U.S. Carrier Truman Leaves Marseille for Possible War on Iraq

tehran times ^ | 12/27/02

[knak]

MARSEILLE, France -- The U.S. Navy's most modern aircraft carrier, USS Harry S. Truman, left the French port of Marseille Friday en route for the eastern Mediterranean to support a possible war on Iraq, harbor authorities said.

The huge, nuclear-powered vessel, which anchored here Monday for a Christmas stop-over for its 5,000 sailors and flight personnel, attracted a demonstration by 1,000 French anti-war protesters Thursday who carried signs reading "U.S. Go Home!" and "Don't Chop Up Iraq!".

U.S. Defense Department officials said the Truman was replacing another carrier, USS George Washington, which last week returned to its home port after a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean.

The deployment of USS Truman means two U.S. aircraft carriers are now currently available for military operations against Iraq, according to the U.S. defense consultancy globalsecurity.org. The other carrier, USS Constellation, is in the Persian Gulf.

Each carrier is accompanied by a "battle group" -- up to a dozen smaller escort vessels including sumbmarines, destroyers and minesweepers.

The Truman, commissioned four years ago, carries 80 aircraft -- F-14 and F-18 fighter/bombers and EA-6B electronic jammers -- and has a battle flag whose motto reads "give 'em hell".

[PokeyJoe]

Pretty soon, we are gonna have PAX Americana.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[ConservativeLawyer]

Looks like the carrier battle groups are on their way. Although I'm unsure of the reliability of the Tehran Times.

A related story: The USS George Washington is Heading to Gulf within 96 Hours.

[Cobra64]

As usual, the French cowards are jealous of a real military. After all, the aircraft carrier, Charles DeGaulle dropped one of its props when first launched. No wonder they can't market their sh!tty cars anywhere other than on their home turf.

[Centurion2000]

IIRC we already have 4 on station in the Gulf. This one would make 5

[Cobra64]

Actually, I think it just cracked; the ship had to be towed back to port. Typical of French engineering. Talk about an "irrelevent" class/nationality!!!

[maquiladora]

This is just copied from Reuters or AP, I read it about 6 or 7 hours ago. Do a search on Google News.

[MonroeDNA]

Pics?

[mhking]

[demlosers]

Out of fear?

Fear from washing machines. France has no seaworthy carriers.

[Gary Boldwater]

When a carrier comes into port, the sailors spend a lot of money ashore. We're talking about 2 million dollars for a short stop over. Since they protest, I'd say stop visiting French ports. Let them spend their money where it's welcome.

[Man of the Right]

The betting is five, based on the Quadrennial Defense Review.

[Focault's Pendulum]

Charles DeGaulle dropped one of its props when first launched.

Actually, the French have a military term for this.

It's called a pre-deployment surrender.

[The Turbanator]

[Michael.SF.]

"Typical of French engineering."

In Heaven, the French are the Chefs and the Germans the Engineers.

In Hell, The French are the Engineers and the English are the chefs.