Atlantic Fleet Wings

Commander Naval Air Forces US Atlantic Fleet (COMNAVAIRLANT)

Headquartered at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, the Commander Naval Air Forces US Atlantic Fleet is a three-star vice admiral responsible for logistics and administration of naval forces assigned to the US Atlantic Fleet. It is composed of approximately 50,000 personnel six aircraft carriers and about 1,500 aircraft assigned to 63 squadrons. The area of operations extends from pole to pole and from the eastern half of the United States to the Indian Ocean. Deployed units are attached either to the Second, Fifth or Sixth Fleets, depending on location. In terms of carrier air wings (CVWs), the Atlantic fleet has has five assigned that include fighter, strike, cargo, electronic warfare (EW), antisubmarine warfare (ASW) and antiship assets. Until the mid-1990's, each type and functional was assigned a Fleet Readiness Squadron (FRS) which is essentially a training unit responsible for crew type convertion. Aircrews are assigned to one FRS. With fleet downsizing the number of FRS units has been reduced but those remaining have been expanded to accommodate training for both the Atlantic and Pacific fleet units. Today only F/A-18 Hornet and SH-60B Seahawk communities maintain more then one FRS. Meanwhile aircrew training for HH-1N and MH-53E helicopters is carried out by similarly tasked Marine Corps units.

Atlantic Fleet Readiness Squadrons

Commander Fighter Wing Atlantic (COMFITWINGLANT)

COMFITWINGLAT came into being on 1st September 1993, when Commander Fighter Wing One was redesignted. Subsequently, NAS Oceana, Virgina, became home to the Navy's entire fleet of F-14 Tomcats when Commander Fighter Wing Pacifc (COMFITWINGPAC) was disestablised in 1996. In addtion to being responsible for the FRS and 11 operational squadrons at Oceana, the wing maintains administrative control of a single Tomcat squadron forward deployed to Japan.

Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Light Wing Atlantic (COMHSLWINGLANT)

The five Light Airborne Mulitpurpose System (LAMPS Mark III) squadrons assigned to COMHSLWINGLANT, which includes the FRS, are based at Naval Air Station Mayport, Florida. The wing was established in 1985 as Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Light Wing One and was redesignated on 1st September 1993. It's SH-60B Seahawks are normaly deployed as one or two aircraft detachments for six-month periods aboard destroyers, guided-missile frigates or guided-missile cruisers. Secondary roles include antisurfance and antisubmarine warfare missions, electronic warfare. command and communications, search and rescue, and logistics. The wing also maintains a support detachment at NAS Sigonella, Italy. Each operational squadron has 10 aircraft.

Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing Atlantic (COMHSWINGLANT)

Five helicopter antisubmarine squadrons are assigned to this wing and, until 1st September 1993, it was designated Commander Helicopter Antisubmarine Wing One Based at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, the squadrons are tasked with undersea warfare search and rescue, airborne utility services and combat search and rescue like there "light wing" counterparts. Rather than operating from samller vessels however, these units operate both SH-60F and HH-60H Seahwaks from aircraft carriers. All traning is carried out as HAS North Lsland California and each squadron is normaly assigned six SH-60F and two HH-60H helicopters.

Commander Helicopter Tactical Wing Atlantic (COMHELTACWINGLANT)

Based at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, COMHELTACWINGLANT controls six squadrons with a variety of missions including combat support, mine countermeasures and aerial reconnaissance. Detachments from helicopter combat support squadrons regularly deploy aboard the Navy's amphibious assailt and combat support vessels for search and rescue purposes and to transfer passengers and cargo. In addition to being capble of self-deplying, the mine-countermeasures aircraft operated by HM-14 are detached aboard the USS Inchon. One of the units assigned, HM14 is operationally tasked by Commander Mine Warfare Command (COMINEWARCOM), in Corpus Christi, Texas. Another unit VC-6, provides the fleet with unmmand aerial vehicles for reconnaissance, and aerial and seaborne targets for traning.

Commander Airborne Early Warning Wing Atlantic (COMAEWINGLANT)

Based at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, COMAEWWINGLANT) controls five operational carrier airborne early warning squadrons (VAWs), a single fleet logiistic support squadron (VRC), and normally detaches two C-2A Greyhounds to each deploed carrier air wing.

Commander Sea Control Wing Atalnitc (COMSEACONWINGLANT)

Established in 1970 as Commander Sea Strike Wing One, it was redesigneted COMSEACONWINGLANT) on 1st September 1993. Until 1997 the six operational squadrons assigned to the wing were based at NAS Cecil Field Florida, but it's impending closure caused relocation if the wing and it's assigned unit's to NAS Jacksonville, Florida. The wing is resonsible for five sea control and a single carrier-based fleet air reconnaissance squadron (VQ). However no FRS is assigned. All training ifor it's S-3B Vikings and ES-3A Shadows is carried out by VS-41 at NAS North Island, California, Each VS squadronoperated eight S-3B's and VQ units each operate 10 ES-3As that are normaly assigned to deployed carrier air wings in two-aircraft detachments.

Commander Stirke Fighter Wing Atlantic (COMSTRIKEFIGHTWINGLANT)

Established in 1970 as Light Attack Wing One, the wing is based as NAS Cecil Field, Florida, and assumed it's current name on 1st Septmeber 1993. In addition to one FRS, 11 deployable strike fighter squadrons with 12 F/A-18C Hornets are assingned. All but two two units will ralocate to NAS Oceana, Virginia, by October 1999. The others will relocate to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.

