Military

Kitty Hawk Returns from Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050525-02
Release Date: 5/25/2005 6:05:00 AM

By Journalist 3rd Class Christopher Koons, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) returned to its forward-deployed operating port of Yokosuka, Japan, May 20, after completing a scheduled three-day underway period that featured various training exercises.

"Although at sea only a short time, this was another great opportunity for us to get some important ship-specific training and evolutions accomplished," said Capt. Tom Parker, Kitty Hawk's commanding officer.

Kitty Hawk departed Yokosuka May 17 to conduct navigation, engineering, damage control, and combat systems drills, as well as helicopter carrier qualifications for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5.

"For combat systems department, like all other departments on board, this underway period was used to make sure all of our systems were functioning properly," said Cmdr. Jon Lundquist, Kitty Hawk's combat systems officer.

Lundquist said he is confident of the ability of his personnel to handle complex issues based on successful training periods such as this.

"As long as we have the right equipment, our guys can tackle anything," Lundquist said, reflecting the spirit of every Kitty Hawk and CVW-5 department.

The Kitty Hawk Strike Group is the largest carrier strike group in the Navy and is composed of the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk, CVW-5, the guided-missile cruisers USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) and USS Cowpens (CG 63), and Destroyer Squadron 15.