Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey Troutman | Lt. Reginald Demery, from Savannah, Georgia, monitors the surface picture for local...... read more read more
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Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 fully embarked USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), to complete integrated carrier strike group (CSG) operations in the Western Atlantic Ocean, March 10 - 21, 2021.
During a 10-day period of integrated operations, DESRON-2 embarked its entire staff on Ford for the first time and led three complex multi-domain exercises, along with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, and the USS Stout (DDG 55) during Ford’s Independent Steaming Event (ISE) 17.
As the embarked Sea Combat Commander (SCC), the DESRON-2 “Greyhounds” leveraged Gerald R. Ford’s state-of-the-art Carrier Tactical Support Center (CV-TSC) as the SCC command and control center for coordinating surface and sub-surface maritime exercises. Larger than the Nimitz-class SCC modules, the extra space and communications capabilities on Ford allow greater integration and a flattening of the information flow for the SCC.
“DESRON-2 staff are quickly adapting to Ford's upgrades, while executing SCC events in support of CSG integration,” said Capt. Stefan Walch, DESRON-2’s deputy commodore.
DESRON-2 briefly took tactical control of both the Ford and the Italian Navy’s Flagship ITS Cavour (CVH 550) to maneuver the vessels into close formation as part of a passing exercise, in order to practice communications and cooperation between allied ships. Cavour, a light aircraft carrier, was operating in the Western Atlantic Ocean conducting sea trials in coordination with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office’s Patuxent River Integrated Test Force to obtain official certification to safely operate the F-35B.
DESRON-2 will build on lessons learned from ISE 17 in order to run more complex exercises during ISE 18 that will continue to demonstrate Ford’s capabilities.
“This underway was a great opportunity for the entire Ford Strike Group team to flex the command and control capabilities of this warship” said Capt. Matthew Kawas, DESRON-2’s commodore. “The processes we refined and the lessons learned will enable successful deployed operations in the future.”
The “Greyhounds” returned to Norfolk, Va. March 21 to make preparations for ISE 18 and support the five destroyers under DESRON-2 command.
| Date Taken: | 03.21.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2021 14:41 |
| Story ID: | 392534 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 282 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Destroyer Squadron Two Fully Embarks Gerald R. Ford, Conducts Integrated Operations, by PO1 Jeffrey Troutman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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