USS George Washington (CVN-73)
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USS George Washington (CVN 73) is the sixth ship in the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered supercarriers, and the third United States Navy warship to be named after George Washington, first President of the United States. She was built by Newport News Shipbuilding. The keel was laid on 25 August 1986 and the ship was commissioned on 4 July 1992.
Two nuclear reactors are used for propulsion (the ship is capable of steaming more than one million miles before refueling) turning 4 five-bladed screws that weigh 66,220 pounds (30 t) each driving the ship at speeds over 30 knots (56 km/h).
George Washington (commonly known as GW) is 1,094 ft (333 m) long, 257 ft (78 m) wide and is as high as a twenty-four-story building, at 244 feet (74 m). The super carrier can accommodate approximately 80 aircraft and has a flight deck 4.5 acres (18,000 m²) in size, using four elevators that are 3,880 ft² (360 m²) each to move planes between the flight deck and the hangar bay. With a combat load, GW displaces almost 97,000 tons and carries over 6,000 crewmembers. She can distill 400,000 U.S. gallons (1,500 m³) of water and serves 18,000 meals per day. There are over 2,500 compartments on board requiring 2,520 tons (2.1 MW) of air conditioning capacity (enough to cool over 2,000 homes). The warship uses two anchors that weigh 30 tons each, with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). She is equipped with 4 Phalanx 20mm Close In Weapon System Mounts and 3 Sea Sparrow SAM launchers.
As of 2004, George Washington is home ported at NS Norfolk, Virginia.
History
Since commissioning, George Washington has made three Mediterranean / Persian Gulf deployments. During GW's maiden deployment the ship proudly served as the backdrop for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. In 1996, during its second deployment, George Washington was host to a historic meeting of the Joint Military Commission comprised of the military leaders of the Former Warring Factions in Bosnia/Herzegovina. The ship also played a vital peacekeeping role in Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia/Herzegovina and enforced the "NoFly" zone over Southern Iraq in Operation Southern Watch.
On its third deployment from Oct. 97-Apr. 98, GW spent most of its six month deployment in the Persian Gulf as the cornerstone of the U.S. military force, which compelled Iraq to allow United Nations weapons inspectors in their country.
On its fourth deployment from June 2000 to December 2000, George Washington spent most of its six-month deployment in the Persian Gulf as the cornerstone of the U.S. military presence there.
The George Washington CVBG departed 21 June 2000. Their deployment included operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. While in the Persian Gulf, the battle group supported Operation Southern Watch by flying more than 800 sorties over Iraq. Surface forces supported UN sanctions against Iraq by conducting Maritime Interception Operations and diverting more than 20,000 metric tons of oil smuggled out of Iraq in violation of UN sanctions. In the Adriatic, the battle group was a stabilizing presence when tensions rose in the region after presidential elections in Yugoslavia.
Throughout the deployment, battle group units participated in numerous international exercises, including Exercise Destined Glory, the largest NATO exercise of the year. Battle group units worked with military forces from Oman in the Persian Gulf, and from Hungary, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, Spain, France and the UK in the Mediterranean region, improving interoperability and strengthening relationships with those countries.
The SAIPAN ARG, with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked, left homeport 11 July. Their deployment was highlighted by extensive operations and exercises throughout the Mediterranean, including presence operations in the Adriatic Sea. The ARG/MEU team also participated in several international exercises. In addition to NATO Exercise Destined Glory, they were key players in Slunj 2000 (a bilateral exercise with Croatia) and PHIBLEX 00.
During the deployment, battle group ships steamed more than 400,000 miles and spent a combined 1800 days underway. The aircraft of CARRIER AIR WING SEVENTEEN (CVW 17) flew more than 9,000 sorties and made 9,000 arrested landings aboard USS George Washington.
About 15,000 Sailors and Marines of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier battle group (CVBG) and USS SAIPAN (LHA 2) amphibious ready group (ARG) returned to their East Coast home ports from six-month Mediterranean Sea/Persian Gulf deployments 19 December and 21 December 2000, respectively. A forecasted low pressure system off the East Coast next week precipitated a decision to bring the CVBG units in a day early. They had been scheduled to arrive 20 December.
Aircraft from CVW 17 arrived at NAS Oceana Monday, Dec. 18. The six ships returning 19 December include USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), USS NORMANDY (CG 60), USS CARON (DD 970), USS BRISCOE (DD 977), USS HAWES (FFG 53), USS SUPPLY (AOE 6). The three ships of the USS SAIPAN ARG scheduled to return 21 December include USS SAIPAN (LHA 2), USS AUSTIN (LPD 4), and USS ASHLAND (LSD 48). Battle group submarines USS ALBANY (SSN 753) and USS PITTSBURGH (SSN 720) also returned 21 December.
On 01 April 2002 ships and aircraft of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Battle Group commenced use of the Vieques Island inner range in conjunction with their Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX). The exercise also utilized the Northern and Southern Puerto Rican Operating Areas and will involve complex battle group training events, naval surface fire support training and air-to-ground bombing. COMPTUEX is an intermediate level battle group exercise designed to forge the Battle Group into a cohesive, fighting team. In accordance with presidential directives, all training on Vieques utilized inert (non-explosive) ordnance.