Commander Patrol Wings Atlantic (COMPATWINGLANT)

BASED AT NAS Norfolk, Virginia, COMPATWINGLANT is the only functional wing assigned to COMNAVAIRLANT. Two patrol wings, the P-3 Orion FRS, a fleet air rconnaissance squadron and a special projects unit are assigned. The six patrol squadrons (each with 1 P-3Cs) undertake six-month deployments at four different locations. Two units normally are deployed at any given time, with one on station and NAS Sigonella. Italy, while the other splits its assets between Panama, Puerto Rico and Iceland, Although administratively assigned to the wing VQ-2 and the unit detached to NAS Sigonella are both tasked by Fleet Air Mediterranean. via the Commander Maritime Surveillance and Reconnaissance Forces, US Sixth Fleet.

Commander Patrol Wing Five (COMPATWING FIVE)

Commander Patrol Wing Eleven (COMPATWING ELEVEN)

Atlantic Fleet Carriers and Carrier Air Wings

The center of the naval battle group, of corse is the aircraft carrier of which six are assigned for CINCLANTFLT missions. All are nuclear powered with the exception of the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) which is dule tasked as a training and deployable carrier. Normaly, one or two carrier's are deployed with the US Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean or in the Arabian Gulf with the US Fifth Fleet in support of Central Command. Otherwise they are assigned to the US Second Fleet in the western Atlantic unless providing refresher training or undergoing periodic maintenance or overhaul. Each carrier air wing is commanded by a captain referred to as the 'CAG'. A total of five active air wings are assigned to COMNAVAIRLANT, the majority of which are structured with eight squadrons that include one fighter (VF), three strike fighter (VFA), one airborne early warning (VAW), one helicopter antisubmarine warfare (HS), one electroniccombat (VAQ) and one sea control (VS) unit. In some cases, one VFA squadron is replaced with a second VF unit.

USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65)

Carrier Air Wing assigned: CVW-3

The world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, and eight ships name, was commissiond on 24th November 1961. At her home port of Norfolk, Virginia, the "Big E" completed a short yard period in July 1997 and spent much of 1998 engaged in operations in the western Atlantic with CVW-3.

CVW-3 Home base NAS Oceana, Virginia.

USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67)

Carrier Air Wing assigned: CVW-1

Named in honor of the 35th president, this carrier's keel was laid on 22 October 1964 and "JFK" was launched on 27 May 1967. She was commissiond on 7 Setember 1968 and her home port in Mayport, Florida. The USS John F. Kennedy returned from a Mediterranean/Arabian Gulf deplyment on 28th October 1997 with CVW-8 aboard but when the USS George Washington (CVN-73) returned from her cruise in April 1998, CVW-11 transferred over to the Kenneday. The carrier and airwing will deploy in September 1999.

CVW-1 Home base NAS Oceana, Virginia

USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN-69)

Carrier Air Wing assigned: CVW-17

Named in honor of America's 34th president and former General of the Army, her keel was laid on 15th August 1970. After the hull was launched n 11th October 1975, she was commissioned on 18th October 1977 at her home port of Norfolk Virginia. The "Ike" deployed with CVW-17 on 10th June 1998 and departed for the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas following three days of workups in the western Atlantic. In late October the carrier relieved CVN-72 in the Arabian Gulf and was herself relieved by CVN-65 ON 23rd November and returned to Norfolk on 9th December. CVW-7 will join the Eisenhower in time for the airwings next deplyment after which the carrier will enter the yard for a $17 million overhaul.

CVW-17 Home base NAS Oceana, Virginia

CVW-7 Currntly unassigned, it will join the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) after her overhaul is compleated.

USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN-71)

Carrier Air Wing assigned: CVW-8

The Fourth Nimitz-class carrier is named for the 26th president fo the United States, former Secretary of the Navy and leader of the 'Rough Riders". The carriers keel was laied on 31st October 1981, just eight months after similarly named Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN) 600 was decommissioned. The carrier was p;aced in commission on 25th October 1986. Norfolk, Virgina is home port to the Theodore Roosevelt where she compleated a one-year overhaul at the naval ship yard on 2nd July 1998.

CVW-8

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN-73)

Carrier Air Wing Assigned: N/A

Named for the first US president, her keel was laid on 25th August 1986 just 17 months after the nuclear-powered Fleet Ballistic Missle Submarine (SSBN) 598, which carried the same name, was decommissioned. The vessel was lanched 21st July 1990 and commissioned on 4th July 1992. CVN-73's home port is Norfolk, Virginia. On 3rd October 1997, the "Sprit of Freedom" deployed to the Mediterranean and Arabian Gulf with CVW-1 embarked. Relieved by the USS John C. Stennis the George Washington battle group returned to Norfolk on 3rd April 1998, at which point CVW-1 was transferred to CV-67. On 11th May, the vessel entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth Virginia, for a Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) period in dry dock that will last through March 1999.

USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75)

Carrier Air Wing Assigned: N/A

The Navy's newest carrier had it's keel laid on 30th June 1988 and was named for the United States 33rd president on 7th September 1996 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry dock in Virginia. Following compleation of Sea trials on 12th June 1998, she was commissioned on 25th July 1998 at Naval base Norfolk Virginia, which will be her home port.

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