The Navy sends a carrier back to Russia’s arctic haunts
An F/A-18F Super Hornet launches from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman Friday in the chilly Norwegian Sea. The carrier is the first of its ilk to enter the Arctic Circle in nearly 30 years. (U.S. Navy photo)
Sending a message.
Navy carrier aviation is back in the Arctic Circle for the first time in nearly 30 years, the latest sign that the Pentagon is looking to flex its muscles during an era of great power competition.
The Harry S. Truman entered the Norwegian Sea on Friday, the first flattop to do so since September 1991, according to a U.S. 6th Fleet press release.
The carrier and select escorts from its strike group are preparing to participate in a massive NATO exercise straddling late October and early November, but they arrived Friday in fast-thawing northern waters in the wake of warnings from the Navy’s top officer about rising Russian activities there.
The Truman’s path on Friday was across what strategists call the “GIUK Gap,” waters around Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom considered vital if American warship must rush to Europe to aid allies.
It’s also a key route for Russian submarines slipping into the North Atlantic.
The Truman strike group will conduct air, surface and underwater exercises in the rough seas, freezing temperatures and relentless winds before joining 30 NATO allies for the massive Trident Juncture maneuvers.
The exercise will take place in Norway and off the NATO ally’s shore, plus the Baltic Sea. It’s slated to involve 14,000 American troops alongside 36,000 personnel from friendly nations. More than 50 aircraft, 65 ships and 10,000 vehicles also will take part in the maneuvers, planners say.
What was old is new again. Winters in Keflavik and Bodo are no joke, and survival in the event of a ditch is unlikely at best. World class ASW, though, and the boys and girls flying up there have new aircraft and new tricks that I would dearly loved to have had back when I wore a flight suit. This exercise also debunks the left’s trope about Trump being in Vlad’s hip pocket- an aircraft carrier and escorts just over the horizon sends an unmistakable message.
The entire article may be viewed at The Navy Times
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Category: Navy
Good.
Re: message
Why did I hear Bart Simpson?
Great photo. Thrust and G’s on display.
Physics and math in the hands of a warrior.
I wonder why Vlad is getting so antsy.
Please, no accidents on this trip, okay?
Glad they specified first CARRIER in almost 30 years.
Boats never left. Just missed doing an ICEX on my last boat when it went to the North Pole.
“The Air Craft Carrier is the most protected ship in the fleet.” Well hell yeah, cause it’s the biggest most valuable target. You Boys and Girls be careful up there in Ivan’s side yard swimming pool. Not a lot of wiggle room and Ivan has a lot of friends close by.
As you wrote, sending a message.
Trump understands money.
Message:
“Not only can we afford to build and maintain a dozen carriers, we can afford to risk an entire carrier battle group just to send you a message.”
“And -you- cannot afford even one, that works anyway…”
“And, we broke it off in your ass economically the last go around.Ronnie sends his regards.”
it’s a pity it wasn’t the USS Reagan. But the “big stick” will do -nicely-.
-11B-Mailvlerk, my apologies , I accidentally hit the report button ,instead of reply. My sincere apologies.
-11B-Mailclerk, my apologies , I accidentally hit the report button ,instead of reply. My sincere apologies.
You are right. The USS Reagan would have been most appropriate.
Went up North on IKE in 1982. Darkest nights I’ve ever experienced. 20,000 ft solid overcast with no moon. The only thing I could see outside the A/C were my position lights. 30′ swells made landings tough for the pilots, as the stern was pitching so much you could see the screws during daylight hours..lots of bolters and no bingo field.