On April 11th 2018 the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman (CVN-75) departed Norfolk for the ship’s latest deployment. The carrier and her crew of 6,500 sailors, along with the attendant Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), is headed to the Mediterranean Sea and points Middle East. Escorted by several guided missile destroyers, the carrier’s primary weapons are the aircraft and crews of Carrier Air Wing ONE (CVW-1). This video, uploaded to YouTube by Gung Ho Vids, shows the ships of the HSTCSG departing Norfolk.
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CVW-1 consists of Strike Fighter Squadron ONE ONE (VFA-11) Red Rippers and VFA-211 Fighting Checkmates flying the twin-seat Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, VFA-81 Sunliners and VFA-136 Knighthawks flying the single-seat Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, Electronic Attack Squadron ONE THREE SEVEN (VAQ-137) Rooks flying the Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Airborne Early Warning Squadron ONE TWO SIX (VAW-126) Seahawks flying the Grumman E-2D Hawkeye.
Also aboard the Truman is a detachment from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron FOUR ZERO (VRC-40) Rawhides flying the Grumman C-2A(R) Greyhound along with Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron ONE ONE (HSC-11) Dragon Slayers flying the Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron SEVEN TWO (HSM-72) Proud Warriors flying the Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter. There are about 1,900 CVW-1 personnel aboard the carrier when the air wing is aboard.
The remainder of the HSTCSG consists of the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG-51), USS Bulkeley (DDG-84), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98), and USS Farragut (DDG-99) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28. Also sailing with the Strike Group is the German Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hessen (F 221). The Burke-class DDGs USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) are also expected to sail with the HSTCSG after the Hessen eventually departs for home.
Commanding the HSTCSG is Rear Admiral Gene Black. The aircraft carrier Truman is commanded by Captain Nick Dienna. CVW-1 is commanded by Captain John Perrone. During the Truman’s last deployment to the Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf, the ship steamed more than 53,000 nautical miles. CVW-8 flew more than 27,000 hours over more than 9,500 sorties including 2,000 combat sorties from the carrier’s deck.
