The Med

Mason, arriving

By Bill McMichael on July 27, 2011 5th Fleet, 6th Fleet, Deployment, Homecoming, Marine Security Cooperation, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Photos, The Med, The Middle East, Theater Security Cooperation

The Norfolk-based destroyer Mason finally made it home today, bringing up the rear of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, most of which arrived at home ports or bases July 15. One of the happy sailors was Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Eugene Andal, who was selected to debark and receive the traditional first kiss from his wife and kids: The Strike Group left Norfolk Jan. 13 to support theater security cooperation and maritime security cooperation efforts during a deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility that covered nearly 60,000 miles.

Home for Dad's day

By Bill McMichael on June 18, 2011 Ballistic missile defense, Homecoming, Libya, Maritime operations, Navy, Norfolk Naval Station, Personnel, Photos, Ships, SURFLANT, The Med, Tomahawk

The destroyer Stout came home to Norfolk Saturday following a Med cruise in support of theater security operations and ballistic missile deterrence … … and just in time for Father’s Day: Stout took part in the coalition strikes on Libyan forces that began in mid-March. Stout was the first ship on station and fired multiple salvos of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan air defenses, surface-to-air sites and communications nodes, along with the destroyers Stout and Barry, the attack submarines Providence and Scranton and the guided missile submarine Florida, according to the Navy. The crew also had to deal with the…

Bush to make first-ever overseas deployment

By Bill McMichael on May 5, 2011 Admirals, Aviation, Carriers, Naval aviation, Photos, Ships, The Med, The Middle East

The vision that began with a January 2001 contract award will be fully realized on Wednesday, May 11, when the carrier George H.W. Bush leaves Norfolk to begin its first-ever combat deployment. The 1,092-foot Bush is the 10th and final carrier of the Nimitz class. Commissioned in January 2009, the carrier, as well as its strike group, have been in training for this cruise for most of the past year. The Bush Carrier Strike Group, led by Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, will consist of five total ships, eight aircraft squadrons and nearly 6,000 sailors, and will operate in the 5th…

Daly: Amphibious forces are more relevant than ever

By Bill McMichael on April 1, 2011 Admirals, Amphibious operations, Amphibious Ready Group, Gator Navy, Historical, Korean War, Marine Corps, Marine Expeditionary Unit, Maritime operations, Ships, The Med, The Middle East

The deputy commander of Fleet Forces Command used his keynote speech at the decommissioning of the amphibious assault ship Nassau in Norfolk March 31 to stump for continued support for the “Gator Navy” and the capability to launch U.S. Marines onto contested shore, arguing that such a capability reduces the need for U.S. bases on foreign shores. Vice Adm. Peter Daly pointed to the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit providing humanitarian assistance and disaster response following the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged northern Japan; the Boxer ARG and 13th MEU being accelerated into the Persian…

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