USS George Washington (CVN-73)

USS George Washington (CVN 73) (Callsign: WARFIGHTER) is the sixth ship in the Nimitz class of nuclear-powered supercarriers, and the fourth United States Navy ship to be named after George Washington, first President of the United States. Her contract was awarded on December 27 1982 and she was built by Newport News Shipbuilding. The keel was laid on 25 August 1986, she was christened July 21 1990 by then-First Lady Barbara Bush, and was commissioned 4 July 1992.

As of 2006, George Washington is homeported at NS Norfolk, Virginia.

Description

George Washington (commonly known as GW) is 1,092 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 can accommodate 6,250 crewmembers. Her four distilling units can make 400,000 U.S. gallons (1,500 m³) of fresh water a day; her food service divisions 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 Mark II stockless anchors that weigh 30 tons each, with each link of the anchor chain weighing 360 pounds (160 kg). She is currently equipped with 3 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS Mounts and 2 Sea Sparrow SAM launchers. 1 CIWS and 1 Sea Sparrow mount were removed to make way for 2 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, installed during the 2005 Planned Incremental Availability (PIA).

All US Navy aircraft carriers have their hull number painted on both sides of their island structure for identification. These numbers are lighted white for visibility at night while in port. By order of Congress, George Washington's island number is outlined in red, white and blue lights in honor of her namesake's contributions to America's independence; it is the only carrier lighted in this way. General Washington had long been a proponent of a strong Navy. On 15 November 1781 he wrote, Without a decisive Naval force, we can do nothing decisive. And with it, everything honourable and decisive. These words are engraved on a plaque on the ship's quarterdeck.

Propulsion

Two General Electric Westinghouse A4W 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).

Awards

George Washington has been the recipient of numerous awards recognizing the ship's excellence. They include the 1997, 2000, and 2002 Battenberg Cups, the 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2002 Battle "E", two Navy Unit Commendations and three Meritorious Unit Commendations. In 1994, she won the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award for the Atlantic Fleet.

Seal

Designed by its commissioning crew, the ship's seal includes a classic silhouette of America's first president and his signature, a band of thirteen stars representing the original thirteen colonies and the crossed American flag and Betsy Ross flag, the "flags of freedom." Also featured is the ship itself, launching an F/A-18 all encircled by an unbroken rope symbolizing the solidarity of the crew. The ship's motto, "Spirit of Freedom," was used by General Washington in a letter to a fellow patriot during the American Revolution to describe the mood of the people.

History

Since commissioning, George Washington has made six Mediterranean Sea / Persian Gulf deployments. During George Washington's maiden deployment the ship proudly served as the backdrop for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. During this deployment the ship also made news after they billed Clinton staff members for $562 worth of towels and bathrobes the group had apparently taken from the ship without authorization after spending a night aboard. 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 and Herzegovina. The ship also played a vital peacekeeping role in Operation Decisive Endeavor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and enforced the "No Fly zone" over Southern Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch.

On its third deployment from October 1997 to April 1998, GW spent most of her six month cruise 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.

2000

On its fourth deployment from June 2000 to December 2000, George Washington again spent a large portion of the six month deployment in the Persian Gulf as the centerpiece 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 amphibious ready group (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 17 (CVW-17) flew more than 9,000 sorties and made 9,000 arrested landings aboard George Washington.

About 15,000 Sailors and Marines of the George Washington aircraft carrier battle group (CVBG) and Saipan 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 the 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, 18 December. The six ships returning 19 December included George Washington, Normandy (CG-60), Caron (DD-970), Briscoe (DD-977), Hawes (FFG-53), Supply (AOE-6). The three ships of the Saipan ARG scheduled to return 21 December included Saipan (LHA-2), Austin (LPD-4), and Ashland (LSD-48). Battle group submarines Albany (SSN-753) and Pittsburgh (SSN-720) also returned 21 December.

2001

On 13 February, George Washington began a six-month PIA at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The ship received upgrades to many ship systems, including berthing spaces, ventilation systems, and computer networking. On 31 July the ship began four days of sea trials before returning to homeport in preparation for workups for a planned 2002 deployment.

On 6 September George Washington was presented with the 2000 Battenberg Cup, awarded annually to the Atlantic Fleet ship or submarine with the greatest crew accomplishments during the previous calendar year. It was the second time GW had won the award (the ship was also the winner of the 1997 award). The crew also accepted the Flatley Award for aircraft carriers with the best aviation safety record.

On the morning of 11 September, George Washington was operating off the coast of Virginia conducting routine carrier qualifications when the 9/11 attacks took place. She was diverted north and arrived in New York City the following day. For the next three days, the ship and her air wing (most of which was hastily transferred from USS John F. Kennedy) provided airspace defense for the city and surrounding area in coordination with NORAD. The ship then returned home and resumed the Inter Deployment Training Cycle. From 2 to 29 November George Washington participated in Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) I/II. For the remainder of the year and into 2002 the ship hosted more carrier qualifications.

2002

On 1 April 2002 ships and aircraft of the George Washington 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. While underway, on 8 April, CAPT Martin J. Erdossy relieved CAPT William McCarthy as Commanding Officer. Present at the change of command ceremony on the ship's flight deck were RADM Joseph Sestak, GW Battle Group Commander and RADM Lindell G. Rutherford, Commander Carrier Group Four, who had been the previous GW Commanding Officer.

