After completing a nine-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operations (AOR), the ships and squadrons of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG) returned to their homeports in Norfolk, Va., Whidbey Island, Wash. and Mayport, Fla., Nov 15.
The GHWB CSG is comprised of the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron 22 (CDS 22), the guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun (DDG 103) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). The Strike Group, which deployed on 15 February, steamed a total of 73,400 nautical miles throughout two different AORs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) as well as Maritime Security Operations (MSO) and Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) efforts while working with joint, coalition and allied forces.
During 2014, the GHWB CSG team amassed 12,774 sorties for a total of 34,831 flight hours. Of the sorties, 3,245 were combat sorties with 18,333 combat flight hours. The aircraft made 10,003 catapult launches and arrested landings (traps) for the deployment.
During the deployment, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 delivered a total of 232 precision guided bombs, launched 47 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM) and fired more than 2,400 rounds of 20mm ammunition.
This was the 2nd combat deployment for CVN 77, which deployed after the successful completion of a Fleet Readiness Training Plan that included Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX), Air Wing Detachment Fallon, and Fleet Synthetic Training exercises.
CVN 77 was commissioned Jan. 10, 2009 as the 10th and last Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier. Named after the 41st U.S. President, USS George H.W. Bush is the only aircraft carrier in the fleet with a living namesake.
[mappress mapid=”14446″]
Press release, Image: US Navy