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Eisenhower Aircraft Carrier is Back in the Mediterranean Sea

In mid October, the U.S. Navy CVN 69 Dwight D. Eisenhower nuclear aircraft carrier called in Naples, on her way to a possible further deployment in the Persian Gulf area. The “IKE” – as the ship is nicknamed by her crew – departed from her base in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 3, 2006, for her first operational cruise since 2000. In her long career, the ship has often visited the gulf of Naples, a crowded port of call - till the mid ‘Nineties - for the Sixth Fleet’s ships.

The carrier is just celebrating her nineteenth birthday, having been commisioned on October 18, 1977. During the last two decades, the aircraft of her Battle Group took part in all the major international crises. During her life, the ship has been upgraded several times, slightly changing her external aspects, to maintain her full capability as an effective power projection asset. IKE arrived in Naples with the other ships of her battle group, including the USS Anzio (CG 68) missile cruiser, USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Mason (DDG 87) destroyers, Newport News (SSN 750) submarine and USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) fast support ship.

After five years off-duty at the Norfolk base, due to “mid-life Refueling Complex Overhaul” activity – which included the replacement of the atomic reactors, and to the successive sea trials, IKE's air component on the flight deck looks very different from the past. Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat fighter-bombers and Lockheed Martin S-3A Viking antisom aircraft have been phased out, the former replaced by new Boeing Super Hornet fighter-bombers (single-seat F/A-18E and F/A-18F two-seat), the latter by Sikorsky SH-60F helicopters.

Ike's current Air Group is the Carrier Air Wing 7 (code AG), which came aboard in February this year, formed by the following units: VFA-83 Rampagers equipped with F/A-18Cs, VFA-103 Jolly Rogers with F/A-18Fs (replacing F-14 Tomcats), VFA-131 Wildcats with F/A-18Cs, VFA-143 Pukin’ Dogs with F/A-18Es (replacing F-14 Tomcats), VAQ-140 Patriots with Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler stand-off jammers, VAW-125 Tigertails equipped with upgraded Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye IIs, HS-5 Nightdippers with Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk (antisom) and HH-60H Rescue Hawk (SAR and general-purpose) and VRC-40 (Det. 3) Rawhides with Northrop Grumman C-2A Greyhound Carrier On-board Delivery (COD) aircraft. (CVN 69 Dwight D. Eisenhower data – Brief History of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69).

(This photo reportage was possible thanks to the collaboration of NSA Public Affairs Office – Naples, and the support of AirOne)

In the picture: The U.S. Navy’s CVN 69 Dwight D. Eisenhower nuclear aircraft carrier at anchor in the Naples Gulf. (Aeromedia)

(Aeromedia, October 2006)