Big E wraps Persian Gulf mission

From Navy Times

Winter visits as Big E wraps Gulf mission

By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer

Posted : Monday Nov 26, 2007 14:36:55 EST

ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER ENTERPRISE, IN THE PERSIAN GULF — Jets launching from the Navy’s oldest nuclear flattop in service wrapped up combat operations after a gusty day on the water Saturday, flying their final missions into Iraq.

The carrier simultaneously launched combat operations into Afghanistan and Iraq beginning in August. About 20 percent of F/A-18 Hornets taking off on the final day of combat operations were flying into Iraq, while the rest were performing maritime security missions over the Persian Gulf, according to Lt. Mark Jones, a spokesman for the carrier.

The Enterprise is due back in Norfolk, Va., by Christmas, after completing 20 of 24 months at sea, said Jones. In early November, the carrier’s air group was called upon to fly combat missions into Afghanistan when the Air Force grounded its F-15 fleet. The carrier was “on station within 36 hours” of the call, Jones said.

“The team is so salty, you barely noticed a flux in the plans,” Jones added. During this deployment, the Enterprise set a record for launching aircraft every 23 seconds — eight seconds better than the previous high mark of a launch every 31 seconds, he said.

Navy Secretary Donald Winter visited the ship’s approximately 5,400 Enterprise sailors and Marines for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. He held an all-hands call in the hangar deck, where he offered his thanks for their service.

A sailor asked Winter if the Navy had any further plans to downsize beyond the ongoing reduction to 322,200 in the ranks.

“We’re in the process of pulling back up,” Winter said, but he did not pinpoint a specific target. He said more sailors will be needed to staff Navy forces vital to the war on terrorism — such as riverines, explosive ordnance disposal teams and electronic warfare officers.

On Thursday and Friday, Winter visited sailors and Marines in Western Iraq who were performing these tasks in the war zone.

Winter said progress is being made in Anbar province in Iraq, where Marines are based and which was an insurgency stronghold less than a year ago. Now, cities are slowly starting to restore peace under nascent local governments and police forces with the help of Marine units conducting regular patrols.

“Briefs I saw a year ago said this couldn’t happen,” Winter told sailors.