Two US naval vessels - USS Gary and USS Vandegrift (Guided Missile Frigates of the Oliver Hazard Perry class), will arrive in Cochin on June 19 on a four-day visit.

Interestingly, one of them is commanded by a person born in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

Each ship has a 240-member crew, including 30 officers, a naval press release said on Tuesday.

In May last year, USS Sides, a ship of the same class had visited Kochi.

The ships are equipped with Harpoon and standard missiles, anti-submarine warfare torpedoes and rapid firing guns.

They can also 'embark one or two ASW helicopters', the release added.

The captains of the two ships -- Commander T P Dua and Commander R A Rogers - are expected to call on Southern Naval Command Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Pradeep Kaushiva during their stay in Kochi.

Some professional and social interactions between personnel of the Indian and US navies have been lined up, besides friendly sports fixtures.

The ships are expected to depart on June 22.

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