Military

USS Harry S. Truman Battle Group to Deploy

Navy Newsstand

12/3/2002 9:19:00 AM

From 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- More than 8,000 Sailors and Marines from the ships and squadrons that comprise the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Battle Group will depart on a regularly scheduled deployment Dec. 5.

Most of the Sailors and Marines will deploy from the Hampton Roads area and relieve the USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Battle Group, whose return date has not yet been announced.

The entire battle group has prepared for deployment over the last eight months through a series of increasingly demanding exercises and operations, culminating in the recently completed Joint Task Force Exercise 03-1, which certified them as ready to deploy.

The battle group is commanded by Rear Adm. John D. Stufflebeem. Units in the group include Harry S. Truman with Carrier Air Wing 3 and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 22 embarked; guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56); guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Donald Cook (DDG 75); destroyers USS Briscoe (DD 977) and USS Deyo (DD 989); guided-missile frigate USS Hawes (FFG 53); and oilers USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) and USNS Mount Baker (T-AE 34).