GW sails today for new homeport

[unhappycamper]

Yokosuka bound
George Washington replacing Kitty Hawk in Japan


GW sails today for new homeport
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 7, 2008 6:21:55 EDT

The carrier George Washington is set to sail Monday for the last time from Naval Station Norfolk, Va., its homeport since the ship was commissioned, on the cruise that will take it to its new assignment in Japan as the only U.S. forward-deployed carrier.

The ship is relieving the conventionally powered carrier Kitty Hawk, scheduled to return to the United States for decommissioning this summer. On the way, the Washington is scheduled to participate in the annual Partnership of the Americas exercise with South American navies, then continue around the continent and arrive in Japan by August.

Before the ship crosses into the Pacific, its escorts — the frigate Kauffman and the destroyer Farragut — and its embarked Carrier Air Wing 17 will return to their East Coast homes, said Lt. Courtney Hillson, a 2nd Fleet spokeswoman. When the Washington arrives in Japan it will begin deploying with Carrier Air Wing 5, forward-deployed at Naval Air Station Atsugi, which now sails aboard the Kitty Hawk, and the warships of the 7th Fleet.

The families of the GW’s 3,200 sailors have begun moving to their new homes at Fleet Activities Yoksouka, Hillson said, but they will not all be there by the time the ship arrives this summer.

“Our sailors, our families and the Navy have put together a tremendous effort to prepare GW for all aspects of this transition, and while it is difficult to leave the Hampton Roads community, which has been so supportive of GW, we are excited about the vital importance of this new mission and the warm welcome from the people of Yokosuka,” said the Washington’s skipper, Capt. Dave Dykhoff, in a Navy announcement.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/04/navy_carrier_departs_040608w/