George Washington (CVN 73) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 94 text:

 BSfrwjor obstacle with any Mediterranean deployment is the transit across the beautiful tut | XML . - Cto c Kathingum (eft the Virginia Capo, operating area on June 24 at midnight. Traveling at r. | asengfspeed of 21 oamcal miles per hour and battling heavy sea states, GW completed the transit in soc S? ?ISlcpl •diust®f their alarm clocks as the ship’s company lost six hours ofsl«P wag the capabilities, GW immediately began flight operations while still in the Atlantic Ocean offot on Jutl at 0500 AftcT °°vcrin8 3,396 nautical miles, the ship went through the Straits of Gibralw

Page 96 text:

 7TK wring the 5th Fleet turnover with (J ) USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) July 19,2002, USS George Washington’s ordnance control division (G-5) had loads of responsibility to oversee. More than three hundred loads in fact. That’s how many times ordnance was lifted from JFK onto GW's flight deck. Though the ship had already taken on thousands of tons of ordnance in December 2001, July 19 was critical in preparing the “Spirit of Freedom” for 5th Fleet operations in the Middle East. Making sure the evolution ran smoothly was no small task. G-5 served as the liaison between other Weapons divisions, Deck Department, Operations divisions, and the Air Department, coordinating the move between them. During connected replenishment with USNS Supply (AOE 6), Deck Department Sailors rigged and manned chocks, blocks and pulleys that helped bring across ordnance in hangar bays 2 aud3. Air Department did the double deuce. Their men and women scurried about the flight deck and hangar bay, clearing space for the ordnance, and directing helicopters with the “goods” safely on deck. After receiving the ordnance, G-1 Sailors sent the ordnance below decks for G-3’s Mag Rats” to place in their magazines. In all, more than 200 tons of missiles, bombs and bullets of all types and sizes were transferred and stored as GW steamed toward the Arabian Sea.