George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

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I I L 70 Underway

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The major event on hoard during the Brest port visit was the command reception, where George Washington's Color Guard presented the standards of the United States and France in a sunset ceremony. Meanwhile, some of the crew ventured as far away as Paris and Mont St. Michel to see historic sites and tap into the international culture.

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Turnover Newest carrier relieved the oldest Part of any carrier deployment is the turnover with the carrier that has spent its last six months at sea. George Washington’s turnover with USS Saratoga (CV 60) June 11 was an especially significant one because it marked the newest carrier in the Navy relieving the oldest. Saratoga was heading home for decommissioning when George Washington sailed away from her in mid-afternoon, ready to assume the watch with its crew prepared to respond to a whole new mission. As far as the day’s events were concerned, vertical replenishment of weapons and stores was the plan of the day. George Washington took on thousands of pounds of ordnance in order to have the firepower necessary to carry out her mission. All hands involved in making the evolution a safe and successful one worked throughout the day ensuring the ship was fully loaded before she steamed through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean Sea. Day 23 ■3 Undorway 71 I