Last Carrier Strike Group Returns Home From Combat Operations

Navy News Stand ^ | Oct. 24, 2003 | Commander, 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Official U.S. Navy file photo of F/A-18 Hornets assigned to the "Mighty Shrikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, flying over the Western Pacific Ocean in a diamond formation during flight operations. The USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 return home in November after deploying in March.

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Last Carrier Strike Group Returns Home From Combat Operations
Story Number: NNS031023-17
Release Date: 10/24/2003 12:38:00 PM

By Commander, 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The last Carrier Strike Group (CSG) from the combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom is returning home. The Nimitz CSG is scheduled to return to its homeport of San Diego Nov. 5, following a highly successful eight-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and combat support ship USS Bridge (AOE 10) will first make a brief port call in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Oct. 27, before getting underway for their final leg home Oct. 31.

The first ship from the Nimitz CSG to return home will be the Pearl Harbor-based Aegis cruiser, USS Chosin (CG 65), arriving Naval Station Peal Harbor Nov. 2.

As Nimitz approaches the Southern California coast Nov. 4, Carrier Air Wing 11 squadrons will be next to make homecomings, as they conduct a “fly off” of more than 70 aircraft from the aircraft carrier. The aircrews and aircraft will fly into the following four homeports: Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.; Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.; Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu, Calif.; Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

The following day, Nov. 5, Nimitz will pull into San Diego Bay and moor at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.

During the ship’s deployment, Nimitz flew more than 6,500 missions in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, this was the first deployment of the F/A-18F Super Hornet (two-seat version) and E-2C Hawkeye 2000. Nimitz is also the first aircraft carrier to deploy with two Super Hornet squadrons. This was Nimitz's first deployment since their major overhaul in 1997 and its first since relocating to San Diego in 2001.

Princeton will also return to her homeport Nov. 5 at Naval Station San Diego. During her deployment, Princeton escorted Nimitz while performing duties as Arabian Gulf Air Defense Commander and Tactical Data Coordinator. Princeton also spent several weeks as the Northern Arabian Gulf Maritime Intercept Commander, directing a coalition of naval forces providing security throughout Iraqi territorial waterways.

Also returning to San Diego is the Nimitz Strike Group’s Sea Combat Commander, Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 23, the famed squadron of former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke during World War II. Throughout the deployment, the staff coordinated defense of the Strike Group against surface and sub-surface threats. They also served as Escort Coordinator in the Arabian Gulf, assigning escort ships to military and merchant ships transiting through strategic waterways.

The carrier strike group’s fast combat support ship, Bridge, will also arrive home to Naval Station Bremerton, Nov. 5. Bridge’s crew conducted more than 200 underway replenishment evolutions, delivering more than 90 million gallons of fuel to CSG ships and enabling them to maintain a constant presence in the region.

The Aegis destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) returns home to Naval Station San Diego Nov. 8. Fitzgerald provided escort of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) during air strikes into Iraq and was later designated flagship for Commander of Maritime Interception Operations in the North Arabian Gulf. Fitzgerald also served in an Air Defense role for U.S. and coalition ships operating in the Gulf of Oman and North Arabian Sea, in addition to escort of merchant ships.

USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) will be the final Nimitz CSG ship to return home, arriving in Everett, Wash., Nov. 10, after making a brief stop in San Diego Nov. 7 to offload its helicopter detachment. During the deployment, Rodney M. Davis was designated as flagship for the commander of Maritime Interception Operations in the North Arabian Gulf, intercepting ships suspected of transporting illegal cargo, and also conducted similar operations with coalition forces in the Southern Arabian Gulf. When not in the North Arabian Gulf, Rodney M. Davis escorted numerous merchant and military ships through strategic waterways delivering critical supplies, troops, and humanitarian assistance to Iraq.

Nimitz and her crew departed San Diego March 3. The Nimitz CSG demonstrated the flexibility of U.S. naval forces by providing support in the 3rd, 5th and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility, all in a single deployment. First of the Nimitz-class carriers, Nimitz was commissioned May 3, 1975. Displacing more than 95,000 tons, Nimitz is home to more than 5,000 Sailors, as well as approximately 70 combat and support aircraft. From her 4.5-acre flight deck, Nimitz can quickly launch and recover the world’s most modern military aircraft to operate with other elements of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as those of allied nations.

