USS Harry Truman Aircraft Carrier Strike Group has entered the Mediterranean
20 April, 2018
The
USS Truman and its Strike Group entered the western Mediterranean Sea
early this morning, doubling the amount of American firepower in that
region of the world.
The
Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) entered the U.S. 6th fleet
area of operations Wednesday, the region where less than a week ago
U.S., British and French forces
launched air strikes against Syrian chemical weapons facilities.
The
Truman CSG left Norfolk on April 11 for
a regularly scheduled deployment to both the 6th Fleet and 7th Fleet
areas of operation. Along with sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, the
strike group is expected to also operate in the Arabian Sea and the
Persian Gulf during this deployment.
“We
are thrilled to have the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group here in
the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations and look forward to having them
on our team as we conduct the full spectrum of maritime operations to
include working alongside our NATO allies and regional partners. Our
U.S. 6th fleet motto is ‘Power for Peace,’ and there is no more
recognizable symbol of American naval power than a carrier strike
group. Their presence in this vital region is a reflection of our
commitment to a safe, prosperous and free Europe and Africa,” said
Vice Adm. Lisa M. Franchetti, the U.S. 6th Fleet commander in a
release.
In
the pre-dawn
hours of Saturday,
three facilities that were part of the Syrian government’s chemical
weapons program were hit by a coordinated set of U.S., French, and
British airstrikes. A total of 105 missiles were launched from both
ships and aircraft operating in the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and the
Persian Gulf.
In
the Eastern Mediterranean, Virginia-class attack boat USS John
Warner (SSN-785)
launched six Tomahawks and French frigate Languedoc (D-653)
fired three of the naval variant of the SCALP land attack cruise
missiles, according to Navy officials. British and French aircraft
also fired missiles while flying in the region.
The
Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group includes USS Harry
S. Truman (CVN-75),
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, guided-missile cruiser
USS Normandy (CG-60),
and guided-missile destroyers USS Arleigh
Burke (DDG-51),
USS Bulkeley (DDG-84),
USS Farragut (DDG-99),
USS Forrest
Sherman (DDG-98),
USS The
Sullivans(DDG-68)
and USS Winston
S. Churchill (DDG-81).
German frigate FGS Hessen (F-221)
is also joining the Truman CSG for this deployment.
The
Truman CSG includes twice the number of ships that were part of the
George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike group that operated in the same
regions a year ago. The Bush CSG included USS George H.W. Bush
(CVN-77), and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers
USS Laboon(DDG-58)
and USS Truxtun (DDG-103);
and guided missile cruisers USS Philippine
Sea (CG-58)
and USS Hue
City (CG-66).
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