jason
Little Dreamer
Member # 99
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posted May 22, 2003 08:40 AM
heres is what the big bosses put out for the dates for when we will be home... ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2003
Constellation Carrier Strike Group
Returns Home From Operation Iraqi Freedom
SAN DIEGO - The Constellation Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is scheduled to
return to San Diego June 2, following a successful seven-month deployment in
support of Operations Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Enduring Freedom (OEF) and
Southern Watch (OSW).
USS Constellation (CV 64) and other ships in her strike group will first
stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on May 22 before getting underway for San
Diego May 27. The ships joining the carrier in Hawaii are USS Bunker Hill
(CG 52 ), USS Valley Forge (CG 50 ), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Thach (FFG 43)
and USS Rainier (AOE 7).
Carrier Air Wing Two will fly off USS Constellation May 31 and June 1. USS
Constellation will then pull into Naval Air Station North Island June 2 to
off load the rest of the air wing and the ship's crew.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Constellation CSG flew more than 1,500
sorties (missions) and expended more than a million pounds of ordnance,
including 408 Tomahawk cruise missiles. Bunker Hill was one of the first
warships to conduct Tomahawk strikes against leadership targets in Iraq.
Its embarked LAMPS helicopter detachment (HSL 45.5 WOLFPACK) supported the
rescue of United Nations workers being forcibly removed from oil platforms
in the Northern Arabian Gulf and provided medical evacuations from Umm Qasr.
"Your accelerated deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of this
operation served as an important diplomatic tool for our nation as we
increased pressure on the Iraqi regime," Army Gen. Tommy Franks, U.S.
Central Command commander, said in a message to the Constellation CSG. "I
have no doubt your efforts directly hastened the fall of Saddam Hussein's
regime and the liberation of the Iraqi people."
Throughout the deployment, the ships of the CSG also provided significant
contributions to the war against terrorism. They escorted merchant and
military ships through strategic waterways and conducted maritime
interdiction operations, intercepting ships suspected of transporting
illegal cargo.
Valley Forge was designated as the flagship for the commander of Maritime
Interception Operations (MIO) in the Northern Arabian Gulf. It also served
as the logistics command for many of the coalition ships in the Arabian Gulf
and, in the days prior to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Valley Forge
played a crucial role as the command and control platform for Special Forces
Units (U. S. Navy SEALs and USMC Fast Platoons) for the seizing of two Iraqi
Offshore Gulf Oil Platforms. Throughout OIF combat operations, Valley Forge
was the closest U.S. cruiser or destroyer to Iraq.
The Aegis destroyer Milius took station in the Arabian Gulf as the flagship
for Commander, Maritime Interception Forces. The crew conducted over 300
boat launches and recoveries and accumulated over 200 helicopter landings in
one month. Soon after arriving on station in the Gulf in mid December 2002,
Milius was responsible for rescuing nine Iranian fishermen whose vessel had
capsized.
Thach played a key role in anti-submarine defense for all three CSGs
operating in the Arabian Gulf.
Rainier, the Constellation CSG's resupply and refueling ship, also played an
integral role. Rainier, homeported in Bremerton, Wash., is a fast combat
support ship, which conducted over 240 Underway Replenishment (UNREP)
operations, besting the ship's earlier UNREP record of 178, and enabling
ships to remain on station longer without having to pull into port for
re-supply. While Rainier usually provides for about 24 ships during a
six-month deployment, during OIF, Rainier provided for 64 ships, completing
up to six UNREP evolutions per day. Rainier received and issued over 135
million gallons of fuel and 25,000 pallets (15,000 tons) of material that
included mail, dry goods, food, and 10 million pounds of ordnance to the CSG
and coalition forces. The embarked helicopter detachment from Helicopter
Support Squadron ELEVEN (HC-11) contributed to move 9,000 tons of material
via Vertical Replenishment (VERTREP).
Constellation left San Diego Nov. 2. It is one of only three conventional
(non-nuclear powered) carriers remaining in the U.S. Navy and is
affectionately known as "America's Flagship." Displacing 88,000 tons,
Constellation is home to 5,000 Sailors and Marines as well as 72 combat and
support aircraft. From its 4.5-acre flight deck, Constellation can quickly
launch and recover the world's most modern military aircraft that operate
with other elements of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as those of allied
nations.
so i see everyone at the very first METAL SHOP show in San Diego in june... ![[Thumbs Up!]](graemlins/thumb.gif)
![[Devil]](graemlins/devil.gif) jason
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nothin' but yeah!
Posts: 38 | From: san diego | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted May 22, 2003 10:10 AM
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