Carrier (1999) (47 page)
Authors: Tom - Nf Clancy
Rear Admiral Michael Mullen, the commander of the
George Washington
carrier battle group.
George Washington
carrier battle group.
JOHN D. GRESHAM
The GW group includes the ships of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Two (CRUDESGRU Two), home-ported at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Commanded by Rear Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN, it is a well-balanced mix of older and newer ships. Admiral Mullen is a career surface warrior, in the tradition of great surface leaders like Admiral Elmo Zumwalt and Vice Admiral Joseph “Little Joe” Metcalf. He previously commanded the destroyer USS
Goldsborough
(DDG-20) and the Aegis cruiser USS
Yorktown
(CG-48), both top-of-the-line SAM ships. A graduate of the Annapolis Class of 1968 (his notable classmates include Admiral Jay Johnson, the current CNO), he went on to earn a Master’s degree from Harvard University. Admiral Mullen represents the new generation of Naval leader, as well educated and savvy as any corporate executive. We’ll get to know him better in the next chapter.
Goldsborough
(DDG-20) and the Aegis cruiser USS
Yorktown
(CG-48), both top-of-the-line SAM ships. A graduate of the Annapolis Class of 1968 (his notable classmates include Admiral Jay Johnson, the current CNO), he went on to earn a Master’s degree from Harvard University. Admiral Mullen represents the new generation of Naval leader, as well educated and savvy as any corporate executive. We’ll get to know him better in the next chapter.
Admiral Mullen’s “flagship” is a section of the O-3 level “blue tile country” of the
George Washington,
comfortable and nicely furnished, but quite noisy from aircraft operations one deck above. Here he makes his home and office afloat, along with the staff of CRUDESGRU Two. From there he commands the various ships of the force. Let’s look at CRUDESGRU Two:
69
George Washington,
comfortable and nicely furnished, but quite noisy from aircraft operations one deck above. Here he makes his home and office afloat, along with the staff of CRUDESGRU Two. From there he commands the various ships of the force. Let’s look at CRUDESGRU Two:
69
•
USS
Normandy
(CG-64)—
An improved
Ticonderoga-class
(CG-47) Aegis guided-missile cruiser, Normandy is commanded by Captain James F. Deppe. Normandy has already accumulated an outstanding combat record. In fact, she has fired more BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles in anger (thirteen during Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia back in 1995) than any other Navy cruiser. The heart of
Normandy’s
combat power is the Aegis combat system, with four SPY-1 phased-array radars to track hun-dredsof targets at once. Aegis-equipped ships can engage dozens of airborne targets (aircraft and missiles) with SM-2 SAMs, while also controlling the weapons of other ships in the battle group. She carries up to 122 missiles in two Mk. 41 vertical launch systems (VLS), including SM-2 Standard SAMs, BGM-109 Tomahawks, and RUM-139A Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets. In addition to her twin 5-in/127mm guns and missiles, Normandy carries a pair of SH-60B Seahawk helicopters that can deliver ASW torpedoes and AGM-119 Penguin antiship missiles. During 1997 and 1998,
Normandy’s
Seahawks came from Helicopter Squadron—Light Forty-Eight, Detachment Eight (HSL-48, Det. 8), headed by Commander Brent Barrow. For the 1997/1998 cruise, the Detachment 8 OIC was Lieutenant Commander Steve Blaisdell, who commanded two SH-60B aircraft, as well as their flight and maintenance crews.
USS
Normandy
(CG-64)—
An improved
Ticonderoga-class
(CG-47) Aegis guided-missile cruiser, Normandy is commanded by Captain James F. Deppe. Normandy has already accumulated an outstanding combat record. In fact, she has fired more BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles in anger (thirteen during Operation Deliberate Force in Bosnia back in 1995) than any other Navy cruiser. The heart of
Normandy’s
combat power is the Aegis combat system, with four SPY-1 phased-array radars to track hun-dredsof targets at once. Aegis-equipped ships can engage dozens of airborne targets (aircraft and missiles) with SM-2 SAMs, while also controlling the weapons of other ships in the battle group. She carries up to 122 missiles in two Mk. 41 vertical launch systems (VLS), including SM-2 Standard SAMs, BGM-109 Tomahawks, and RUM-139A Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets. In addition to her twin 5-in/127mm guns and missiles, Normandy carries a pair of SH-60B Seahawk helicopters that can deliver ASW torpedoes and AGM-119 Penguin antiship missiles. During 1997 and 1998,
Normandy’s
Seahawks came from Helicopter Squadron—Light Forty-Eight, Detachment Eight (HSL-48, Det. 8), headed by Commander Brent Barrow. For the 1997/1998 cruise, the Detachment 8 OIC was Lieutenant Commander Steve Blaisdell, who commanded two SH-60B aircraft, as well as their flight and maintenance crews.
