The forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) departed Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, Sept. 13, to continue its 2013 patrol of the 7th Fleet area of operations.
George Washington has spent the last three weeks in port to conduct a scheduled maintenance period after two months at sea.
“George Washington and its crew are ready for the second half of our patrol,” said Capt. Greg Fenton, George Washington’s commanding officer. “Although this mid-patrol maintenance period was important, it’s crucial that we return to sea to build upon the success we had during the first half of our patrol.”
The George Washington Strike Group participated during the first half of its patrol with Australian Defense Forces in exercise Talisman Saber (TS) 2013. TS is a bilateral exercise designed to train Australian and U.S. forces to plan and conduct combined task force operations in order to improve combat readiness and interoperability.
“Talisman Saber demonstrated the strong alliance between the U.S. and Australia,” said Fenton. “Talisman Saber improved both nations’ ability to work multilaterally and prepared us to be poised to provide security regionally and globally.”
Sailors assigned to George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, also enjoyed a five-day port visit to Brisbane, Australia, where they participated in 10 community service projects and three sporting events against local teams, and conducted ship tours for more than 1,200 Australian guests.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier also completed flight and damage control training exercises, and a Naval Air Forces Maintenance and Material Management Inspection (3MI).
“All of the hard work we’ve accomplished over the past few weeks has set the bar high for the second half of our patrol,” said Fenton. “But I know that the George Washington team is ready to meet that challenge.”
George Washington and CVW 5 provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
[mappress] Press Release, September 16, 2013