Nimitz (CVN 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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ii A squadrons to Carrier1Air Wing NINE deployed 'in USS A V. NIMITZ CCYN,68Dl.jlflSd-Slhas 24 and 523,aircrewmenas well as over 125 maintenanceiandf sup.piortjp,ersoiinel .vVliOdlCIlS1.lI'C the -readiness and flexibility to support the variety of missions' that is. called upon to p91ffOrm.- HS-8,S',.C11TTQHtc inventory includes five Sikorsky lSH460F helicopters' and two- CSAR aircraft, and is currently home ported at Naval 'Air Station North Island, San, Diego California. The squadron's primary missions include Anti-Submarine -Warfare, Combat ndl'Search'iand Rescue. . Secondary missions include logistics, medical evacuations, and Rescue Naval Special Warfare Supportwa Q , , d I d i W A d D pg earch and control and anti ship missile defense 'ofjthedcar1jiep1,battlses.group,For ASW missions, the SH-60F, can be armed with machine gun and up to three MK-46 or'MK-d50lASWtorp,edoes.Q Itilearries a crewof four, two pilots and two aircrewmen, SAR ' n .the.HH-6,0H is armed with two M160 ,or M5240 machine guns as well as a qualified rescue swimmer For C A 1 'II11SSlO S, y d , g A I, A d Q p I A g 1:0 be used for self defense A crew of iive.is'used-for missions, two pilots,.tWo door gunners and a crew chief. All are uahfied to use Night lVision'Gogglesf CNVGSJ which greatly 'enhance vision in low light conditions. Opeyatlens 111 the ArabianfGulf in support of Cperation Southern Watch included over-land Combat Search air wing personnel lovv anddfcoordinated training' exercises with Navy SEALS, Air Force and the 26th KuWa1t1 A1-moiiedi .In additionxto its operations in Kuwait, HS-8 assigned personnel to the A A h I V A t th J ' t Services Rescue Center. HS-8 also Force South West Asia headquartef'Sw p.'SHUdif,-AfiabialfO,SL1PP0I' 1 ,I 96, 0111 p in several coordinated Undersea ,4'., 6?ivQIC'1Sc9Sl'4W1thN. other airwmg .andbattle group assets. ,These exercises the Elghtballers for possible real world USWfmissions 1131.11l16'S.13I'Q11ZS4dQf'T8.lVSf31f1L The SHAGOF is equippedhwith a sonar transducer lowered into the Water by a 1500 foot cablei, ':This5system is yirtually unbeatable when it comes to tracking and attacking enemy HS 8 also performed numerous logistics-missions, moving personnel and cargoaround the battle group. and to various HS 3 Was able to put its valuable Searchlanud Rescue trainingtofuse when it performed the timely andsuccessful rescue of two 14 aviators .'c', , A V, u A, ' 9 9 , 1 I ii 5 Th 1995 15 k the 21st cruise for HSE8 in 15 years and over 50,000 hours of mishap-free flying. HS-8's safety 9 1996 deploymen mar s p , p p nd Warfare prowess were recognized recently Withthe Safety S award for 1994 and the Battle ME? award for1995. -The HS-8 d th 1 st to land, continue to provide versatile mission capability to the USS NIMITZ Battle Group.

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HS-8 LCDR D. Bean LCDR J. Kruse LCDR D. Lausman LCDR R. McVVhorter LCDR M. Murphy LT D. Atkins LT E. Balaton LT R. Cheairs LT L. Cockrell LT S. Cooper LT J. Gutierrez LT J. Hagar LT J. Hatridge LT K. Lenox LT D. Persky LT T. Sanchez LT M. Sandberg LT B. Smith LT W. Stewart LTJ G S. Dalton LTJ G K. Fine LTJ G J. Wilmes T L .' -2 -qzfglm , '-'qi-??,AQL. -.N .r-ag 348