TALLINN, October 25 (RIA Novosti) - A U.S. missile destroyer, which was a target of a terrorist attack in 2000, has arrived on a friendly visit to the port of Tallinn, the U.S. Embassy in Estonia said.
USS Cole, an Arleigh Burke-class Aegis-equipped guided missile destroyer, will stay in the Estonian capital until October 27. The program of the visit is focused on a variety of cultural and sports events.
After the visit, the warship is scheduled to return to her homeport of Norfolk, Virginia.
The destroyer, which was named after Marine Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a machine-gunner killed in action on Iwo Jima on 19 February 1945, entered service with the U.S. Navy on June 8, 1996.
On 12 October 2000, the Cole was attacked by Al-Qaeda suicide attackers in the Yemeni port of Aden. Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 were injured, and the ship was damaged.
In 2005 Cole participated in BALTOPS 2005 naval drills with the Baltic states.
