IKE Carrier Strike Group Underway for COMPTUEX

Guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94), front, steams in formation with USS Stout (DDG 56), USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Monterey (CG 61) and USS Roosevelt (DDG 80). While at sea, the ships supported a live-fire event conducted as part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), the final certification event prior to deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released)

 

From USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69 Public Affairs

 

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The ships and air wing of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (CSG) commenced a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) March 16, in preparation for an upcoming deployment.

 

 Ike CSG is comprised of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 with its associated ships: USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

 

 COMPTUEX will test the carrier strike group's ability to perform and effectively respond as an integrated team during simulated scenarios the group may encounter while deployed or during high-end warfare.

 

 The exercise consists of a variety of training evolutions including anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, strike warfare, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, irregular warfare, counterpiracy, counterproliferation and maritime interdiction scenarios.

 

 Capt. Jeffrey Anderson, CVW-3 commander, said the underway period, the air wing's first extended underway aboard the strike group flagship since completing the Tailored Ship's Training Assessment and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) in November 2015, is just the latest step in what has proven to be a seamless integration with the Ike-Battle Axe team.

 

 "Integration of the air wing aboard Ike and across the strike group has been seamless," Anderson said. "Everything has developed as well as, or better than, we anticipated."

 Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson, Ike CSG commander, said the strike group's participation in COMPTUEX will integrate individual units into a cohesive team and establish critical lines of communication.

 

 "COMPTUEX provides us with one last litmus test to ensure the team is aligned and effectively operating together before we deploy," Wilson said. "This training, in potential real-world scenarios, will test the team in order to solidify our readiness and aid in our success during combat operations," said Wilson.

 

 The IKE CSG pre-deployment qualifications will culminate with the completion of COMPTUEX, the final major training evolution of the integrated phase of training. IKE CSG is scheduled to deploy this summer.

 

The guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) fires its MK 45 5-inch lightweight gun during a weapons training exercise. San Jacinto is currently underway preparing for a future deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan U. Kledzik/Released)

 

USS Harry S. Truman and CVW 3 Support OEF

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Chase C. Lacombe

ARABIAN SEA (NNS) -- Carrier Air Wing 3 flew its first fixed-wing aircraft sorties from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) as part of its regularly scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Aug. 27.

"For over a year, we have been training hard as a carrier strike group and with our air wing at sea," said Capt. Bob Roth, Harry S. Truman's commanding officer. "The first flight represents the payoff of all the hard work and is a reflection of the effectiveness of our fleet response training plan. It showcases the great capability of the carrier strike group to provide air power from the sea until the last day [troops] are on the ground [in Afghanistan]. Today's flights represent the culmination of all our training."

Marine Lt. Col. Joseph Reedy, commanding officer of the "Checkerboards" of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, was the first pilot to launch from Harry S. Truman in support of OEF this deployment.

"It was a great honor to be the first pilot to fly in support of OEF during this deployment," said Reedy. "I'm excited to support the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen on the ground in Afghanistan. Our training prior to this deployment has proven invaluable to provide the necessary support so we can accomplish our mission."

In addition to training, Roth cited teamwork as a key to Team Truman and Team Battle Axe's success.

"I think our training was perfect," said Roth. "We started with the basics of operating the ship at sea as we integrated with our air wing and other surface combatants that comprise our strike group. Our biggest key to success has been teamwork. None of us can accomplish the mission alone. We are firing on all cylinders and teamwork has brought us to this point."

Roth said he is very thankful for the personal dedication of all the Sailors and Marines and also for the support of their families.

"I want to thank the Sailors and Marines on the deckplates who work the long hours to get the job done and do it willingly with a smile as they recognize the importance of our mission and sacrifice," said Roth. "I want to also thank the families back home because without their strong support, we would not be able to fully dedicate ourselves to our mission while we serve at sea."

Truman, CVW-3 Sharpen #Warfighting Skills

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Taylor DiMartino, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

USS TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) completed a 24-day underway Oct. 25 that tested the skills of every Sailor and Marine aboard.

For the first time in almost two years, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 Sailors and Marines embarked Truman prior to Truman's Oct. 2 underway to prepare for Harry S.
Truman Strike Group's upcoming deployment.

Capt. Mike Wallace, CVW-3's commander, said Truman's underway gave the air wing an opportunity to test and improve various skills across each of its squadrons.
Including a focus on the timeliness of launches and recoveries, Wallace said increased attention was placed on flight operations such as airborne refueling and individual unit-level training.

