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May 14th 2005: Carrier Sunk in Atlantic The ex-America finally sank
off Carolina after a series of explosions over 25 days. America had been used
for testing. She is 6,000 ft down. America had been decommissioned in
1996. May 3rd: Vinson Loses 2 Hornets BAGHDAD, Iraq (NNS) -- At
approximately 10:10 p.m. May 2, contact was lost with two U.S. Marine Corps
F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), flying in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Status of the crew members is unknown at this time. Search efforts are currently
underway. (US Navy) May 1st: Battle E for Vinson. USS CARL VINSON (NNS) -- The crew of USS
Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was awarded the 2004 Battle Efficiency Award (Battle "E")
for West Coast carriers April 18.
The hard-earned award was announced to the crew in a naval message from Vice
Adm. James Zortman, commander of Naval Air Forces. This award marks the “Gold
Eagle’s” fourth in 25 years of honorable service. Vinson received its last
Battle E in 2002. (US Navy) March 19th: America Live Fire Target.
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The decommissioned aircraft carrier, ex-America (CV 66)
departed the Navy’s Inactive Fleet Facility April 19 for its final and vital
mission as a live-fire test and evaluation, and weapons effect platform for the
next generation aircraft carrier.
The third Navy ship to carry the name, USS America, CV 66 sailed the world’s
oceans for more than 30 years as a symbol of freedom and democracy. From the day
America was commissioned Jan. 23, 1965, until her decommissioning Aug. 9, 1996,
the ship played a significant role in almost every conflict the United States
faced.
March 29th: NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) (CVN 69) was redelivered to the fleet March 25,
after a four-year, approximately $2.5 billion dollar Refueling Complex Overhaul
(RCOH) that brought state-of-the-art equipment and technology to one of
America’s premier fighting platforms.
The RCOH included the reconstruction of the ship’s island, the installation of a
new antenna mast, the installation of a new radar tower, an upgrade and
modernization of combat and communication systems, overhaul of the ship's hull,
mechanical and electrical systems, and the refueling of her two nuclear
reactors.
(US Navy) March 21st: JFK to be Mothballed JFK costs $300M a year to run and SecNav and CNO reckons
that is too much for a 37 year old ship. Naturally the folks at it's homeport of
Mayport Fla. beg to differ. Work on mothballing the ship is expected to begin
this September reducing the fleet to 11 ships.
When the Kitty Hawk is decommissioned in 2008, what will replace her, not a
nuke as Japan wont't have any of that. So JFK may come back once again. February 1st 2005: The USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Strike Group will
depart San Diego Feb. 1 to begin an around-the-world deployment.
January 3rd 2005: As the CNO told
Navy and Marine Corps News in a recent interview, the Navy had a banner year in
2004. One of the most notable accomplishments was execution of the Navy's Fleet
Response Plan. The Fleet maintained "6+2" readiness to consistently deliver six
forward-deployed or ready-to-surge carrier strike groups (CSG), plus two
additional CSGs in 90 days or less. Other major accomplishments include
transitioning to new mission areas including missile defense, providing more
support for land forces fighting the global war on terrorism, and enhancing
organizational alignment of the Navy's people, capabilities and infrastructure.
Current Readiness: "We have to get to the fight faster to seize and
retain the initiative. That requires increasing the operational availability of
our forces by continuing to refine and test the Fleet Response Plan (FRP)." CNO
said a key word in the Navy's future is surge, adding that, "if a resource
doesn't have surge capability we are not going to own it." The number one
priority is taking the fight to the enemy. To accomplish this, the Navy will
also improve its maritime security cooperation initiatives with allied navies
and also provide homeland security and force protection.
"Positive change is the bridge to our future. The business of the Navy will
always be combat, and victory is both our mission and our heritage. Therefore,
my guidance to you this year is to bridge to the future, taking us from today's
fight to tomorrow's victories."
January 2nd 2005: While the reported dead in Iraq is well reported
(1,336 at present), the larger picture of over 10,000 wounded is often
overlooked. A large number of those will have life long disabilities.
So the war goes on... For more news go to NewsBytes
2001/2
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The US Navy