The Aegis guided-missile cruiser USS
Normandy
(CG-60), one of the escorts of the
George Washington
battle group.
Normandy
(CG-60), one of the escorts of the
George Washington
battle group.
JOHN D. GRESHAM
•
USS
South Carolina
(CGN-37)
—Commanded by Captain David K. Brown,
South Carolina
will be the last U.S. nuclear-powered cruiser in commission. Because of budget pressures, this ship and her sister, California (CGN-36), will retire in 1999. Until then, South
Carolina
gives the
GW
battle group excellent service. Thanks to her nuclear power plant, she is the only escort in the group that can stay with the carrier in a long-range, high-speed dash to a distant crisis.
South Carolina
also has the “New Threat Update” (NTU), an electronics package that establishes a data link with Aegis ships, and accepts firing commands from their computers. This is especially useful, since
South Carolina’s
missile directors (steerable dish antennas projecting an intense, narrow microwave beam to “light up” the target for a missile’s seeker head) are considered more effective in coastal areas than those of Aegis ships.
USS
South Carolina
(CGN-37)
—Commanded by Captain David K. Brown,
South Carolina
will be the last U.S. nuclear-powered cruiser in commission. Because of budget pressures, this ship and her sister, California (CGN-36), will retire in 1999. Until then, South
Carolina
gives the
GW
battle group excellent service. Thanks to her nuclear power plant, she is the only escort in the group that can stay with the carrier in a long-range, high-speed dash to a distant crisis.
South Carolina
also has the “New Threat Update” (NTU), an electronics package that establishes a data link with Aegis ships, and accepts firing commands from their computers. This is especially useful, since
South Carolina’s
missile directors (steerable dish antennas projecting an intense, narrow microwave beam to “light up” the target for a missile’s seeker head) are considered more effective in coastal areas than those of Aegis ships.
•
USS
Carney
(DDG-64)
—One of the newer ships in the Navy,
Carney
is an
Arleigh Burke
-class (DDG-51) Aegis destroyer. Displacing only 8,300 tons (as compared to almost ten thousand tons for
Ticonderoga-class
cruisers), the
Burkes
are considered the finest surface combat vessels in the world on a ton-for-ton/capability basis. The first U.S. warships designed with stealth technology to reduce their radar and infrared signatures, they pack the same Aegis combat system and weapons mix as the larger cruisers. They carry fewer weapons (ninety-six missiles in her VLS launchers and a single 5-in/54 mm gun mount), though, and no helicopter hangar is fitted.
Carney
is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and commanded by Commander Mark H. Buzby.
USS
Carney
(DDG-64)
—One of the newer ships in the Navy,
Carney
is an
Arleigh Burke
-class (DDG-51) Aegis destroyer. Displacing only 8,300 tons (as compared to almost ten thousand tons for
Ticonderoga-class
cruisers), the
Burkes
are considered the finest surface combat vessels in the world on a ton-for-ton/capability basis. The first U.S. warships designed with stealth technology to reduce their radar and infrared signatures, they pack the same Aegis combat system and weapons mix as the larger cruisers. They carry fewer weapons (ninety-six missiles in her VLS launchers and a single 5-in/54 mm gun mount), though, and no helicopter hangar is fitted.
Carney
is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and commanded by Commander Mark H. Buzby.
•
USS
John Rogers
(DD-983)
—An updated
Spruance-class
destroyer,
John
Rogers is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Her skipper is Commander James M. Carr, and the two embarked SH-60B LAMPS helicopters are drawn from HSL-46 (headed by Commander Tim Alexander) at Mayport. For the
GW
battle group’s 1997/1998 cruise, the HSL-46 Det. 6 OIC was Lieutenant Commander Kenan Shaffer.
