Society

16:36, 07.05.2009 | Primorye Territory

The U.S. missile cruiser Cowpens will start a four-day visit to Russia's Far East port of Vladivostok on May 7 to take part in Victory Day celebrations, a spokesman for Russia's Pacific Fleet said Wednesday.

Victory Day, May 9, marks the final surrender by Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front of WWII, referred to as the Great Patriotic War in Russia and other former Soviet republics.

"During the war, our countries were allies, and the crew of Cowpens will commemorate both Russian and U.S. sacrifices during WWII," the official said.

During the visit, the U.S. delegation will meet with senior staff from the Pacific Fleet and take part in a number of cultural and sports events.

USS Cowpens (CG-63) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser. In 2003, it became the first U.S. Navy ship to launch missiles in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, firing the first 37 Tomahawk cruise missiles.