2nd Fleet Focus: Notes and Events

John J. Kruzel has an interesting article on the integration and preparation taking place on HMS Illustrious as the ship and crew gets ready for JTFX 07-2. I found the comments of both the Marines and the Royal Navy sailors interesting.

The USS James E. Williams returned to sea yesterday to catch up to the USS Enterprise. It would not appear the mishap during the TOWEX last week caused much, if any, damage. The Enterprise CSG is currently in the Med.

The USS John F. Kennedy will be towed to Norfolk instead of Philadelphia as was originally expected.

However, the Kennedy’s ultimate destination for mothball storage is now in doubt as well. Navy officials confirmed to Navy Times on Monday that the 38-year-old ship may not be mothballed in Philadelphia as initially planned, and instead could end up in the Hampton Roads, Va., area. That’s because, sources said, harbor pilots have told the Navy they are now not sure the aircraft carrier will safely make it to a berth at the shipyard without possibly going aground in the channel.

The ship is now expected to be diverted to somewhere in the Hampton Roads area until the issues with depth of the Delaware River channel in Philadelphia can be resolved.

Interesting, considering the USS America, which had a deeper draft, was able to transverse the same channel with no problem in 2005. I noticed Springboard caught that detail too.