US Navy George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Deploys to Europe and Middle East

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Naval Forces News - USA
 
 
 
US Navy George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Deploys to Europe and Middle East
 
Nearly 6,000 Sailors attached to the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG) departed Norfolk and Mayport, Florida, Jan. 21, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to Europe and the Middle East.
     
GHWBCSG deploys us navyNORFOLK (Jan. 21, 2017) Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class Raheem Malloy and Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Seaman Jesse King stand by as the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) prepares to depart Naval Station Norfolk. The ship and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2rd Class /Released)
     
Led by Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2, Rear Adm. Kenneth R. Whitesell, the GHWBCSG is comprised of the staff of CSG-2; USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77); the nine squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8; Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff and guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103); and Mayport-based guided missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Hue City (CG 66).

The squadrons of CVW-8 will depart bases including Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, NAS Whidbey Island, NAS Jacksonville, NAS Lemoore and Naval Station Norfolk. CVW-8 includes Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 "Fighting Black Lions"; VFA-31 "Tomcatters"; VFA-87 "Golden Warriors"; VFA-37 "Ragin Bulls"; Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 "Lancers"; Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 124 "Bear Aces"; Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HSM) 70 "Spartans"; Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 "Tridents"; and a detachment from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 "Rawhides".

The deployment is part of a regular rotation of forces to support maritime security operations, provide crisis response capability, increase theater security cooperation and forward naval presence in the 5th Fleet (Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean) and 6th Fleet (Europe) areas of operation.