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Kearsarge ESG Completes Group Sail

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041101-07
Release Date: 11/1/2004 4:09:00 PM

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) Dave Nagle, USS Kearsarge Strike Group Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- The ships of the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) (KSG) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) sailed together for the first time during an at-sea exercise Oct. 25-27.

Kearsarge, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), USS Kauffman (FFG 59), USS Ashland (LSD 48) and USS Ponce (LPD 15) completed a Group Sail off the coast of Virginia, the first group exercise for KSG ESG as it gears up for its deployment next year.

The ESG concept centers on the combined flexibility and readiness of a Navy amphibious readiness group and a Marine expeditionary unit, augmented by surface combatant ships and a fast-attack submarine, arming it with expanded offensive and defensive warfare capabilities, not only by land with embarked Marines, but at sea, as well.

"The Group Sail allows us to get out as a group for the first time and work out the communications and interoperability issues before we move on to the next phase in our training," said Cmdr. Paul McElroy, KSG ESG operations officer.

The sail included several exercises across various warfare areas, including a detect-to-engage exercise with incoming aircraft, over-the-horizon targeting with other ships, Harpoon missile engagements and anti-submarine warfare exercises.

McElroy said these exercises allowed the ships in the ESG to work out their initial interoperability issues.

"It also allowed the group to work out its battle rhythm in how the ESG staff works its plans and prepares its various products, as well as ensuring the group is operating the way it should," he added.

One of the biggest challenges, McElroy said, was the amphibious ships working together with cruisers and destroyers as a group for the first time, rather than as individual units.

"The ESG is still a relatively new concept, so the amphibs, cruisers and destroyers are learning a lot about each other," McElroy said. "Overall, we're working really well together."

That's due, in part, to the lessons learned from the other ESGs, including the USS Wasp (LHD 1) ESG, which returned from its deployment in September.

"We already knew of some of the pitfalls the other ESGs encountered, and we took many of their instructions and planning products and adapted them to our own benefit," said McElroy.

"This Group Sail narrowed our focus on the things we need to work on to be successful," said Lt. David Hoople, Kearsarge's Combat Information Center officer. "It also highlighted the good work we did during the planning process."

With Group Sail completed, the KSG ESG is preparing for its next training exercise, which will integrate the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The KSG ESG is commanded by Capt. Edward Barfield, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8.