George Washington Strike Group MED 00 Deployment
GWSTRKGRU / GWCSG
CVN-73 George Washington
"Spirit of Freedom"
On its fourth deployment from June 2000 to December 2000, George Washington spent most of its six-month deployment in the Arabian Gulf as the cornerstone of the U.S. military presence there.
The George Washington CVBG departed June 21, 2000. Their deployment included operations in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. While in the 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 Arabian 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 July 11. 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/Arabian 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.
Chronology
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19 Dec 2000 - Returned to Norfolk
Sep 2000 - Mediterranean Sea
24 Jul 2000 - Persian Gulf
21 Jun 2000 - Departed Norfolk
May 1998 - Mar 1999 - 6-mo PIA @ Norfolk NSY
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