 Starting 2 September 2013, "William P. Lawrence" began operating in the Red Sea as part of Carrier Strike Group 11.On 22 September 2013, a large wave hit a helicopter and pushed it into the Red Sea shortly after landing on "William P. Lawrence", resulting in the death of two pilots.The vessel was moving at flank speeds to relieve another escort ship in a defensive screen around Carrier Strike Group 3 in U.S. Central Command.