Why is US sending another Aircraft Carrier to Support Operation in Afghanistan?
Carriers already operating in the 5th Fleet: CVN72 Stennis
Inbound Carriers: Abraham Lincoln
picvalley.net / v.php?p=u / 2666 / 21860592378358776213248833063DmSrfb3SWMmYCjC5Qvj . JPG
---------- Post added at 02:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 AM ----------
Can anyone interpret the above map
The USN has traditionally maintained 2 carrier battle groups in west Asia/east Africa as a part of the Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain. While one CVN has been placed in or near the Red Sea/Persian Gulf, the other has been in the Northern Arabian Sea. The CVNs rotate into this region either through the Atlantic and the Mediterranean or come in from the Pacific and the Indian Ocean. At the end of the cycle they return to San Diego/Norfolk for maintenance etc. This has been the trend for the past decade or so except during periods of conflict when additional CVNs are grouped under the Fifth Fleet.
CVN-72 Abraham Lincoln
Home Port : Everett, WA.
Back log
07Dec2011,
departed Everett for around-the-world cruise,
that will take to new homeport in Norfolk,
and is relocating to conduct a scheduled four-year RCOH
at Newport News Shipbuilding
07Dec-09Dec2011, EastPac
10Dec2011, San Diego
11Dec-19Dec2011, Pac
-------[ RCOH Schedule ]-------------------------
FY2013, scheduled to begin RCOH
CVN-74 John C. Stennis
25Sep-08Oct2011, North Arabian Sea
09Oct2011,
CVW-9 launched first combat sorties
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
in Afghanistan
09Oct-11Nov2011, North Arabian Sea
12Nov2011,
John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and George H. W. Bush (CVN 77)
steam alongside one another in the Strait of Hormuz
13Nov-17Dec2011, Arabian Gulf
18Dec2011,
CVW-9 launched the Navy's final air sortie over Iraq,
effectively ending naval support for Operation New Dawn
19Dec-20Dec2011, Arabian Gulf
PS - RCOH is Refueling and Complex Overhaul
- Nothing alarming or extraordinary for two CVNs being located in west Asia/ Arabian Sea.