USS George Washington to Arrive in California Today to Begin 3-Carrier Crew Swap
The Navy’s three-carrier crew swap will begin today, with USS George Washington (CVN-73) set to arrive at Naval Air Station North Island to swap crews with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) before heading to Newport News, Va., for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).
George Washington had been forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan since 2008 and was the only carrier homeported abroad. It , stopping to participate in with Australia and New Zealand before patrolling U.S. 7th Fleet for the last time and eventually sailing to Hawaii and then California.
The carrier will stay in San Diego for 10 days, where it will swap crews with Ronald Reagan. The ship will then head to Virginia, where it will await its RCOH in fall 2016.
Ronald Reagan will then depart San Diego and go to Yokosuka to serve as the new forward-stationed carrier – bringing one of the newest carriers to the increasingly important area of operations and returning the forward-stationed crew to their homes in Japan.
“We are sending one of our most advanced carriers to join our forward deployed forces in Japan to support the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces, . The ship received many system upgrades during its last maintenance period, .
“Sending USS Ronald Reagan demonstrates our continued commitment to the region and ensures the Navy is where it matters, when it matters.”
The Navy’s three-carrier crew swap will begin today, with USS George Washington (CVN-73) set to arrive at Naval Air Station North Island to swap crews with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) before heading to Newport News, Va., for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH).
George Washington had been forward deployed in Yokosuka, Japan since 2008 and was the only carrier homeported abroad. It , stopping to participate in with Australia and New Zealand before patrolling U.S. 7th Fleet for the last time and eventually sailing to Hawaii and then California.
The carrier will stay in San Diego for 10 days, where it will swap crews with Ronald Reagan. The ship will then head to Virginia, where it will await its RCOH in fall 2016.
Ronald Reagan will then depart San Diego and go to Yokosuka to serve as the new forward-stationed carrier – bringing one of the newest carriers to the increasingly important area of operations and returning the forward-stationed crew to their homes in Japan.
“We are sending one of our most advanced carriers to join our forward deployed forces in Japan to support the security, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Asia-Pacific region,” Vice Adm. Mike Shoemaker, commander of Naval Air Forces, . The ship received many system upgrades during its last maintenance period, .
“Sending USS Ronald Reagan demonstrates our continued commitment to the region and ensures the Navy is where it matters, when it matters.”