USS
John Rogers
(DD-983)
—An updated
Spruance-class
destroyer,
John
Rogers is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Her skipper is Commander James M. Carr, and the two embarked SH-60B LAMPS helicopters are drawn from HSL-46 (headed by Commander Tim Alexander) at Mayport. For the
GW
battle group’s 1997/1998 cruise, the HSL-46 Det. 6 OIC was Lieutenant Commander Kenan Shaffer.
Along with the four cruisers and destroyers, CRUDESGRU Two includes a pair of
Oliver Hazard Perry
-class (FFG-7) guided-missile frigates. These smaller (3,660 tons) escort ships are particularly useful for inshore work common in littoral operations. Though limited in gun and SAM capabilities, FFG-7’s have good sonars for shallow-water ASW, excellent helicopter facilities, and vast experience in maritime embargo and joint counter-drug operations. Like their namesakes from the age of fighting sail, frigates are fast ships that frequently go in harm’s way.
70
Oliver Hazard Perry
-class (FFG-7) guided-missile frigates. These smaller (3,660 tons) escort ships are particularly useful for inshore work common in littoral operations. Though limited in gun and SAM capabilities, FFG-7’s have good sonars for shallow-water ASW, excellent helicopter facilities, and vast experience in maritime embargo and joint counter-drug operations. Like their namesakes from the age of fighting sail, frigates are fast ships that frequently go in harm’s way.
70
•
USS
Boone
(FFG-28)
—Based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida,
Boone
is commanded by Commander Arthur S. Mobley. Her SH-60B Seahawk helicopter came from HSL-42 (commanded by Commander Robert Presler) during her 1997/1998 cruise with the
GW
group. This unit, HSL-42 Det. 1, is headed by Lieutenant Commander Stuart Howard.
USS
Boone
(FFG-28)
—Based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida,
Boone
is commanded by Commander Arthur S. Mobley. Her SH-60B Seahawk helicopter came from HSL-42 (commanded by Commander Robert Presler) during her 1997/1998 cruise with the
GW
group. This unit, HSL-42 Det. 1, is headed by Lieutenant Commander Stuart Howard.
•
USS
Underwood
(FFG-36)
—
Underwood
is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and commanded by Commander Daniel M. Smith. She also has a single SH-60B Seahawk detachment, this one from HSL-44 (headed by Commander Wayne Tunick). The HSL-44 Det. 7 OIC is Lieutenant Commander Jack Shepard.
USS
Underwood
(FFG-36)
—
Underwood
is based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and commanded by Commander Daniel M. Smith. She also has a single SH-60B Seahawk detachment, this one from HSL-44 (headed by Commander Wayne Tunick). The HSL-44 Det. 7 OIC is Lieutenant Commander Jack Shepard.
The last two combat vessels of the
GW
battle group are a pair of improved
Los Angeles
-class (1688) nuclear-attack submarines, which give Admiral Mullen additional capabilities that we can only describe in general terms because of the tight security restrictions that surround and protect the “Silent Service.” In addition to hunting down potential enemy submarines inshore, they can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, track maritime targets, gather electronic intelligence, and covertly deliver and retrieve special operations forces. The assigned SSNs are:
GW
battle group are a pair of improved
Los Angeles
-class (1688) nuclear-attack submarines, which give Admiral Mullen additional capabilities that we can only describe in general terms because of the tight security restrictions that surround and protect the “Silent Service.” In addition to hunting down potential enemy submarines inshore, they can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles, track maritime targets, gather electronic intelligence, and covertly deliver and retrieve special operations forces. The assigned SSNs are:
•
USS
Toledo
(SSN-769)
—Based at the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut, Toledo is commanded by Commander Bill Burke.
USS
Toledo
(SSN-769)
—Based at the submarine base in Groton, Connecticut, Toledo is commanded by Commander Bill Burke.
•
USS
Annapolis
(SSN-760)
—Also home-ported at Groton,
Annapolis
is led by Commander Daniel Parson.
USS
Annapolis
(SSN-760)
—Also home-ported at Groton,
Annapolis
is led by Commander Daniel Parson.
Logistics may be the least “sexy” part of Naval operations, but supplies are always the first concern and constant worry of the professional warrior. You don’t leave port without carefully planning how the fleet supply train will support your operations at sea over many months and thousands of miles. The mark of a real “blue-water” Navy is the ability to sustain operations at sea indefinitely. The U.S. Navy pioneered at-sea replenishment over six decades ago.
