Five carrier groups, thousands of sailors and carrier-based aviators were within 
striking distance of Iraq


USS Nimitz (CVN 68)

Date deployed: March 3, 2003. The Nimitz returned home on November 5, 2003.
Destination: Relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf
Type of vessel: Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Home port: San Diego, California
Crew: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Power Plant: Two nuclear reactors, four shafts
Flight Deck: 4.5 acres
Speed: 30-plus knots
Aircraft: 85
Armament: NATO Sea Sparrow missile launchers, three 20 mm Phalanx 
close-range rapid-fire gun systems
Commissioned: May 3, 1975

Carrier Air Wing 11
VFA-14 Top Hatters (12 F/A-18E Super Hornets)
VFA-41 Black Aces (12 F/A-18F Super Hornets)
VFA-94 Mighty Shrikes (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-97 Warhawks (12 F/A-18A Hornets)
VAQ-135 Black Ravens (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VAW-117 Wallbangers (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VS-29 Dragon Fires (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-6 Indians (4 SH-60F Sea Hawks, 2 HH-60H Seahawks)
VRC-30 Providers (2 C-2A Greyhounds)
Detachment 3



USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63)

Date deployed: February 7, 2003. The Kitty Hawk and its accompanying 
battle group returned home on May 6, 2003.
Destination: Persian Gulf
Type of vessel: Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier
Home port: Yokosuka, Japan
Total personnel: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Aircraft: 85
Armament: Three Sea Sparrow launchers, three 20mm Phalanx rapid-fire 
close-range gun systems
Speed: 30-plus knots
Power plant: Eight boilers, four steam turbines
Flight deck: 4.1 acres
Commissioned: April 29, 1961

Carrier Air Wing 5
VF-154 Black Knights (12 F-14A Tomcats)
VFA-27 Royal Maces (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-192 Golden Dragons (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-195 Dambusters (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VAQ-136 Gauntlets (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VAW-115 Liberty Bells (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VS-21 Fighting Redtails (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-14 Chargers (4 SH-60F Sea Hawks, 2 HH-60H) 



USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)

Date deployed: December 5, 2002. The carrier returned home on 
May 23, 2003.
Destination: Mediterranean Sea
Type of vessel: Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Home port: Norfolk, Virginia
Total personnel: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Aircraft: 12 squadrons with more than 80 aircraft
Armament: Three NATO Sea Sparrow missile launchers, four
20mm Phalanx rapid-fire close-range guns
Maximum speed: 30-plus knots
Power plant: Two nuclear reactors
Flight deck: 4.5 acres
Commissioned: July 25, 1998

CARRIER AIRWING 3
VF-32 Swordsmen (10 F-14A Tomcats)
VFA-37 Bulls (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-105 Gunslingers (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VMFA-115 (12 F/A-18A Hornets)
VAQ-130 Zappers (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VAW-126 Seahawks (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VS-22 Checkmates (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-7 Dusty Dogs (6 SH-60F Sea Hawks, 6 HH-60H Sea Hawks)
VRC-40 Rawhides (2 C-2A Greyhounds)
Detachment 3 




USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)

Date deployed: January 21, 2003. The carrier returned home on 
May 29, 2003.
Destination: Mediterranean Sea
Type of vessel: Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Home port: Norfolk, Virginia
Total personnel: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Aircraft: 85
Armament: Three NATO Sea Sparrow eight-tube missile launchers, 
four 20 mm Phalanx rapid-fire close-range gun systems
Maximum speed: 30-plus knots
Power Plant: Two nuclear reactors
Flight deck: 4.5 acres
Commissioned: October 25, 1986

CARRIER AIR WING 8
VF-14 Tophatters (10 F-14D Tomcats)
VMFA-312 Checkerboards (12 F/A-18B Hornets)
VFA-15 Valions (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-87 Golden Warriors (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VAQ-141 Shadowhawks (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VAW-124 Bear Aces (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VS-24 Scouts (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-3 Tridents (6 SH-60F Sea Hawks, 2 HH-60H)
VRC-40 Rawhides (4 C-2A Greyhounds)
Detachment 2



USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72)

Date deployed: On January 21, 2003, the U.S. Navy ordered the carrier to 
return to the Persian Gulf. The carrier was at the end of a six-month 
deployment and had been scheduled to return home. On April 10, after 
serving in the conflict in Iraq, the U.S. Navy confirmed that the Lincoln and 
its battle group were head back to the United States. On May 5, the Lincoln 
arrived in its Everett, Washington home port, ending the longest deployment 
of any U.S. aircraft carrier since the Vietnam War.
Destination: Persian Gulf
Type of vessel: Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
Home port: Everett, Washington
Total personnel: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Aircraft: 85
Armament: Three NATO Sea Sparrow eight-tube missile launchers, 
four 4 20 mm Phalanx rapid-fire close-range gun systems
Maximum speed: 30-plus knots
Power Plant: Two nuclear reactors
Flight deck: 4.5 acres
Commissioned: November 11, 1989

CARRIER AIRWING 14
VF-31 Tomcatters (12 F-14D Tomcats)
VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-113 Stingers (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-115 Eagles (12 F/A-18E Super Hornets)
VAW-113 Black Eagles (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VAQ-139 Cougars (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VS-35 Blue Wolves (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-4 Black Knight (4 SH-60F Sea Hawks, 2 HH-60H Seahawks)
VRC-30 Providers (2 C-2A Greyhounds)
Detachment 1




USS Constellation (CV 64)

Date deployed: November 5, 2002, to the Persian Gulf. The ship returned 
home from its 21st and final deployment on June 2, 2003. The 
Constellation one of only three non-nuclear carriers left in the Navy, was 
decommissioned on August 7, 2003.
Destination: Arabian Sea
Type of vessel: Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier
Home port: San Diego, California
Total personnel: Approximately 8,000 in battle group
Aircraft: Approximately 75 aircraft in nine squadrons
Armament: Sea Sparrow missile launchers, three 20mm Phalanx rapid-fire 
close-range gun systems
Speed: 30-plus knots
Power Plant: Eight boilers, four steam turbines
Flight deck: 4.5 acres
Commissioned: October 27, 1961

CARRIER AIRWING 2
VF-2 Bounty Hunters (10 F-14D Tomcats)
VFA-137 Kestrels (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VFA-151 Vigilantes (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VMFA-323 Death Rattlers (12 F/A-18C Hornets)
VAW-116 Sun Kings (4 E-2C Hawkeyes)
VAQ-131 Lancers (4 EA-6B Prowlers)
VS-38 Red Griffins (8 S-3B Vikings)
HS-2 Golden Falcons (2 SH-60F and 6 HH-60H Sea Hawks)
VRC-30 Providers Detatchment 2 (2 C-2A Greyhounds)




USS Chinook 

Home port: Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia
Sailors: 28
Units: The Chinook is a coastal patrol ship whose primary mission 
is maritime special operations, including patrol and interdiction 
surveillance. The ship also can provide mission support for naval 
special operations forces.



USS Firebolt 

Home port: Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Virginia
Sailors: 28
Units: The Firebolt is a coastal patrol ship whose primary mission is 
maritime special operations, including coastal patrol and interdiction 
surveillance. The ship also can provide mission support for naval special 
operations forces.



HSV-X1 Joint Venture 

Home port: Norfolk, Virginia
Sailors: Crew of approximately 20
Units: The Joint Venture is an Australian-built high-speed catamaran 
capable of ferrying vehicles and discharging them via a hydraulically 
operated vehicle ramp. It also includes a helicopter pad capable of handling
large military helicopters like the SH-60 Sea Hawk. The U.S. Army, Navy 
and Marine Corps are jointly leasing the ship for testing coordinated by the 
Navy Warfare Development Command. The ship is attached to Naval Beach 
Group Two, a support command for amphibious operations.



