Nimitz Fighters Join War
Navy NewStand
Story Number: NNS030410-08
Release Date: 4/10/2003 2:40:00 PM
By Journalist Seaman Kristine DeHoux, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
ABOARD USS NIMITZ, At Sea (NNS) -- "We trained like we fight, and now it's time to fight like we trained," said USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Commanding Officer, Capt. Robert J. Gilman.
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, attached to the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), launched its first attacks yesterday in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Now operating in the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility, Nimitz CSG will relieve USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), which has been operating in the region longer than any other carrier on station in the Arabian Gulf.
Nimitz CSG will bring a fresh capability to the fight with its new F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 41. Nimitz CSG is the first to deploy with this new model of Super Hornet.
In addition to Super Hornets, CVW-11 also brings F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, S-3 Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds and SH-60 Seahawks to the fight.
Before Nimitz CSG was in theater however, four CVW-11 Super Hornets were already providing their support to OIF. Operating off the flight deck of Lincoln for the past week, the F/A-18E and F models were able to offer a better mix of fighter/tanker capability to support coalition forces. The four Super Hornets returned to Nimitz April 6.
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