1st of 3 Norfolk-Based Navy Ships Heading to Florida

The first of three Virginia-based Navy ships is heading to a new homeport in Florida this week.

The amphibious transport dock USS New York will leave Norfolk Naval Station on Wednesday and move to Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Virginian-Pilot reports  that the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry will move to Mayport in 2014.

The Iwo Jima is undergoing work at a Norfolk shipyard. The Fort McHenry currently is based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek.

The New York has a crew of about 350 sailors. The Fort McHenry has about 400 sailors and the Iwo Jima has about 1,100 sailors.

GHW Bush Strike Group Completes COMPTUEX

The Spanish navy frigate SPS Almirante Juan de Borbon (F 102) transits the Atlantic Ocean. Almirante Juan de Borbon is participating with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group during their composite training unit exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Richard J. Stevens/Released)

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- George H.W. Bush Strike Group (GHWBSG) and embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 completed a successful Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in the Atlantic Ocean Feb. 11, following three weeks of drills and exercises in preparation for their scheduled combat deployment later this year.

"I am extremely proud of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group's performance during COMPTUEX," said Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, Bush Strike Group commander. "Our Strike Group and coalition team have come together and formed an effective and cohesive fighting unit."

COMPTUEX is designed to test every capability of a Strike Group, with the goal being to hone warfare skills and tactically execute as one cohesive unit as the Strike Group prepares for its inaugural combat deployment. The training exercise is part of the intermediate phase of the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle.

Strike Group ship boarding teams performed almost 20 practice visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) evolutions, while the air wing totaled 3,777 hours of flight time during 1,808 sorties flown.

"It was a very successful three weeks," said Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) Commander, Capt. Jeff Davis. "The strike group made great advancements in the integration of the warfare commanders to project coalition naval power."

The successful completion of COMPTUEX was the result of a total team effort from GHWBSG, which includes five U.S. ships, a Spanish frigate, a French destroyer, and the embarked air wing, totaling roughly 7,500 Sailors.

Though many Bush Sailors are looking forward to their first port call in Mayport, Feb. 11, following a busy 23 days at sea, Tyson said the team will need to be ready to get back to work as soon as liberty expires to begin the final stage of pre-deployment training, the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us in order to be certified as combat-ready for our deployment, and I look forward to JTFEX as the perfect opportunity to further refine and perfect our teamwork and warfighting competencies at sea."

The Bush strike group is comprised of CVW 8, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Anzio (CG 68), Destroyer Squadron 22 ships USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103), the French destroyer FS Primauguet (D 644) and the Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón (F 102).

Hue City Begins Cruiser Modification

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jacob Sippel, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast

JACKSONVILLE, Fla (NNS) -- The Ticonderoga Class guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) began the process of cruiser modification Sept. 29, to extend the ship's life and enhance combat capability.

Hue City is the second ship at Naval Station Mayport to go through the modification process.

In 2003, the Navy decided to upgrade 22 of the 27 Ticonderoga Class guided-missile cruisers (CG 52 - CG 73), in an effort to keep these ships combat-relevant until a new generation of surface warships can be designed and built. This conversion will extend each ships service life to 35 years. The conversion will also allow the ships to participate in land attack, littoral undersea warfare, force protection and anti-air defense missions; including ballistic missile defense.

Part of the many modifications happening aboard Hue City is an all-electric conversion. This is when the steam-operated equipment is replaced with electric equipment.

"The core of the modification package is to upgrade the engineering plant to an all-electrical configuration by removing the waste heat boiler systems," said Don Doyle, port engineer. "This is a tremendous undertaking for these systems and it extends throughout the ship. The waste heat boilers are very maintenance intensive and a major contributor to just about all the ships internal corrosion issues."

Other equipment affected includes washers and dryers, cooking kettles, dishwashers, fuel oil heaters and potable water heaters.

"The Navy spends millions of dollars of repair money every year fixing problems with our evaporators and other portions of the steam system. Not only does it cost a lot, but the unseen cost is the many man hours the crew uses fixing these steam-related problems," said Lt. Peter Furman, the ship's systems test officer.

Additionally, there are some other improvements being made to Hue City as part of this modification.

"There will be a significant weight reduction to improve ship's stability and to enable growth for the ship's extended service life," said Furman. "In all, the cruiser modification program is critical to sustain surface combatant force structure and will provide a cost effective bridge to the introduction of our future family of ships."

Other alterations include superstructure strengthening and improved main space firefighting capabilities.

This $24 million dollar project will give Hue City critical new war fighting capabilities as combat systems are upgraded, while crew size and maintenance requirements are reduced. The ship will receive the combat systems portion of the cruiser modification in its 2014 availability.

"It's a privilege to be associated with a project of this magnitude," said Furman. "This is a significant period in the ship's life. Ultimately, it will improve the quality of life for Hue City's Sailors."

Capt. Paul Stader, USS Hue City commanding officer, said the crew is ready for the challenges ahead.

"The process of the shipyard environment is very testing and because the ship is out of its element, it can be a challenging period for the crew and leadership," said Stader. "It's been a very productive yard period, but we look forward doing to what we do best, and that's being underway at sea. It has been a great effort between us, Southeast Regional Maintenance Center and the many government contractors. We are ready to wrap this up and get operational."

The mission of USS Hue City is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea in support of a carrier battle group or amphibious assault group and is designed to defend against coordinated saturation attacks involving enemy surface ships, submarines, aircraft and missiles.

USS Carl Vinson Gets Well Deserved Down Time

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sunday Williams, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East Detachment Southeast

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) stopped at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., for some much needed liberty Feb. 6 on their way home from relief efforts in Haiti.

Capt. Bruce Lindsey, commanding officer of Carl Vinson, said many members of his crew had never been to sea before and this was one of the best ways for them to get their start.

"Humanitarian assistance is one of the Navy's primary missions so if you have to start somewhere, this mission was the best," said Lindsey. "Coming out of the yards straight into a mission where the crew knew there was a reason for their underway and knowing that it was something that would impact so many lives in such a positive way, I believe they will take the experience with them throughout their lives and careers."

Lindsey said the crew really accomplished a lot during their time in Haiti.

"The helo guys flew 2,226 helicopter sorties, made 1,783 food drops, including 89,000 gallons of water and almost 40,000 pounds of medical supplies. We also did 476 MEDEVACs (medical evacuations)," Lindsey said.

Carl Vinson operated about 3 to 5 miles off the coast of Haiti and sent hundreds of crew members ashore to deliver food, water and medical supplies. The ship also delivered over one-million pounds of medical aid during their days assisting Haiti and, according to Lindsey, his crew has earned their down time.

"My Sailors have earned their liberty, we have been underway for 24 days and to many Sailors that seems like nothing, but my crew has never been underway for longer than 12 days and they worked very hard and I am happy to give them their well deserved break," said Lindsey.

Carl Vinson will resume security cooperation activities with partner navies in the region while transiting to its homeport in San Diego.

Carl Vinson was conducting routine training off the coast of the United States when the magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti. On virtually no notice, the U.S. Navy dispatched the carrier and its support ships to the scene. The carrier embarked additional helicopters and humanitarian relief supplies while transiting south along the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.