For related news, visit the Commander 3rd Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c3f.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 Thanks, Tonkin!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

The Nimitz CSG is scheduled to return to its homeport of San Diego Nov. 5, following a highly successful eight-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and combat support ship USS Bridge (AOE 10) will first make a brief port call in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Oct. 27, before getting underway for their final leg home Oct. 31.

~~~
Homecoming heroes, ping!

In spite of the failed press war.
~~~

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[windchime]

Bump!

[blackie]

Homecoming heroes ~ Bump!

[VOA]

Whoa! I think I've found a new desktop shot!
Clicking on "view all photos" , then downloading the HiRes of that shot of the four
jets...very cool!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Very cool, is right! Thank you, VOA. Passing it on to someone else who could use a lift.

[VOA]

Very cool, is right!

I'm a WWII-era warbird fanatic (well, pretty fanatic).
If a warplane ain't got no propeller (one or more), I usually just yawn.

So, when I get pumped up over some military jets...it's something special.

In the case your friend would get a lift out a couple other objects of "machine lust",
s/he might go for the MustangsMustangs.com website at this URL:
http://www.p51.mustangsmustangs.com/p51.shtml

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Homecoming today for the Nimitz!

FoxNews just announced they will be covering it live.

OLD GLORY AT SEA USS Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing 11 personnel participate in a flag-unfurling rehearsal on the ship’s flight deck Nov. 3. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group and embarked CVW-11 are en route to San Diego following an eight-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Elizabeth Thompson

[MEG33]

Welcome home sailors.Well done!

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Happy reunions at the pier for family, friends and sailors.

BUMP!

[cars for sale]

but I wanna see it on FOX not CNN...damn it

[blackie]

Wecome Home Nimitz!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[Severa]

USS Nimitz Statistics (from the USS Nimitz website here)

Keel Laid: June 22, 1968
Launched: May 13, 1972
Commissioned: May 3, 1975
Propulsion system: Two nuclear power plants
Main Engines: Four
Speed: 30+ Knots
Propellers: Four
Blades on each Propeller: Five
Aircraft elevators: Four
Catapults: Four
Arresting gear cables: Four
Overall length: 1,092 feet
Overall width: 252 feet
Beam at waterline: 134 feet
Area of flight deck: About 4.5 acres
Full load displacement: About 95,000 tons
Accommodations: About 6,000 persons

Notes of Interest

- Nimitz reaches over 18 stories high from the keel to the top of the mast.
- The Hangar Bay extends for most of the ship's length. It is used for major repair and shelters the aircraft not needed for that day's flight schedule.
- Four distilling units enable Nimitz engineers to make over 400,000 gallons of fresh water a day, for use by the propulsion plants, catapults and crew.
- Nimitz' Food Services Department provides 18,000-20,000 meals a day.
- Nimitz can stock at least 70 days of refrigerated and dry storage goods.
- Literally tons of wash are done every day by Nimitz' laundry, dry cleaning and tailoring services personnel.
- Nimitz' one barber shop trims over 1,500 heads each week.
- The Post Office processes more than one million pounds of mail each year.
- The ship has a fully-equipped dental facility, staffed by five dentists.
- The Medical Department is manned by six doctors, including a general surgeon, who provide everything from surgery to hydro-therapy. The ship also featuresa 53-bed hospital ward, a three bed ICU, and acts as the hospital ship for the entire Nimitz battle group.
- Nimitz' three chaplains conduct daily religious services in an interdenominational chapel.
- Nuclear power allows the ship to store 50 percent more ammunition and almost twice as much aviation fuel as the largest conventional carrier.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, Severa. FoxNews didn't show much of the homecoming. Security reasons, I wonder. At least they mentioned it at the news breaks and we got some pics!

Please thank your husband for his service ~ and thank you.

[PhilDragoo]

Welcome Home Nimitz Carrier Strike Group

[doug from upland]

Welcome home, Carrier Strike Group. Job well done! Husbands and wifes are back together. Kids get to see their parents. What a sacrifice they make for this nation.

[VOA]

(picture in post #9
G-wd, that is beautiful!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

(^;