Coast Guard

Deployed to: Persian Gulf

Personnel: About 600 active-duty and reserve personnel

Cutters: Eight 110-foot Island Class cutters

Units: Port Security Unit 305, based at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and Port Security 
Unit 309, from Port Clinton, Ohio, and Coast Guard elements of the Navy's 
Harbor Defense Command Unit 206, from Jacksonville, Florida.

The eight cutters and crews being deployed are Coast Guard Cutter (CGC) 
Wrangell, from South Portland, Maine; CGC Grand Isle, from Gloucester, 
Massachusetts, CGCs Adak and Bainbridge Island, from Sandy Hook, New 
Jersey, CGC Aquidneck and the crew of CGC Block Island, from Atlantic 
Beach, North Carolina, CGCs Pea Island and Knight Island, from St. Petersburg, 
Florida, CGC Baranof, from Miami; and the crew of the CGC Sapelo, from Key 
West, Florida.



U.S. Military Sealift Command 

The Military Sealift Command operates more than 110 ships around the world 
that are crewed by civilians and carry the designation USNS (United States 
Naval Ships). They are not commissioned ships but some MSC ships have 
small military departments assigned to carry out specialized military functions 
like communications and supply operations. The following MSC ships are 
working on ferrying military equipment and supplies to the Persian Gulf and 
back to the United States.



USNS Comfort

Date deployed: January 6, 2003. The ship returned to its home port on June 
12, 2003.

Destination: Persian Gulf

Home base: Baltimore, Maryland

Crew: About 300 Navy personnel and 61 civilian mariners. More medical 
personnel can be flown to the ship as needed.

Duties: The 1,000-bed hospital ship has 12 operating rooms and is equipped to 
handle troops injured in biological and chemical attacks. During the war in Iraq, 
it handle 330 patients, most of which were combat-related injuries. As the U.S. 
military shifted from combat operations to humanitarian relief, the ship provided 
trauma care to 196 Iraqis. 

The Comfort last deployed for war during Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 
1991. It also sailed to New York to assist emergency crews after the collapse 
of the World Trade Center.




USNS Algol 

Home port: New Orleans, Louisiana
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.
 


USNS Altair 

Home port: Lamberts Point, Norfolk, Virginia 
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.
 



USNS Antares 

Home port: Baltimore, Maryland
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.
 



USNS Bellatrix 

Home port: New Orleans, Louisiana
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Bob Hope 

Home port: Charleston, South Carolina
Crew: 30 civilians 
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Brittin 

Crew: 25 civilians
Type: Large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ships used to carry U.S. Army 
equipment for use in the Middle East and Far East.

 

USNS Capella 

Home port: Baltimore, Maryland
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Curtiss 

Home port: Port Hueneme, California
Crew: 33 civilians 
Type: Merchant ships converted to provide maintenance and logistic support 
for Marine aircraft in forward operating areas.

 

USNS Dahl 

Home port: Diego Garcia
Crew: 30 civilians 
Type: Cargo ship normally used to preposition Army cargo at Diego Garcia in 
the Indian Ocean had off-loaded her cargo in Southwest Asia and returned to 
the U.S. to load more gear at Jacksonville.

 

USNS Denobola 

Home port: Staten Island, New York
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Fisher 

Crew: 25 civilians
Type: Large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ships used to carry U.S. Army 
equipment for use in the Middle East and Far East.

 

USNS Mendonca 

Home port: Newport News, Virginia
Crew: 30 civilians and 14 military personnel
Type: Large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ships used to carry U.S. Army 
equipment for use in the Middle East and Far East.

 

USNS Pililaau 

Crew: 25 civilians
Type: Large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ships used to carry U.S. Army 
equipment for use in the Middle East and Far East.

 

USNS Pollux 

Home port: New Orleans, Louisiana
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Regulus 

Home port: Norfolk, Virginia
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Commercial container ships converted by the U.S. Navy to "roll-on/roll-off" 
vehicle cargo ships, capable of rapidly deploying heavy ground forces around the 
world.

