GW Transits Suez Canal, Enters U.S. 6th Fleet
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040715-05
Release Date: 7/15/2004 12:16:00 PM
By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) John Osborne, USS George Washington Public Affairs
USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) (GW) transited the Suez Canal and entered the Mediterranean Sea and U.S. 6th Fleet's area of operation July 11.
The Canal was a welcome site for Sailors and a clear indication that their deployment was nearing its conclusion.
"Going through the Suez Canal is like crossing a bridge to America," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Kimberly Swift. "After almost six months, it starts to seem like you're never going to see home. But going through the Suez, you feel like you're actually making progress."
"The Ditch," as Sailors commonly refer to the 100 mile-long Canal, connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, enabling ships to bypass the Cape of Good Hope, the southernmost point of Africa. This reduces the time needed to make the trip from the Arabian Sea to Norfolk by almost half. This was a major step in GW's return trip to Norfolk after nearly six months at sea, the last four of which were spent in the Persian Gulf providing air support for ground troops fighting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In addition to serving as the most efficint means of getting warships into U.S. 5th Fleet, the Suez Canal also offers a Sailros a chance to see some things that they will likely never see again.
"This is my second time through the Suez, and I'm still amazed that I can be standing on the flight deck and look to either side and see two different countries as we pass by," said Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class (AW) Jeremy Willis. "It also reminds us that we are appreciated when we see people on both sides waving to us and wishing us well."
As the only carrier on station in the Persian Gulf from March through July, GW and her embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 made their presence known by flying more than 1,500 sorties directly involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom. CVW-7 aircraft performed near-flawless missions, dropping ordnance, performing reconnaissance missions for ground troops and providing electronic jamming to enable troops to move about more freely.
June 2, USS George Washington Strike Group joined six other carrier strike groups in an evolution known as "Summer Pulse '04." In a broad display of the U.S. Navy's dominant sea power, seven aircraft carrier strike groups were deployed to five different theatres around the world. GW Strike Group stood at the tip of the spear, and carried the ball for Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark's vision of presence with a purpose. GW Strike Group ships USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84) and HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) initiated or participated in more than 200 boardings of merchant vessels during maritime intervention operations and logged over 12,000 surface contacts in the Persian Gulf.
GW will make a port call in Naples, Italy, and then return home to Norfolk later this month.
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