USS Carl Vinson Finishes USWEX

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1, and Combined Task Forces (CTF) 32 and 34 completed an Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX), Sept. 3.

The USWEX lasted 96 hours and assessed the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities of the strike group while it was engaged in various warfare tasks.

“During the exercise, we performed close-air support for a simulated allied country while enemy submarines attempted to gather intelligence on our strike group,” said Cmdr. Ken Monfore, future plans and submarine operations officer for CSG-1.

During the exercise, the strike group simulated use of an assortment of anti-submarine warfare defensive and offensive capabilities, including surface and air-launched torpedoes and state-of-the-art equipment to locate and track enemy submarines.

“This exercise allowed us to test our ASW capabilities more intensely than we have been able to in previous exercises by providing a high submarine density training environment,” Monfore said. “Carl Vinson coordinated well with Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 to determine maneuvering plans in order to provide a hard target for our adversary.”

Combined Task Force 32 also participated in the exercise and provided Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance assets during the exercise which also included Australian and Canadian P-3s. CTF 34 coordinated and served as the Theater ASW commander throughout the training.

CSG 1 deployed from San Diego, Aug. 22 with approximately 6,200 Sailors and includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Destroyer Squadron 1 , guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS Dewey (DDG 105).

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