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USS Winston S. Churchill Underway for Group Sail

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS141004-03
Release Date: 10/4/2014 7:58:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jackie Hart, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) is currently underway participating in a group sail as part of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG).

Winston S. Churchill departed its homeport, Naval Station Norfolk, Sept. 15, with an embarked detachment from the 'Grandmasters' of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46 for an approximately month-long at-sea period in preparation for upcoming deployments.

'We've had a very successful couple of weeks at sea conducting exercises with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group,' said Cmdr. Christine O'Connell, Winston S. Churchill commanding officer. 'Whether it's flight operations, ship-handling drills or anti-submarine operations, everything we do is a team effort.'

Joining Winston S. Churchill are the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Farragut (DDG 99), and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60).

For Winston S. Churchill, a group sail provides a chance to conduct several air, surface and subsurface exercises in an environment similar to what they may encounter while deployed, both independently and with the strike group.

'This underway has been a great experience thus far, and a great opportunity to complete a vast array of training qualifications and combat some actual casualties that we may face on deployment,' said Lt. Brandon Summers, Chief Engineer aboard Winston S. Churchill. 'Each day underway is setting us up for success, both now and in the future.'

With daily flight quarters, simulated strait transits, anti-submarine warfare, live-fire gunnery exercises and even launching a Standard Missile 2 (SM-2), the Winston S. Churchill crew feels confident in the capabilities of both the ship and its embarked helicopter detachment.

'Our Sailors have worked incredibly hard day in and day out and proven what a magnificent group of service men and women we have serving onboard the Winston S. Churchill,' said O'Connell.