"This is the first time the ship and air wing have operated together as a team since December 2010," said Wallace. "This underway included a high number of cyclic operations. We were launching and recovering aircraft for 12 hours at a time, refining the pilots' skills as they took off and landed on the carrier."

In total, CVW-3 pilots completed more than 1,300 launches and recoveries even as Truman Sailors and CVW-3 personnel participated in a multitude of shipboard training scenarios, both on the flight deck and in the hangar bay.

"The most noticeable part of our integration was that our Sailors and Marines were making flight operations look easy every time," said Cmdr. Paul Crump, Truman's air officer. "While working on the flight deck, there are so many variables, so many things that can happen, yet each launch and recovery was executed safely, quickly, and effectively."

Crump said the carrier's underway consisted of seamless teamwork between Truman's air department Sailors and CVW-3 as they conducted drills that simulated aircraft crashes and fires, barricade drills and mass casualty drills on the flight deck.

"CVW-3 Sailors have been enthusiastic, motivated and willing partners in every way," said Crump. "It's great to see how far this team has come in only a single underway. As we moved on to more complicated operations, CVW-3 and air department Sailors were performing with practiced regularity. The flight deck and hangar bays have evolved to pro-active environments rather than reactive ones."

Wallace agreed, noting the professionalism every Sailor and Marine displayed while conducting air operations.

"This has given us the chance to practice critical skills that we will have to demonstrate during actual missions while on deployment," said Wallace. "It's all about refining our proficiencies. We can't build upon the complexity of our mission execution until we have a solid foundation."

According to Wallace, the foundation could not have been built without the help of every Sailor and Marine aboard Truman.

"I could not be happier with the team we have built within Harry S. Truman Strike group," said Wallace. "We tell ourselves every day how blessed we are to have great people who get along and work hard together and truly understand that it's a team sport."

After disembarking, CVW-3 is scheduled to conduct advanced tactical training in Fallon, Nev., until mid-December.

Truman is scheduled to continue training in preparation for an upcoming composite training unit exercise.

Truman Strike Group Begins Operations in Support of OEF

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (CSG) launched its first combat sorties in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) June 29, while conducting turnover with Dwight D. Eisenhower CSG in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).

Aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, embarked aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), will provide support for coalition ground forces in Afghanistan.

"Our air wing has spent several months training at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon in preparation for this deployment," said Capt. Jay Bynum, commander,
CVW 3. "We've worked to line up every possible opportunity to train and make sure that we would be ready to go from day one."

Bynum noted that one of the most important parts of the training was the communication between the pilots in the sky and the troops on the ground.

The air wing squadrons worked extensively with joint tactical air controllers (JTAC) at NAS Fallon to ensure that the training was as relevant and realistic as possible. JTACs are the liaison between the ground troops and the aircraft that provide close air support.

Many of the same JTACs that trained with the air wing are currently serving in Afghanistan, said Bynum.

Aviation Machinist's Mate Airman Marcos Rodriguez, from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, takes great pride in ensuring that the jets he maintains stay mission-ready.

"We're out here for something good," said Rodriguez. "I have a friend in the National Guard in Afghanistan and being out here has personal meaning."

"It's awesome to know that we'll be there for the troops," said Lt. Davin O'Brien, of VFA 37. "Every pilot in the air wing is ready to support them."

Truman CSG will relieve Eisenhower CSG as Task Force 50 on July 2. Eisenhower CSG has operated in the 5th Fleet AOR since Jan. 25 with CVW 7 aircraft flying 2,970 combat sorties and logging 17,730 cumulative flight hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

Truman CSG deployed May 21 from its homeport of Norfolk, Va., on a routine scheduled deployment and will conduct Maritime Security Operations and theater security cooperation.

Truman CSG includes CSG 10, Harry S. Truman, USS Normandy (CG 60), Destroyer Squadron 26, USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Ross (DDG 71), CVW 3 and its associated squadrons; VFA 105 "Gunslingers," VFA 32 "Swordsmen," VFA 37 "Ragin Bulls," Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 "Checkerboards," Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126 "Seahawks," Electronic Attack Squadron 130 "Zappers," and Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 7 "Dusty Dogs."

Sonar Operators Test Their Skills During COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Coleman Thompson

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors from Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) used active sonar to hunt submarines during the strike group's composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) June 9-July 3.

