USS George Washington to depart for Japan

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS George Washington (CVN-73), with embarked Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, and a partial air wing from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 departed Naval Station Norfolk (VA) on 25 April 2024. The CSG is heading for the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of operations as part of the exercise Southern Seas 2024.

Following Southern Seas, USS George Washington will relieve USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) as the forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) aircraft carrier during a historic carrier swap at NAS North Island (CA) this summer. The carrier will sail down the coast of the US, through the Caribbean Sea and enter the Pacific by rounding Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America.

This will mark the second time George Washington has served as the FDNF aircraft carrier, arriving in Japan in 2008 as the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be forward deployed to Japan before being relieved by Ronald Reagan in 2015. Following the transfer, the USS Ronald Reagan will head to Washington state for an overhaul before its permanent homeport assignment.

Prior to this week’s planned departure, George Washington completed its midlife nuclear refueling and complex overhaul at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia. The normally four-year-long maintenance period stretched to just short of six years due to a number of factors, including supply chain issues and workforce problems that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Washington began the RCOH period on 4 August 2017, and was redelivered to the US Navy on 25 May 2023.

It has not been reported yet which squadrons will be/are embarked with CVW-7 during this trip.

Credit photo: US Navy/Naval Air Force Atlantic