The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group conducted a passing and communication exercise with the Turkish Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, March 16-17, 2021.
The passing exercise, with Turkish Ship TCG Gemlik (F-492), builds upon partnership capabilities using NATO operational and tactical procedures.
“It is a pleasure working with our Turkish Allies and continuing to build upon a 70-year foundation of shared values and experiences,” said Rear Adm. Scott Robertson, Commander, Carrier Strike Group TWO. “Conducting operations with Turkish Naval forces demonstrates America’s commitment to our like-minded allies and supports the notion that we are far stronger and more capable to uphold free and open conditions at sea when we stand together.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is a multiplatform team of ships, aircraft and more than 5,000 Sailors, capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions around the globe.
At the beginning of March, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (IKE CSG) conducted a bilateral maritime exercise with the Royal Moroccan Navy and an interoperability exercise with the Hellenic Armed Forces as well.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) (known informally as “Ike“) is a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier currently in service with the United States Navy. Commissioned in 1977, the ship is the second of the ten Nimitz-class aircraft carriers currently in service, and is the first ship named after the 34th President of the United States and General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower. The vessel was initially named simply as USS Eisenhower, much like the lead ship of the class, Nimitz, but the name was changed to its present form on 25 May 1970.
TCG GEMLIK
TCG GEMLİK (Ex. USS Flatley (FFG-21)) is one of the 8 Turkish Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates. She was acquired from US on 12 January 1998.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group
Deploying ships and aircraft of the strike group, commanded by Rear Adm. Scott Robertson, include flagship USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69); the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61); Destroyer Squadron 22 ships include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Mitscher (DDG 57), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Mahan, and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116).
Squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, embarked on Eisenhower include the “Fighting Swordsmen” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 32, “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, “Wildcats” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 131, “Rampagers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 83; “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7; “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74; “Screwtops” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123; “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130, and a detachment from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 “Rawhides.”
U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
Check out Naval Library App to find out the specifications of participant ships:
