George Washington Strike Group MED 07 Deployment
GWSTRKGRU / GWCSG
CVN-73 George Washington
"Spirit of Freedom"
On January 27, 2005, USS George Washington was towed from the Norfolk Naval Base to the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard for a Docked Planned Maintenance Availability. USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) completed an undocking and berthing shift at the Northrop Grumman Newport News (NGNN) shipyard Aug. 30. The move was four days earlier than originally scheduled and was executed almost seven months after the ship arrived in the dry dock.
After arriving in the dry dock Jan. 28, GW had major cosmetic work done on her underside, with the ship's force painting the hull and shipyard workers removing, refurbishing and refitting the ship's four massive propellers and shafts. Above the waterline, the overhaul of the aircraft launch and recovery equipment, cable removal and replacement of steam piping are just a few of the thousands of jobs completed during the DPIA.
GW has also undergone modernization of spaces to support the F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft equipment and weapons stowage systems, enhancements to crew living areas, blasting and coating of numerous tanks and repair and inspections on a variety of ship systems and departments. The DPIA officially ended with the successful completion of sea trials, which test the ship's material readiness and ability to rejoin the fleet as an operational unit. GW was underway for sea trials for nearly three days before returning to Naval Station Norfolk.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 successfully completed flight deck certification Feb. 3, 2006, after the ship has not launched or recovered aircraft in more than a year. The certification came four days after GW left Norfolk Naval Station.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) departed Norfolk Naval Station early Feb. 28 for its second scheduled underway period of the year. The purpose of this underway was to provide carrier qualifications and training carrier qualifications for seven squadrons. Additionally, there was a lot of training for the whole crew.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to Norfolk March 17 after successfully completing the first phase of its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA). TSTA is a three-part training and testing evolution designed to increase a ship's readiness and effectiveness.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 departed Naval Station Norfolk, Va., April 4 as part of U.S. Southern Command's (SOUTHCOM) "Partnership of the Americas" deployment. The two-month underway period marks GW's first deployment since leaving the Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard in December. More than 6,500 Sailors from the GW Carrier Strike Group ships will deploy to the Caribbean Sea to enhance regional maritime security and strengthen ties through operations and exercises with Caribbean and Latin American partner nations.
The deployment will also provide the opportunity for U.S. and other forces to operate in a multinational environment, refine coordination, and improve interoperability. Assigned units will focus on being ready to deal with threats such as narco-terrorism and illicit trafficking, and improving training levels in a variety of mission areas.
USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Monterey (CG 61), ships from Destroyer Squadron 40, joined GW in the George Washington Carrier Strike Group April 4. USS Underwood (FFG 36), homeported in Mayport, Fla., already at sea performing escort duties, joined the GW CSG in the Caribbean Sea at a later date.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) successfully completed the second and third phases of its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA), April 13. TSTA II and III mark the first time GW Sailors integrated with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors during drills. TSTA is normally a single 25-day underway period with the air wing embarked to assess everything from navigation, seamanship, damage control and combat systems, to medical and flight deck operations. GW's TSTA was unconventional in that it was conducted over several interrupted underway periods and did not follow the normal Fleet Readiness Training Plan model.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 arrived in St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, April 14 for a goodwill port visit as part of the ship's current deployment. This is the first time in several years that an aircraft carrier has operated in the Western Caribbean.
On May 11-12, GW conducted a bilateral exercise with the Colombian navy and air force. It involved two ships from the Colombian navy, GW, aircraft from CVW-17 and the Colombian air force and two ships from the GW Carrier Strike Group (GWCSG) - USS Monterey (CG 61) and USS Underwood (FFG 36). The two-day exercise involved an air defense exercise and numerous war fighting demonstrations by all the units involved. Military leaders from Colombia embarked GW during the exercises to get a look at how the carrier strike group operates.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 arrived in Antigua May 15 for a goodwill port visit as part of the ship's current deployment.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to Naval Station Norfolk May 24 following a seven-week deployment to the Caribbean in support of "Partnership of the Americas." GW's first bilateral exchange was a visit by a group of Brazilian pilots who were hosted by CVW-17. During their visit, the officers were shown how the U.S. Navy conducts aircraft carrier operations. Throughout the deployment, GW hosted dignitaries, military leaders and media representatives from various countries in the region including Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Antigua. GW also conducted operations and exercises with foreign navies in the region.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to Norfolk Naval Station 24 July 2006, after spending two weeks at sea completing carrier qualifications (CQ) and training carrier qualifications (TCQ) for several squadrons, as well as a number of training requirements for the crew. This was one of GW's last scheduled underways before heading to Norfolk Naval Shipyard in the fall for a Docked Planned Incremental Availability in preparation for the ship's reassignment to Japan.
Although GW was headed to the yards later in 2006, training continued to be an important agenda item for everyone. During these two weeks the crew conducted general quarters, medical emergency, at-sea fire party and deep void rescue drills.
USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) completed its move into the dry dock at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) 28 September 2006. The berth shift marks the beginning of the Planned Incremental Availability + Docking (PIA+D) before the ship heads to Japan in 2008. In November 2006, NNSY workers set a precedent by removing the ship's main mast in one piece, saving both time and money. Pollitz said masts are usually removed in three sections.
December 2006 marked the third month of USS George Washington's (CVN 73) (GW) Planned Incremental Availability plus Docking (PIA+D) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY). PIA+D coordinators are pleased with the progress that contractors, shipyard workers, and ship's crew are making. Since PIA+D began, team GW had completed ahead of schedule nine of the 18 milestones passed so far. The other nine have been completed on time. Ninety-five additional milestones and key events were scheduled for the availability period.
Chronology
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21 Oct 2006 - MWR Crew Picnic
14-22 Aug 2006 - Western Atlantic
14 Aug 2006 - Departed Norfolk
24 Jul 2006 - Returned to Norfolk
11 Jul 2006 - Departed Norfolk for CQs
24 May 2006 - Returned to Norfolk
15 May 2006 - Port Visit @ Antigua
11-12 May 2006 - CARTAGENEX with Columbian Navy
14 April 2006 - Port visit @ St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
13 April 2006 - Completed TSTA II/ TSTA III
4 April 2006 - Departed for "Partnership of Americas" deployment
17 March 2006 - Returned to Norfolk
13 March 2006 - Completed MISSILEX
28 Feb 2006 - Underway for carrier qualifications
16 Feb 2006 - Returned to Norfolk
3 Feb 2006 - Completed flight deck qualifications
31 Jan 2006 - Underway for flight deck qualifications
17 Dec 2005 - Completed DPIA; Returned to Norfolk
15 Dec 2005 - Underway for sea trials
30 Aug 2005 - Left dry dock
27 Jan 2005 - Began DPIA
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