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 George Washington with Carrier Air Wing 17 and Destroyer Squadron 26 embarked; guided-missile cruisers Normandy and Monterey (CG-61); Guided missile destroyers Barry (DDG-52), Laboon (DDG-58) and Mahan (DDG-72); destroyers Arthur W. Radford (DD-968), guided-missile frigate Kauffman (FFG-59), attack submarine Oklahoma City (SSN-723), and oiler Supply (T-AOE-6).

Ships and squadrons of the George Washington 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 USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group in the Persian Gulf, where 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 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.

On October 2 the crew was treated to a flight deck concert by the band 3 Doors Down while the ship was making a port visit to Lisbon Portugal. Footage from this concert and the band's tour of the ship was used in the video to the band's single "Love Me When I'm Gone".

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, George Washington launched approximately 10,000 sorties. These sorties included offensive strike missions, designed to dislodge both Taliban and Al-Qaida operatives. In August, George Washington and Normandy, steamed into the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the southern no-fly zone over Iraq. CVW-17 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.

2003

On 23 June George Washington was presented with the 2002 Battenberg Cup. It was the third time the ship had won the prestigious award.

On September 9 the ship left Norfolk to conduct carrier qualifications. Two days later, as the ship was operating off the coast of Virginia when an arresting wire parted while an F/A-18 was landing. As the wire parted, it snapped back violently across the deck, injuring five crewmen, two critically. The sailors, who were part of the ship's company, VAW-120 and VFA-106 had to be medically evacuated from the ship but all survived the mishap. The aircraft was lost over the side but the pilot was able to eject safely. Footage of the mishap was later used in a National Geographic special about the ship that was being filmed at the time.

GW returned to Norfolk, Va., 19 December 2003 after 40 days at sea, where she successfully completed her Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). The GWSTRKGRU was comprised of Destroyer Squadron 28 and Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7), Vella Gulf (CG-72), Ramage (DDG-61), Ross (DDG-71), Bulkeley (DDG-84), Elrod (FFG-55) and 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 Operations-directed Fleet Readiness Plan (FRP). FRP calls for six surge carrier strike groups to be ready at any time, with two more ready shortly thereafter.

2004

The Navy announced on 13 January 2004 that the George Washington Carrier Strike Group would depart for a routine deployment on 20 January in support of the global war on terrorism.

George Washington made a port visit at Souda Bay, Crete beginning on 6 February through 10 February 2004. GW shared the port visit with Vella Gulf. By 12 February, 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 George Washington entered the Gulf of Aden; three days later the GW was operating in the Northern Arabian Sea. On 27 February 2004 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 13 March the ship made the first of three port visits to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.

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 131 (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.

After being relieved by the USS John F. Kennedy, the ship began its transit home. The ship and crew would enjoy one final port visit to Naples Italy from 14-18 July.

After traveling more than 51,000 nautical miles and spending six months at sea, George Washington completed its sixth Mediterranean and Persian Gulf deployment and returned to Norfolk on 26 July.

On 13 September 2004, 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. George Washington welcomed Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122) “Flying Eagles,” the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the Navy’s newest fighter, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, on 3 November 2004. It was the first time the fighters had been launched and recovered on the carrier. The ship returned home the morning of 22 September. on 30 September, CAPT Garry R. White relieved CAPT Erdossy as Commanding Officer at a ceremony in the ship's hangar bay.

George Washington began an underway period 2 November, 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 mark the closing of the ship'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. GW returned to home port on 22 November. GW completed one last underway CQ period from 30 November to 3 December before standing down for the holiday season.

2005

On January 28 2005 the ship entered drydock for PIA. Many ship's systems were upgraded and maintenance was done to the hull while in drydock. The ship's four jet blast deflectors were removed and upgraded to handle the increased heat generated by the F/A-18E Super Hornet. The ship's defensive weapons configuration was also altered, as one Phalanx CIWS mount and one Sea Sparrow launcher were removed and replaced with two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers. During the 11 months the ship was drydocked, the crew contributed an unprecedented 20,000 hours of volunteer community service to the city of Newport News. The availability was completed on schedule, and George Washington returned to her Norfolk homeport on December 17 2005.

2006

On 31 January the ship, with Carrier Air Wing 17 aboard, began a Flight Deck Certification and carrier qualification period. She returned to Norfolk on 16 February to prepare for further exercises and tasking. She was underway again on 28 February to conduct more carrier quals and damage control training and evaluations, and returned to Norfolk on 17 March. GW and CVW-17 left Norfolk on 04 April for a scheduled two month "Partnership of the Americas" deployment to operate as part of SOUTHCOM. This deployment included counter-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea, crew exchanges and exercises with Latin American and South American navies, and port visits for the carrier and strike group, which consisted of the cruiser USS Monterey, destroyer USS Stout, and frigate USS Underwood. The first of these port visits took place from 14-17 April when George Washington stopped in St. Maarten. The next day the ship was underway again, and soon began a crew exchange program with the Colombian Navy. More exercises followed, along with another port visit, to the island of Antigua from 15-18 May. After leaving Antigua, GW began the transit back to homeport and arrived in Norfolk on 24 May. On 11 July she left her home port for two weeks of carrier qualifications.

Future plans

On December 1st, 2005, the United States Navy announced that George Washington will replace USS Kitty Hawk in 2008 as the forward-deployed carrier in Yokosuka Japan. She will be the first nuclear-powered surface warship permanently stationed in Japan. George Washington will assume Carrier Air Wing 5, already based in Japan. ^*

External links

George Washington | Modern aircraft carriers of the United States | Nimitz class aircraft carriers | United States Navy aircraft carriers | United States Navy nuclear ships

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