2000s Preble departed
San Diego in June 2004 for her maiden deployment with the Expeditionary Strike Group.
Preble returned home after six months on 17 December 2004. On 20 January 2007,
Preble departed for a routine deployment with the
carrier strike group.
Preble supported
Operation Enduring Freedom and
Iraqi Freedom, Expeditionary Strike Force training and exercise Valiant Shield 2007 during the deployment. She returned to her homeport after seven months on 29 August 2007. In 2008,
Preble successfully completed an accelerated training cycle and passed a rigorous Inspection Board and Survey (INSURV) in May. That fall,
Preble executed the integrated training phase with the
Stennis Strike Group in preparation for a deployment in 2009.
2010s Preble deployed on 17 January 2009 for a routine deployment with the
Stennis Carrier Strike Group where she spent five months in the
Seventh Fleet area of responsibility, participated in Exercise
Foal Eagle and culminated the deployment with a diplomatic port visit in
Tahiti,
French Polynesia.
Preble returned to home port on 15 June 2009. In 2010
Preble shifted to align with the Strike Group and hosted sailors from the
Royal New Zealand Navy. The and replenishment tanker conducted exercises with
Preble during a 3-day underway period. Additionally,
Preble was called to act as the lead ship for a Destroyer Squadron Seven multi-group sail that showcased the ship's anti-submarine warfare capabilities. In September 2010,
Preble conducted an Operational Test Launch of two Block 3C
Tomahawk missiles and one Block 4E Tomahawk missile off the coast of
San Nicholas Island. The launch was successful and aided in the further development of the weapon system.
Preble participated in an Integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare Course at sea as well as three weeks of exercises with
Ronald Reagan and sister ships in Destroyer Squadron Seven during the Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) in October to November 2010. In November 2010,
Preble successfully conducted a
Mark 54 torpedo technical evaluation in support of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center's development of the torpedo.
Preble accurately fired six MK 54 torpedoes during the evaluation. In all,
Preble had a successful 2010 and was awarded the Destroyer Squadron Seven Battle Efficiency Award which recognizes sustained superior performance, operational effectiveness, and continuous readiness. In addition, the ship earned the Black E (Maritime Warfare Excellence), Blue E (Logistics Management and Supply Excellence), Yellow E (Ship Safety) and Red E (Engineering/Survivability Excellence). In February 2011,
Preble deployed with
Carrier Strike Group Seven.
Preble was a first responder to the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The ship conducted humanitarian and disaster relief efforts off the coast of
northeastern Japan. After spending nearly a month off the coast of Japan,
Preble began to conduct a series of fisheries patrols. From 28 February to 6 March 2011, she conducted these patrols in the
Exclusive Economic Zones of various Pacific island nations as part of the Oceania Maritime Security Initiative. With modern technology, fishing vessels have increased their capability and capacity to catch more fish, and consequently, it is imperative that the rights of small island nations to their EEZ be preserved to prevent
illegal fishing and exploitation of their ecosystems. In 2019 it was announced that Preble would receive the
HELIOS close in weapons system in 2021. USS Preble is the first destroyer to be equipped with a high-energy laser to counter surface craft and unmanned aerial systems. The destroyer will also receive a
BAE Systems Ship Repair upgrade, bringing the ship up to date in terms of capability and complexity.
2020s (HELIOS) system in 2024 In 2024 USS Preble assisted the
Missile Defense Agency in conducting FTM32. This mission was conducted off the coast of
Kauai, Hawaii. Preble launched a
Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) Dual II with Software Upgrade (SWUP) in order to intercept a
Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM). This mission was a collaboration by the Missile Defense Agency,
United States Navy,
Royal Australian Navy, and
Lockheed Martin. The MDA Director Lieutenant General
Heath Collins said this in regards to the mission “This successful intercept against an advanced threat-representative target in the final stages of flight demonstrated the power and flexibility of the Aegis Weapon System paired with the Standard Missile 6”. In 2024, USS Preble also demonstrated the HELIOS directed energy weapon system against a target drone. ==Awards==