COMPTUEX is an intermediate-level exercise required of each carrier strike group before it deploys. The exercise brings ships and aircraft together to prepare to project force as a strike group in the interest of global maritime security and to protect the nation's homeland security.

Although sonar operators receive various types of synthetic antisubmarine warfare (ASW) training, nothing compares to using active sonar at-sea to hunt actual submarines.

"The ability to run silently on battery power makes modern diesel submarines a significant threat against U.S. forces patrolling the oceans. An undetected submarine can quickly cripple a high value target such as an aircraft carrier before the ships accompanying it can effectively respond," said Capt. Robert C. Barwis, commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26,

According to Lt. Christopher W. Clevenger, DESRON 26 submarine operations officer, detecting these threats is the duty of all Sailors within the ASW community, requiring simultaneous training at-sea by ships, submarines, planes and helicopters. Through the use of helicopters and towed sonar arrays, ASW teams can detect most sub-surface threats, but the only way to detect an ultra-quiet threat before it comes within striking range is with of active sonar.

"ASW training, including the use of active sonar in at-sea training scenarios during COMPTUEX, is vital to training sonar operators and ensuring the Navy stays competent in its ability to combat sub-surface threats," Clevenger said.

Because ASW skills are perishable and deteriorate rapidly, repeated training is required.

"The proficiency goes away if you don't maintain and keep up with it," said Sonar Technician (Surface) 2nd Class Alex Szlamas, a sonar operator with DESRON 26's ASW team. "That goes for the ability of an operator working on a destroyer platform to evaluate accurate types of contacts on their sensors, all the way to the command and control staffs, like the DESRON."

Sailors have opportunities to hone their ASW skills during COMPTUEX.

"There are a lot of elements that make background noise when using sonar - whales, background shipping freighters, even shrimp. All these create a situation that can easily mask a diesel submarine, which can sound like a shipping freighter," said Clevenger. "It's very hard to mimic all those sounds in a simulation, which is why we need real-time training in a real environment.

"Unfortunately these diesel submarines don't have a lot of tonal frequencies that we can pick up when they're running on battery. They can be very difficult to locate if we're just using passive sonar until, unfortunately, they get too close. Worse, they become even harder to locate in littoral waters where background noise is both higher and more diverse, providing a larger protective sound shield for the subs."

Although some concern has been raised lately over the adverse effect of active sonar and marine wildlife, the Navy is one of the leading sponsors of marine mammal research, spending $26 million in fiscal year 2008, including efforts to understand the relationship between sound and marine mammals.

"We follow a lot of precautions to ensure the safety of marine mammals," said Clevenger. "One of the common practices we use is to have sonar operators trained specifically to identify and locate marine mammals and we'll limit, or cut off, the power of our active sonar as they get within a certain range."

With more countries fielding more submarines, it is very important for strike groups to continue to practice ASW so they are better prepared for sub-surface threats and able to maintain safe and effective fleet operations. The Navy recently completed a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement for Atlantic Fleet Active Sonar Training (AFAST), which evaluated the environmental effects of the Navy's training activities on all of its training areas. As a result of this study, the Navy will continue with the present level of training along the East Coast of the United States and within the Gulf of Mexico as authorized by federal regulators. As part of this authorization, Navy continues to implement protective measures set forth by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Carrier Strike Group 10 (CSG-10) is made up of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), with its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) and embarked Destroyer Squadron 26 (CDS-26), guided missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66); guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81); attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714); and independently participating frigates USS Stephen S. Groves (FFG 29) and USS McInerney (FFG 8).

CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 32, 37 and 105; Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312; Electronic Attack Squadron 130; Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126; Carrier Logistics Support Squadron 40; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7.

No Fatalities as Two F/A-18s Crash in Persian Gulf

Teams from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) rescued all three aviators after an F/A-18E and an F/A-18F that crashed during operations in the Persian Gulf Jan. 7.

The three aviators are safely back aboard the aircraft carrier, and are reported in good condition following an ejection.

The Super Hornets, from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, were providing en route close air support from Iraq when they crashed. CVW-3 is currently deployed to the Persian Gulf with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.

The Harry S. Truman Strike Group is part of a routine presence of U.S. warships to the region, and its operations are focused on demonstrating an ongoing commitment to security and stability. U.S. forces maintain a naval and air presence in the area to deter destabilizing activities, while safeguarding the region's vital links to the global economy.

CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 11, VFA-32, VFA-37 and VFA-105; Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron 130; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.