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George Washington Strike Group MED 02 Deployment
GWSTRKGRU / GWCSG
CVN-73 George Washington
"Spirit of Freedom"

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 May 5, 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 June 20, 2002 and headed for the North Arabian Sea where it relieved the John F. Kennedy Battle Group on July 19.

On September 11, 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 September 11, the battle group transited to the North Arabian Sea and headed west and then north, transiting the Suez by mid-September. On September 23 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 December 20, 2002, completing a six-month combat deployment in the Arabian 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 Arabian 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.

Chronology




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