Surface Strike Group Ships Deploy From Norfolk


	Official U.S. Navy file photo of USS Elrod (FFG 55). Elrod, USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Ross (DDG 71) deployed April 30 as a surface strike group in support of the global war on terrorism.
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Surface Strike Group Ships Deploy From Norfolk
Story Number: NNS040430-12
Release Date: 4/30/2004 2:34:00 PM

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Ross (DDG 71), and the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) departed Naval Station Norfolk April 30, for a Mediterranean Sea deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

As a Surface Strike Group (SSG), Ramage, Ross and Elrod will participate in regional exercises with allies, make diplomatic port calls and respond to any contingency including those associated with the ongoing war on terrorism.

“The SSG is a valuable force multiplier for the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group currently on deployment. They provide a fast, flexible response to meet any challenge that presents itself,” said Vice Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic.

Elrod Command Master Chief Terry Newhart echoes Roughead’s sentiment. "This is why we train. It’s our job to go into harm’s way to protect America and American interests around the world. It’s going to be a mixture of challenge and opportunity, operating with other units from other NATO nations,” he said.

The SSG can operate independently or in conjunction with other maritime forces. It is designed to be a flexible group that will provide presence with a purpose, and strike power to support joint and allied forces afloat and ashore.

For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c2f.

1 posted on 05/01/2004 9:27:23 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl

To: MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; anniegetyourgun; ...

NORFOLK, Va. -- More than 1,000 Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Ross (DDG 71), and the guided-missile frigate USS Elrod (FFG 55) departed Naval Station Norfolk April 30, for a Mediterranean Sea deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

“The SSG is a valuable force multiplier for the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Group currently on deployment..” said Vice Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/Striking Fleet Atlantic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ %

DDG 61 Ramage DDG 71 Ross FFG 55 Elrod

                               Godspeed!
                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~

2 posted on 05/01/2004 9:29:11 AM PDT by Ragtime Cowgirl ("(We) come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - Brian Taylor, US Marine)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Deployed from Norfolk-- as ships have been doing every month for decades.....

3 posted on 05/01/2004 9:47:57 AM PDT by tracer

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

4 posted on 05/01/2004 9:55:14 AM PDT by Reader of news

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

5 posted on 05/01/2004 9:57:30 AM PDT by Alamo-Girl

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Unlike the USS Cole, these ships are not the USS W.J.C. Alfred E. Newman docking in Adan.

Perhaps the crews shall make a port of call where an eye doctor can see them.

6 posted on 05/01/2004 10:07:33 AM PDT by SevenDaysInMay (Federal judges and justices serve for periods of good behavior, not life. Article III sec. 1)

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Go Navy ~ Godspeed!

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

7 posted on 05/01/2004 10:10:09 AM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)

Yep, just another day at the office.

8 posted on 05/01/2004 10:11:15 AM PDT by squidly (I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosity he excites among his opponents)

That's sounds exactly like something my son would say!

But don't they look *fine*. Godspeed to them even if it's(ho hum) just routine. As if....

9 posted on 05/01/2004 11:58:09 AM PDT by Lakeside

To: Ragtime Cowgirl

Also:

USS John C Stennis Strike Group just completed fleet Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 04-1 off the Southern California coast has drawn to a close.
JTFEX, which officially ended April 7, was the last major preparation before the Stennis Carrier Strike Group deploys in May
Carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower has been undergoing complex renovations and major technological upgrades since yard availabilty in 2002....scheduled out in 2004 for operation readiness.

10 posted on 05/01/2004 12:02:42 PM PDT by Light Speed

As a former squid myself, I didn't mean to suggest that which we both know to be the case -- that a military deployment is never really "routine" but are a regular occurence from places like Norfolk (the polite name for the place).

Since the Soviet Navy ceased to exist, a US warship is probably the best place to be during wartime. Of course, flight decks and unreps continue to be dicy, I'm sure.

May God bless and watch over our warriors in harm's way........

11 posted on 05/03/2004 9:31:19 AM PDT by tracer

BTW, I served in the early 70s on what they used to call a DLG, with Terriers fore and aft. How 'bout you??

12 posted on 05/03/2004 9:34:19 AM PDT by tracer

13 posted on 05/03/2004 9:44:34 AM PDT by squidly (I have always felt that a politician is to be judged by the animosity he excites among his opponents)

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