•
USS
Seattle
(AOE-3)
—The great advantage of nuclear-powered warships is that they do not require fuel oil for propulsion. With four nuclear ships (a carrier, cruiser, and both submarines), the
GW
battle group has no need for a flotilla of supporting oil tankers. Only one combat support ship is assigned to the
GW
battle group, but what a ship! With over 53,000 tons displacement fully loaded, USS
Seattle
(of the
Sacramento
class) carries bunker and aviation fuel, fresh food, spare parts, supplies, and ammunition. She can defend herself with a Mk. 29 Sea Sparrow SAM system, a pair of 20mm Mk. 15 Phalanx CIWS, and a full SLQ-32 ESM/ECM system. Captain Stephen Firks commands
Seattle.
USS
Seattle
(AOE-3)
—The great advantage of nuclear-powered warships is that they do not require fuel oil for propulsion. With four nuclear ships (a carrier, cruiser, and both submarines), the
GW
battle group has no need for a flotilla of supporting oil tankers. Only one combat support ship is assigned to the
GW
battle group, but what a ship! With over 53,000 tons displacement fully loaded, USS
Seattle
(of the
Sacramento
class) carries bunker and aviation fuel, fresh food, spare parts, supplies, and ammunition. She can defend herself with a Mk. 29 Sea Sparrow SAM system, a pair of 20mm Mk. 15 Phalanx CIWS, and a full SLQ-32 ESM/ECM system. Captain Stephen Firks commands
Seattle.
Guam
Amphibious Ready Group
When I wrote about the Marine Corps a few years ago, teaming CVBGs and ARGs/MEU (SOC)s into combined task forces was still a very new concept.
71
Though joining these two powerful and flexible units makes great sense, big technical, institutional, and cultural barriers had to be overcome in order to make it happen. Once the concept was implemented, however, it quickly proved its worth, in the Balkans, the Taiwan Straits, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. The CVBG/ARG/MEU (SOC) teams have held the line for American interests and kept a lid on the chaos of the 1990s.
71
Though joining these two powerful and flexible units makes great sense, big technical, institutional, and cultural barriers had to be overcome in order to make it happen. Once the concept was implemented, however, it quickly proved its worth, in the Balkans, the Taiwan Straits, Africa, and the Persian Gulf. The CVBG/ARG/MEU (SOC) teams have held the line for American interests and kept a lid on the chaos of the 1990s.
For their 1997/1998 Mediterranean cruise, the
GW
battle group teamed with an ARG based around Amphibious Squadron Two (PHIBRON-2). These four ships are commanded by an “ARG Commodore,” Captain Phillip Sowa, USN, from his flagship, the amphibious helicopter carrier (LPH) USS
Guam
(LPH-9). Though Guam lacks the larger flight deck, well deck, and hangar found on newer
Tarawa
(LHA-1) and Wasp-class (LHD-1) assault ships, the ARG has found ways to compensate for these shortcomings. To make up for the shortage of well deck space as well as vehicle and cargo capacity, the ARG has an extra Dock Landing Ship (LSD) to carry the full range of gear needed by an MEU (SOC). Since flight deck parking space on Guam is minimal, the AV-8B Harrier II detachment assigned to the MEU (SOC) was reduced to four aircraft. For close air support, the MEU (SOC) can rely on VMFA-251, the Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron embarked on
GW.
Marines prefer to have their own aviators flying cover over a hot beach or landing zone.
GW
battle group teamed with an ARG based around Amphibious Squadron Two (PHIBRON-2). These four ships are commanded by an “ARG Commodore,” Captain Phillip Sowa, USN, from his flagship, the amphibious helicopter carrier (LPH) USS
Guam
(LPH-9). Though Guam lacks the larger flight deck, well deck, and hangar found on newer
Tarawa
(LHA-1) and Wasp-class (LHD-1) assault ships, the ARG has found ways to compensate for these shortcomings. To make up for the shortage of well deck space as well as vehicle and cargo capacity, the ARG has an extra Dock Landing Ship (LSD) to carry the full range of gear needed by an MEU (SOC). Since flight deck parking space on Guam is minimal, the AV-8B Harrier II detachment assigned to the MEU (SOC) was reduced to four aircraft. For close air support, the MEU (SOC) can rely on VMFA-251, the Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet squadron embarked on
GW.
