Navy News
January 2nd, 2009 From
>X-Sender: tcrobi@pop.mindspring.com
>Date: Thu, 14 Aug 1997 22:42:56 -0500
>To: mahan@microwrks.com
>From: Tom Robison
>Subject: Navy News
>Precendence: bulk
>Sender: mahan-owner@microworks.net
>
>NNS3406. USS Kitty Hawk to replace USS Independence
> WASHINGTON (NWSA) — USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) will
>replace USS Independence (CV 62) as part of a planned
>rotation of the forward-deployed naval forces to Japan.
>Kitty Hawk will depart its current home port, San Diego, on
>July 15, 1998.
> Carrier Air Wing 5 and the staff of Carrier Group 5
>will transfer from Independence to Kitty Hawk during the
>ship’s turnover of responsibilities at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii,
>during Exercise RIMPAC 98.
> Independence will return to the West Coast, where it is
>scheduled to be decommissioned.
> Kitty Hawk is expected to arrive in Yokosuka August
>1998. The carries F-14, F/A-18, EA-6B, S-3A/B, E-2C, ES-3A
>aircraft and SH-60 helicopters, which give it a multi-
>dimensional response to air, surface and sub-surface
>threats.
> The forward deployment of the carrier to the 7th Fleet
>in Yokosuka in August demonstrates America’s continued
>commitment to the security of the Pacific region and defense
>of Japan.
> -USN-
>NNS3407. USS Nimitz changing home port
> BREMERTON, Wash. (NWSA) — USS Nimitz (CVN 68) will
>visit the Mediterranean next year en route to its new home
>port in Norfolk, according to ADM Archie Clemins, Commander-
>in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. The admiral addressed the crew
>during a recent visit on board in Bremerton, Wash.
> An option for this transfer of Nimitz from Pacific to
>Atlantic Fleet had been to round the Horn of Africa. The
>admiral didn’t specify which ports might now be visited.
> “I know that this will be a disappointment to some by
>not going around Africa, but it is the right thing to do,”
>the admiral told the crew. “We’re going to do everything
>possible to make that transit both a worthwhile event and
>also to make it good for each of you crew members who have
>put so much into this effort and the turmoil that goes with
>transferring home port.”
> The deployment is schedule to begin Sept. 1. A large
>portion of the crew is now scattered across America, moving
>their families to the ship’s future home port in Virginia or
>spending a few precious days elsewhere visiting loved ones
>prior to departing on the pending six-month deployment.
> For the last 10 years, Nimitz has operated from Puget
>Sound Naval Shipyard, some 15 miles west of Seattle. By the
>time Nimitz arrives in Newport News Naval Shipyard for an
>approximate three-year refueling overhaul, the nuclear-
>powered ship will have steamed almost 23 years on a single
>”tank of gas.”
> The round-the-world deployment will begin with Asian
>port visits, to be followed by an assignment in the Arabian
>Gulf before transiting the Mediterranean en route to
>Norfolk.
> “I want to congratulate all of you for your effort and
>for your hard work in getting ready for this forthcoming
>deployment and the change of home port,” Clemins told the
>crew. He commended the men and women for successfully
>demonstrating non-stop flight operations over a four-day
>period last month that enabled pilots to fly more than
>double the normal 100 sorties a day.
> “That [Surge exercise] really set a milestone and put
>some data on the table for what we can really do when called
>upon to perform,” the admiral said.
> -USN-
>
>
>Tom Robison
>Ossian, Indiana
>tcrobi@mindspring.com