Conducted by the commander of Carrier Group 4 it was a critical step in the pre-deployment training cycle and a prerequisite for the battle group's Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), scheduled for late April. Units participating in COMPTUEX include USS George Washington (CVN 73) with Carrier Air Wing 17 and Destroyer Squadron 26 embarked; guided-missile cruisers USS Normandy (CG 60) and USS Monterey (CG 61); guided-missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52), USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Mahan (DDG 72); destroyer USS Arthur W. Radford (DD 968), guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59), attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) and oiler USNS Supply (T-AOE 6).
Ships and squadrons of the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Battle Group successfully completed JTFEX 02-2 on 5 May, paving the way for its certification to deploy. The exercise took place in the waters off the U.S. East Coast, as well as on training ranges in North Carolina and Florida.
Following a stand down period, the George Washington Battle Group deployed on 20 June 2002 and headed for the North Arabian Sea where it relieved the John F. Kennedy Battle Group on 19 July.
On 11 September 2002 the George Washington was relieved by the Abraham Lincoln Battle Group in the Perisan Gulf, where the George Washington had been supporting Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. Following 11 September, the battle group transited to the North Arabian Sea and headed west and then north, transiting the Suez by mid-September. On 23 September the George Washington had arrived in the Eastern Atlantic, and participated in Mediterranean Shark '02, a bilateral exercise with Morocco. The air portions of the exercise involved virtually all CVW-17 aircraft and up to 12 Moroccan fighters a day, but the Moroccans were not the only ones protecting their assets during mock battles. GW Sailors also got a heady dose of realism when the exercise called for an attack against the American aircraft carrier without its protective fighter umbrella.
The George Washington Battle Group returned to Norfolk on 20 December 2002, completing a six-month combat deployment in the Persian Gulf, in addition to operations in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
During their six-month deployment, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON launched approximately 10,000 sorties. These sorties included offensive strike missions, designed to dislodge both Taliban and Al-Qaida operatives. In August, USS GEORGE WASHINGTON and USS NORMANDY, steamed into the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the southern no-fly zone over Iraq. Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN sorties marked the first time in a year that aircraft launched from a U.S. carrier would patrol the skies over Iraq in conjunction with other coalition aircraft.
While deployed overseas, Battle Group ships visited 16 different countries, including Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Slovenia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
The nuclear–powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), returned to Norfolk, Va., Dec. 19, 2003 after 40 days at sea, where she successfully completed her Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). The GWSTRKGRU is comprised of Destroyer Squadron 28 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Elrod (FFG 55) and USNS Supply (T-AOE 6).
The exercise involved more than 7,600 Sailors operating off the coasts of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Having completed this final phase of the training cycle, the strike group assumed surge status and is fully qualified to take the battle to any arena in the world.
During this aggressive work-up cycle, the training was compressed to support the Chief of Naval Operation’s new Fleet Readiness Plan (FRP). FRP calls for six surge carrier strike groups to be ready at any time, with two more ready shortly thereafter.
The Navy announced on 13 January 2004 that the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group would depart for a routine deployment Jan. 20 in support of the global war on terrorism.
The George Washington made a port visit at Souda Bay, Crete beginning on 6 February thru 10 February 2004. GW shared the port visit with USS Vella Gulf. By 12 February, the George Washington was at sea and transited the Suez Canal on or about 16 February. The GW was operating in the Red Sea on 17 February.
On 20 February the George Washington enterred the Gulf of Aden, three days later on the 23rd the GW was operating in North Arabian Sea. On 27 February 2004 the George Washington was passing through the Gulf of Oman, and by early March, she and other elements of the Carrier Strike Group were conducting operations in the Persian Gulf.
On 8 April, F/A-18 Hornets from Carrier Air Wing Seven participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve. One of the Naval Air Station Oceana-based “Wildcats” from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131 conducted a 20-mm strafing run against an enemy position. Another VFA-131 Hornet dropped two 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bombs on another enemy position in Fallujah, Iraq, on 9 April. This was the first live ordnance dropped by CVW-7 aircraft since George Washington deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom on 20 January.
After traveling more than 51,000 nautical miles and spending six months at sea, USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) completed its sixth Mediterranean and Persian Gulf deployment and returned home to Norfolk, Va., 26 July.
One Sept. 13, 2004, USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) Sailors returned to sea to perform carrier qualifications, conduct training drills and fine tune their warfighting skills, in order to keep the surge carrier in top form if the need to deploy should arise.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) welcomed Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 “Flying Eagles,” the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy’s newest fighter, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, on Nov. 3, 2004. It was the first time the fighters had been launched and recovered on the carrier. George Washington was at the time the Navy’s surge carrier and was to remain so until some time in December 2004. Following the holiday standdown period, the ship was scheduled to move to Newport News Shipyard for upgrade and maintenance.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) began an underway period Nov. 2, marking the third underway period for the surge carrier since returning from deployment in July. With one underway remaining this year, the objectives while under way were to be obtaining carrier qualifications (CQs) and training carrier qualifications (TCQs), a substantial ammunition offload and an annual reactor inspection, all of which would help this underway signify the closing of GW’s surge status. Over the following two weeks, GW was to help new pilots earn their wings by helping them with their training carrier qualifications. These TCQs are the essential last step in any pilot’s certification process. Long-time pilots are also doing CQs as refresher training.
See also
External links
- USS George Washington webpage (http://www.navysite.de/cvn/cvn73.html)