Marines prefer to have their own aviators flying cover over a hot beach or landing zone.
The amphibious helicopter carrier USS
Guam
(LPH-9), flagship of the amphibious ready group attached to the
George Washington
battle group.
Guam
(LPH-9), flagship of the amphibious ready group attached to the
George Washington
battle group.
JOHN D. GRESHAM
•
USS
Guam
(LPH-9)
—
Guam
is among the last of her kind—one of only two of the
Iwo Jima
class (LPH-2) still in service—and is scheduled to be decommissioned after the 1997/1998 cruise. Until then she will be Commodore Sowa’s flagship and the headquarters for the embarked MEU (SOC). While she lacks the comforts, as well as some of the advanced communications and electronics, of her younger LHA/LHD cousins, Guam is an old warhorse, able to carry up to 1,500 Marines and twenty-four helicopters. Captain William J. Luti commands her.
USS
Guam
(LPH-9)
—
Guam
is among the last of her kind—one of only two of the
Iwo Jima
class (LPH-2) still in service—and is scheduled to be decommissioned after the 1997/1998 cruise. Until then she will be Commodore Sowa’s flagship and the headquarters for the embarked MEU (SOC). While she lacks the comforts, as well as some of the advanced communications and electronics, of her younger LHA/LHD cousins, Guam is an old warhorse, able to carry up to 1,500 Marines and twenty-four helicopters. Captain William J. Luti commands her.
•
USS
Shreveport
(LPD-12)
—Another “rusty but trusty” veteran of American amphibious operations. An
Austin-class
(LPD-4) Amphibious Transport Dock,
Shreveport
is the “inshore” element of the ARG, with much of the “special” warfare capability of the MEU (SOC) aboard. This includes an organic remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) unit of Pioneer reconnaissance drones, as well as the rubber boats, the force recon element, and a Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team. Led by Captain Denby Starling II, she can expect at least a decade of service ahead before her final trip to the scrap yard and replacement by a new
San Antonio-
class (LPD-17) amphibious ship.
USS
Shreveport
(LPD-12)
—Another “rusty but trusty” veteran of American amphibious operations. An
Austin-class
(LPD-4) Amphibious Transport Dock,
Shreveport
is the “inshore” element of the ARG, with much of the “special” warfare capability of the MEU (SOC) aboard. This includes an organic remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) unit of Pioneer reconnaissance drones, as well as the rubber boats, the force recon element, and a Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) team. Led by Captain Denby Starling II, she can expect at least a decade of service ahead before her final trip to the scrap yard and replacement by a new
San Antonio-
class (LPD-17) amphibious ship.
•
USS
Ashland
(LSD-48)
—Designed to carry a mix of landing craft, vehicles, and cargo,
Ashland
is a Whidby
Island-class
(LSD-41) amphibious ship, capable of carrying up to four Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC), which are favored in today’s amphibious operations. Captained by Commander Timothy R. Hanley,
Ashland
is a modern and very comfortable ship for its crew and embarked Marines.
USS
Ashland
(LSD-48)
—Designed to carry a mix of landing craft, vehicles, and cargo,
Ashland
is a Whidby
Island-class
(LSD-41) amphibious ship, capable of carrying up to four Landing Craft, Air Cushioned (LCAC), which are favored in today’s amphibious operations. Captained by Commander Timothy R. Hanley,
Ashland
is a modern and very comfortable ship for its crew and embarked Marines.
•
USS
Oak
Hill
(LSD-51)—
Oak Hill
is one of four
Harpers Ferry-
class LSDs, cargo variants of the
Whidby Island
class. By shortening the well deck so that it only has a capacity for two LCACs,
Oak Hill
gains vastly increased stowage for vehicles and cargo.
Oak Hill
is an another state-of-the-art amphibious ship, with Commander Michael A. Durnan at the helm.
USS
Oak
Hill
(LSD-51)—
Oak Hill
is one of four
Harpers Ferry-
class LSDs, cargo variants of the
Whidby Island
class. By shortening the well deck so that it only has a capacity for two LCACs,
Oak Hill
gains vastly increased stowage for vehicles and cargo.
Oak Hill
is an another state-of-the-art amphibious ship, with Commander Michael A. Durnan at the helm.
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