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The 'proxy' war is escalating very rapidly. As AP reports, Navy officials confirm that the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is headed to Yemeni waters to intercept an Iranian weapons shipments. Just as we warned 10 days ago, the probability of a major escalation over the latest proxy Middle Eastern civil war escalated substantially when Iran parked two warships off the Yemeni coast.

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) returned to its homeport of Norfolk, Va., April 18 after a successful seven-month deployment supporting Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and maritime security and coalition operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). TR and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 flew 3,105 sorties in support of OEF, with more than 61,000 pounds of ordnance dropped on target in support of coalition forces. "The dedication of the ship's crew and naval aviators enabled TR to successfully complete its mission supporting Sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines on the ground in Afghanistan,"...

Kuwait has activated its Emergency War Plan after an armada of US naval battle groups headed for the Persian Gulf, Middle East Times reports. The report comes after DEBKAfiles claimed on Monday that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the USS Ronald Reagan, and the USS Iwo Jima are sailing toward the Persian Gulf to reinforce the US strike forces in the region. The US naval force is accompanied by a British Royal Navy carrier battle group and a French nuclear hunter-killer submarine. The deployment is believed to be the largest naval task force assembled by the United States and its allies...

Two additional United States naval aircraft carriers are heading to the Gulf and the Red Sea, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Kuwait Times. Kuwait began finalizing its "emergency war plan" on being told the vessels were bound for the region. The US Navy would neither confirm nor deny that carriers were en route. US Fifth Fleet Combined Maritime Command located in Bahrain said it could not comment due to what a spokesman termed "force-protection policy." While the Kuwaiti daily did not name the ships it believed were heading for the Middle East, The Media Line's defense analyst said they could...

Two additional United States naval aircraft carriers are heading to the Gulf and the Red Sea, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Kuwait Times. Kuwait began finalizing its "emergency war plan" on being told the vessels were bound for the region. The US Navy will neither confirm nor deny that carriers are currently en route. US Fifth Fleet Combined Maritime Command located in Bahrain said it could not comment because of what a spokesman termed "force-protection policy." While the Kuwaiti daily did not name the ships it believes are heading for the Middle East, The Media Line's defense analyst said they...

080722-N-7571S-001 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 22, 2008) A French F-2 Rafale launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is participating in Joint Task Force Exercise "Operation Brimstone" off the Atlantic coast. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder/Released) 080721-N-7241L-009 ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 21, 2008) A French Rafale M prepares to land aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during combined French and American carrier qualifications. This event marks the first...

Carrier launches are astonishing events. The plane is moved to within what seems like a bowling alley's length of the bow. A blast shield larger than any government building driveway Khomeini-flipper rises behind the fighter jet, and the jet's twin engines are cranked to maximum thrust. A slot-car slot runs down the middle of the bowling alley. The powered-up jet is held at the end of its slot by a steel shear pin smaller than a V-8 can. When the shear pin shears the jet is unleashed and so is a steam catapult that hurls the plane down the slot,...

A sailor on the Norfolk-based carrier Theodore Roosevelt died Saturday from a severe head injury sustained when the ship hit heavy seas off the coast of Florida, the Navy said Sunday. The sailor's name was not released pending family notification. -snip-

Photo #1: 060728-N-7241L-026 Atlantic Ocean (July 28, 2006) - An F-14D Tomcat, aircraft number 100, assigned to the "Tomcatters" of Fighter Squadron Three One (VF-31) makes a near supersonic fly-by above the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The F-14 will officially retire in September 2006, after 32 years of service to the fleet. Theodore Roosevelt is completing Joint Task Force Exercises with USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Laird (RELEASED). Caption Source: http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=37555 - Big Image Link: http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/060728-N-7241L-026.jpg Photo #2: 060728-N-7241L-015 Atlantic Ocean (July 28, 2006)...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Thousands of friends and family members gathered at Naval Station Norfolk for the return of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 11, following a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of the global war on terrorism. The early morning arrival of Theodore Roosevelt didn’t deter the crowd. Family members waited in the early Saturday morning chill, anticipating the return of their loved ones. “It’s like Christmas all over again,” said Diane Drach, mother of Machinist's Mate Fireman Ashley Drach, who is stationed aboard Theodore Roosevelt. “We are so proud of her, especially being in...

