Normandy steamed extra 61,000 nautical miles whereas serving because the air protection commander for the strike group.
“From the North Sea to the Jap Mediterranean, this deployment has enhanced and strengthened regional stability, as we labored with our allies and companions to uphold our mutual dedication to maritime safety,” stated Capt. Errol A. Robinson, Normandy’s commanding officer. “Our Sailors expertly executed complicated multi-ship maneuvers with our allies and tactically managed plane and the airspace, whereas sustaining the fabric readiness of the ship. Throughout my two excursions aboard Normandy, as division officer and 23 years later as her commanding officer, I can say that my Sailors’ tireless and exacting efficiency was in line with Normandy’s 34 years of very good service.”
Over the course of 262 days, Normandy’s crew performed over 40 replenishments-at-sea, and manned flight quarters 670 instances. Normandy’s embarked air detachment, the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, flew 393 sorties, totaling 1,132 hours flown.
Normandy’s culinary staff ready and served over 388,500 meals, which included over 68,619 lbs. of contemporary fruit and veggies, 4,382 lbs. of steak, 10,520 sizzling canine, 3,207 lbs. of bacon, 89,000 particular person eggs and 800 lbs. of espresso.
After departing Naval Station Norfolk on Might 2, 2023, the strike group spent a month steaming within the Excessive North earlier than transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on June 15, getting into the Mediterranean Sea the place the strike group would spend the remainder of deployment working with allies and companions to supply maritime stability and safety within the area.
Normandy participated in two named multinational naval workouts whereas within the Mediterranean: NATO vigilance exercise Neptune Strike in July and Sage Wolverine in August. Throughout Neptune Strike, command and management of all collaborating vessels was transferred to Naval Placing and Help Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO) to synchronize the U.S. and the NATO Alliance’s planning groups and to enhance the Alliance’s means to supply assurance, deterrence, and collective protection. Sage Wolverine consisted of 10 days of high-end maritime coaching occasions and air protection workouts with NATO allies. In live performance with U.S. allies over the eight months Normandy was underway, the ship accomplished 24 air protection workouts, 12 low sluggish flier workouts, and seven simulated air protection workouts.
All through deployment, Normandy’s crew embraced quite a few alternatives to strengthen partnerships with allied navies, internet hosting crew exchanges with the U.Ok. royal navy Duke-class frigate HMS Kent (F 78), the Italian navy Carlo Bergamini-class frigate ITS Carabiniere (F 593), the Turkish navy Gabya-class frigate TCG Gökçeada (F 494), and the first-in-class Hellenic navy frigate HS Elli (F 450). Along with these crew exchanges, the 2023 deployment noticed Normandy steam with frigates of the Croatian, Dutch, French, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish, and Swedish navies, demonstrating a shared dedication to selling security and stability in Europe.
Port visits within the U.S. Sixth Fleet space of operations made Normandy’s Sailors de facto ambassadors, because the ship moored in: Gothenburg, Sweden; Koper, Slovenia; Rijeka, Croatia; Aksaz, Türkiye; Bar, Montenegro; and Athens, Greece. Workplace calls to native navy management, and neighborhood relations occasions in almost each nation Normandy visited, bolstered helpful partnerships. In Bar, Montenegro, Normandy hosted Nicole Otallah, the fees d’affaires of the U.S. embassy in Montenegro, at a reception for Montenegrin civil and navy leaders held on the ship’s flight deck.
Following the Oct. 7 Hamas assaults on Israel from the Gaza Strip, Normandy and the strike group have been ordered to the Jap Mediterranean by the secretary of protection to supply a continuing and stabilizing presence that might forestall regional escalation of the battle.
“For nearly 70% of Normandy’s crew, this was their first deployment,” stated Command Grasp Chief William Palmer. “That didn’t deter them from seizing alternatives to excel and acquire additional experience of their fields. Normandy’s Sailors are returning dwelling extra completed and extra resilient, and their households must be happy with the work they’ve finished.”
The GRFCSG is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class plane provider USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Service Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).
The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the “Tridents” of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 9, the “Spartans” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Management Squadron (VAW) 124, the “Ragin’ Bulls” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the “Blacklions” of VFA-213, the “Golden Warriors” of VFA-87, the “Tomcatters” of VFA-31, the “Grey Wolves” of Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Help Squadron (VRC) 40.
Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces within the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of accountability. U.S. Sixth Fleet is completely assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces via the total spectrum of joint and naval operations.
