[Previous entry: "Developments in Iraq, March 6"] [Next entry: "ElBaradei hopeful over Iran solution"]

03/07/2006:

"The USS Ronald Reagan deployed in the Persian Gulf"

ABU DHABI — The U.S. Navy has deployed its latest aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf.

The U.S. Fifth Fleet said the USS Ronald Reagan has been deployed for maritime security operations in the Gulf region. The nuclear-powered surface vessel headed a carrier group that contains a guided missile cruiser, two destroyers and support ships.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier was assigned to patrol the Fifth Fleet area of operations, which includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean, Middle East Newsline reported. "Our past nine months of training have been in preparation to support our troops on the ground in Iraq and carry out maritime security operations," Carrier Strike Group Seven Commander Rear Adm. Michael Miller said.

Officials said the arrival of the Reagan Carrier Strike Group, which contains more than 6,000 sailors, was part of a routine rotation of U.S. ships in the Gulf. The strike group consists of the USS Reagan; USS Lake Champlain missile cruiser, USS McCampbell and USS Decatur destroyers; USS Rainer fast combat support ship; and Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit 11 Det 15.
worldtribune.com