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Six squadrons from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 will return to Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Air Station Oceana March 9 and 10 following their six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The remainder of CVW-8’s squadrons will return to their homebases of Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Fla., and NAS Whidbey Island, Fla. The “Tomcatters” of Fighter Squadron (VF) 31 and the “Black Lions” of Fighter Squadron (VF) 213 will close a chapter in the history of naval aviation by completing the final combat deployment in the...

Ships, planes of Theodore Roosevelt strike group return next week The ships and aircraft of the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group will return home next week from six months supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The more than 7,500 sailors left September 1. 060303-N-9362D-001 Mediterranean Sea (March 3, 2006) – The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) pass the Rock of Gibraltar as it makes the transit from the Mediterranean Sea to Atlantic Ocean. Roosevelt and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are underway on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate...

TR Traps Last Tomcat from Combat Mission Story Number: NNS060215-15 Release Date: 2/15/2006 4:42:00 PM By Journalist 2nd Class Stephen Murphy, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs ABOARD USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- A chapter in naval aviation history drew to a close Feb. 8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) with the last recovery of an F-14 Tomcat from a combat mission. Piloted by Capt. William G. Sizemore II, commander, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Fighter Squadron (VF) 213’s aircraft 204 was trapped at 12:35 a.m. and marked one of the final stages of the Navy’s transition from the F-14...

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, which typically handles just one aircraft carrier at a time, will be home to three carriers at once this fall, said Navy Capt. Joseph Campbell, the yard's commanding officer. The three carriers make up one-quarter of the nation's flattop fleet and are scheduled to be in the yard simultaneously for several weeks. The USS Harry S. Truman arrived at the yard Jan. 9. It will be joined by the USS Theodore Roosevelt in September and the USS George Washington in October. The Truman is scheduled to depart in November.

051216-N-9362D-001 Persian Gulf (Dec. 16, 2005) - Commander Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Capt. Bill Sizemore makes his 10,000th trap aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Sizemore was piloting an F-14D Tomcat assigned to the "Blacklions" of Fighter Squadron Two One Three (VF-213). Roosevelt and embarked CVW-8 are underway on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Randall Damm (RELEASED)

FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDINGa Navy commander | May 9., 2003 | dfu Posted on 05/09/2003 1:56:27 PM PDT by doug from upland After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story. After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue...

Story Number: NNS050506-03 Release Date: 5/6/2005 1:55:00 PM USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- A ceremony held aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) (TR) May 4 recognized the ongoing friendship between Spain and the United States with the joining of a Spanish ship to the TR Carrier Strike Group. Alvaro de Bazan (F 101), a medium-size Spanish frigate, is now officially a part of Carrier Strike Group 2. “We are pleased and honored to welcome Alvaro de Bazan to Norfolk, Va., and into the TR strike group,” said Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 Rear Adm. James A. Winnefeld. “This project was...

Three carrier battle groups are converging on the Persian Gulf. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson has departed Singapore and is currently crossing the Indian Ocean, en route to the Middle East. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is also on the move, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, reportedly headed toward the Mediterranean. Reports are also circulating that the U.S. Navy has dispatched ships containing nuclear armaments to reinforce the battle groups. This will be the first time since February 2004 that the U.S. has had three major carrier groups stationed on or around the Middle East. Each of the carrier...

TR Leads Way in AT/FPStory Number: NNS040319-07Release Date: 3/20/2004 1:14:00 PMBy Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Kathryn Whittenberger, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is raising the standard when it comes to the Ship’s Self-Defense Force (SSDF). Feb. 9 marked the beginning of a revolution in training, and TR is leading the way with an SSDF Academy. SSDF consists of a group of Sailors whose duty is to protect the ship. As part of the security force, their primary purpose is being the first line of defense against anti-terrorism/force protection (AT/FP)...

Since she was last home two years ago, Ashley has flown her F14 Tomcat on more than 200 hours of combat missions in two wars. She talks to Martin Bentham about life as a 'Top Gun' - and what she will do next.The Christmas tree lights are flickering in the living room of her parents' home in Surrey as Ashley, a former British public schoolgirl, recalls her momentous year.   US Navy lieutenant Ashley "They were shooting at my aircraft, so I had to pay attention, move out of the way and not think about the possible outcome," she says...