 

USNS Seay 

Crew: 25 civilians
Type: Large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off sealift ships used to carry U.S. 
Army equipment for use in the Middle East and Far East.

 

USNS Shughart 

Home port: Usually forward deployed in the Persian Gulf region.
Crew: 45 civilians and 50 military personnel
Type: Commercial ships converted to carry military cargo. A Shughart-class 
ship can carry 58 M1 Abrams tanks, 48 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and 900 
trucks and other assorted equipment. The class was named for Sgt. Randy 
Shughart, a Delta Force sniper who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously 
for attempting to save the crew of a downed Black Hawk helicopter during the 1993 
firefight in Mogadishu, Somalia.

 

USNS Wright 

Home port: Baltimore, Maryland
Crew: 33 civilians 
Type: Merchant ships converted to provide maintenance and logistic support for 
Marine aircraft in forward operating areas.

 

Ready Reserve Force 

The U.S. Maritime Administration, acting on orders from Military Sealift Command 
(MSC), also activated 26 Ready Reserve Force (RRF) cargo vessels to ferry supplies 
in support Operation Enduring Freedom. RRF ships are owned and maintained by the 
Maritime Administration to meet surge-shipping requirements for the U.S. The ships 
are usually kept in what the MSC calls reduced operating status at various berths 
around the nation. When activated, RRF ships come under Military Sealift Command 
operational control. 

 

Cape Decision, Cape Diamond, Cape Domingo, Cape Douglas 

Home port: Charleston, South Carolina
Crew: 27 civilians
Type: Cargo ships capable of carrying vehicles, shipping containers and other 
equipment.

 

Cape Edmont 

Home port: Charleston, South Carolina
Crew: 32 civilians
Type: Cargo ship that carries shipping containers.

 

Cape Henry, Cape Horn, Cape Hudson 

Home port: Cape Horn is based at Suisun Bay, California while Cape Henry 
and Hudson are laid up at Oakland, California.
Crew: 27 civilians
Type: Vehicle cargo ships

 

Cape Inscription, Cape Intrepid, Cape Isabel, Cape Island 

Home ports: Cape Intrepid and Cape Island at layberths in Tacoma, Washington, 
and Cape Inscription and Cape Isabel at Long Beach, California. 
Crew: 36 civilians 
Type: Cargo ships capable of carrying vehicles, shipping containers and other 
equipment.

 

Cape John, Cape Johnson 

Home ports: Cape Johnson is berthed at Baltimore Maryland and Cape John at 
Suisun Bay, California
Crew: Unknown
Type: Both are used to carry ammunition and other supplies for deployed military 
ships. 

 

Cape Kennedy, Cape Knox 

Home port: New Orleans, Louisiana
Crew: 43 civilians
Type: Vehicle cargo ships

 

Cape Orlando 

Home port: San Francisco, California.
Crew: 28 civilians
Type: Vehicle cargo ships with 10,500 square meters of vehicle parking 
space and can carry 252 standard 20-foot cargo containers.

 

Cape Race, Cape Ray, Cape Rise 

Home port: Portsmouth, Virginia
Crew: Unknown
Type: Each ship can carry 1,315 standard 20-foot shipping containers.

 

Cape Taylor, Cape Texas, Cape Trinity 

Home port: Houston, Texas
Crew: 49 civilians
Type: Each ship can carry about 116,000 square feet of rolling stock and 
348 containers of cargo.

 

Cape Victory 

Home port: Beaumont, Texas
Crew: Unknown
Type: Ship has 100,299 square feet of cargo space and can also carry 1,306 
standard 20-foot shipping containers.

 

Cape Wrath, Cape Washington 

Home port: Baltimore, Maryland
Crew: Unknown
Type: Both have 170,762 square feet of cargo space and can carry 1,203 standard 
20-foot cargo containers.









Back to NC in War of Iraq Page