylor.

[41] After a port visit to Durrës, Albania, and training with Albanian forces, the Donald Cook returned to Rota, Spain, on 25 July 2014, completing its first forward-based deployment.

The move follows increased tensions between Russia and the U.S. after American federal prosecutors announced indictments against 13 Russian citizens for their alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign.

Speculation that successful hosting of the 2014 Winter Olympic games provided President Vladimir Putin with the nationalist support he needed to proceed with the forced annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.