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 Roosevelt Sailors Complete COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) completed its final pre-deployment exercise with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, Dec. 15.

Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) is an evaluation that tests mission readiness of a carrier strike group in the execution of the nation's maritime strategy while deployed.

The test consisted of simulated scenarios which evaluated the ability of the strike group to engage hostile forces and respond to aggression. Sailors of Roosevelt honed their ability to board vessels, react to chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) attacks, and defend against small craft approaches. Every department was tested during the three-week exercise.

"Whether it was the flight deck crew, the boat deck crew, the bridge team, Combat Information Center, or the engineers that keep the plants running, every single person on this ship did what they were supposed to do - all contributing factors to Roosevelt's success during COMPTUEX," said Cmdr. Jason Reller, Roosevelt's executive officer.

Cmdr. Jay Clark, Roosevelt's commanding officer, also praised the Sailors.

"I've always found the Sailors on Roosevelt to take a lot of pride in what they do; it's never just a job to them," said Clark. "COMPTUEX has been a very good morale booster for the crew and a true team builder. It's just one more opportunity for them to show how capable the Roosevelt is and that's how they approached it."

This is Roosevelt's first time in four years operating within a strike group.

"Roosevelt found her stride and the crew was firing on all cylinders," said Clark. "The thing was, we didn't start off bad and get progressively better - we maintained a constant performance level the whole way through."

Roosevelt's success was attributed to its motivated crew.

Roosevelt's Command Master Chief William Mullinax said, "Every mission, every task that has been given to the ship, we were able to complete right the first time, and complete it on time."

George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 2 staff, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 22 staff, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), and guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51).

USS Philippine Sea Completes MISSILX

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brian Read Castillo, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs

USS Philippine Sea, At Sea (NNS) -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) completed a missile exercise (MISSILX), Aug. 4.

Philippine Sea, and USS Truxtun (DDG 103) simultaneously launched Navy Standard Missile-2's (SM-2) while USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) launched shortly afterwards.

The MISSILEX required that all three ships fire SM-2's at a remote controlled, subsonic missile drone, or (BQM). The SM-2 is the U.S Navy's primary surface-to-air air defense weapon and a vital element of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) aboard Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, launched from the MK 41 Vertical Launcher System (VLS).

During the exercise a BQM was flown out to sea by an aircraft and dropped into mid air. The drone is then reverted back towards the ships requiring them to shoot it out of the sky, said Senior Chief Fire Controlman Jeremy R. Rasnick, combat systems fire controlman leading chief petty officer.

"After it was dropped, shore command flew the BQM inbound," said Rasnick. "Once inbound our mission is to get good telemetry data back to shore command so they can evaluate how the missile and its systems preformed."

The missiles fired were not armed with warheads. Instead, each missile attempts to approach the BQM as close as possible simulating an actual intercept.

Each SM-2 has proximity sensors capable of recording the distance from the BQM as it flies by indicating a "hit", said Rasnick.

"The missiles try to get as close as they can to the drone and instead of it exploding it just continues to fly by," said Rasnick. "Once recovered they can figure out whose missiles were within the blast radius.

The MISSILX simulates a cruise missile attack scenario that could be encountered by the George H.W. Bush Strike Group (GHWB CSG) on deployment.

"This missile is specifically designed to simulate a C-802 missile which is an anti-ship cruise missile", said Rasnick.

After two days of "mock" drills involving Learjet fly-by's simulating a BQM, the Philippine Sea was ready to conduct the MISSILX and learn from the experience of an actual launch.

"The rehearsals were very beneficial and went very well," said Master Chief Fire Controlman Craig M. Cotherman, combat systems maintenance manger. "But a couple things were a little bit different today, things we can't rehearse and simulate, things we can't prepare for."

Cotherman feels the MISSILX provided an invaluable experience.

"We definitely have some lessons to take away from the experience," said Cotherman. "Aside from actually having to fire on a target, this is as real as it gets."

The last missile launch aboard the Philippine Sea took place in 2010 making this not just a learning experience, but also a rare and exciting event for the crew.

I was standing in the bridge when it happened," said Quartermaster 3rd Class Cameron A.Wheylan. "It was cool to see what we can actually do and feel the power of it all. It's definitely something I will never forget."

Philippine Sea is participating in the George H.W. Bush Group Sail to improve strike group interoperability and prepare for an upcoming deployment.

Roosevelt Returns to Mayport after Ops in Two Theaters

By Ensign Michele V. Rollins, USS Roosevelt Public Affairs

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- The guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) returned home from a seven-month deployment to the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operation March 25.

Roosevelt departed Naval Station Mayport, Fla., Aug. 28 as part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in support of maritime security operations (MSO) and national tasking.

"The ship's 2008-2009 deployment was both challenging and rewarding," said Lt. Cmdr. Scott Harvey, Roosevelt's executive officer. "There are few times in a career that you get a chance to see 300 Sailors come together to accomplish a mission so important. This deployment was one of those times."

Roosevelt served as the air defense commander (ADC) for the Iwo Jima ARG during the early phases of the deployment. The ship's combat systems team coordinated hundreds of aircraft flight hours and maintained the air picture for the strike group.

Roosevelt also provided support to the pirated motor vessel (M/V) Faina, the Ukrainian arms ship held hostage by Somali pirates for several months, and operated off the Horn of Africa in support of national tasking, logging two lengthy underway periods of 70 and 83 consecutive days.

Roosevelt Sailors were excited to return to homeport and see their loved ones.

"This deployment has truly been challenging," said Cmdr. Stanley Keeve, Roosevelt's commanding officer. "We were challenged by its length of seven months, the extended underway stretches of 70 and 83 days and by the diversity of the operations we conducted: theater security cooperation, antipiracy, presence ops and MSO. Through all the challenges, Roosevelt's Sailors truly worked as a team and focused on the mission at hand. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them."

Roosevelt was deployed as part of the Iwo Jima ARG supporting maritime security operations (MSO) in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet Areas of Operations. MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.