THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505310677
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JACK DORSEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 86 lines
Confined to sailing in a geographic box in the Adriatic Sea, crewmen and pilots aboard the carrier Theodore Roosevelt steamed off the coast of Bosnia on Tuesday prepared for any contingency.
``Pass along to our families that we are thinking of them and the crew is at a high level (of readiness) and their morale is high,'' said Capt. Ronald L. Christenson, commanding officer of the carrier.
``Tell them not to worry. Watch us on the news.''
Ordered to steam last week from Sicily to the growing crisis in Bosnia, where more than 360 U.N. peacekeepers have been seized as hostages, the ``TR'' conducted flight operations this week off the former Yugoslavian coast, sending 80 to 110 flights a day throughout the region, Christenson said in an interview by satellite telephone.
``We were called to proceed at best speed up to the Adriatic and let me tell you, when Theodore Roosevelt goes at best speed we make a big wake,'' he said. ``We got into the Adriatic and were ready to respond to what I consider a crisis up here. We started flying right away.''
Prohibited from discussing operational plans and contingencies, Christenson said the carrier ``absolutely'' is ready for any mission it is assigned.
He could not say whether the carrier's 70-plane air wing was flying over land. However, he said it is carrying out the United Nation's ``Deny Flight'' sanctions, which prevent any combat aircraft from flying over the warring region, regardless of its affiliation.
The air wing includes at least three Hampton Roads-based squadrons - Fighter Squadron 41 from Oceana Naval Air Station, flying F-14 Tomcats; Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 124 from Norfolk Naval Station, flying E-2C Hawkeyes; and a two-plane detachment of transport planes from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40.
The carrier is fairly close to the amphibious ready group, consisting of 2,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., and 1,900 Norfolk-based sailors aboard the helicopter carrier Kearsarge, amphibious transport dock Nashville and dock landing ship Pensacola.
``I can't see them right from here, said Christenson. ``But we are close to them. We moved out of one of our boxes to another because of the heavy fog we encountered this morning. But we are up in the clear now and much closer to the amphibious ready group.''
The vanguard of a 6,200-member British force was headed for the Croatian port town of Split Tuesday as well. The French aircraft carrier Foch edged closer to the Adriatic coast less than 120 miles from the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo in an additional attempt to beef up support for the 22,000 U.N. peacekeepers on the ground in Bosnia.
The deployments are designed to allow for quicker action should the United Nations and countries involved in Bosnia decide to rescue the hostages.
Christenson, a helicopter pilot and previous executive officer of the TR, said that while the pace has been heavy, the crew is excited to be where they are.
``Since we departed in March form Norfolk, we have been doing all sorts of missions in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea, doing those things that we may need to do up here,'' he said. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
U.S. SHIPS
In the Adriatic
Aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk.
Aircraft aboard include F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler,
E-2C Hawkeye.
Destroyers Arleigh Burke, homeported Norfolk and John Rodgers,
homeported Charleston.
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) from Camp Lejeune, N.C.,
with 2,000 Marine troops aboard the Kearsarge, an amphibious assault
ship; the Nashville, an amphibious transport; and the Pensacola, a
dock landing ship. Kearsarge carries Marine AV-8B Harrier jump jets.
It and other ships also carry an assortment of helicopters.
En route
Cruiser Mississippi, homeported Norfolk
Other ships
At least one attack submarine probably is in the Adriatic. The
Navy does not discuss submarine locations or operations, but three
subs, the Batfish, Key West and Montpelier, are part of the
Roosevelt battle group and one typically remains relatively close to
the carrier.
At least 10 other U.S. warships are operating in the
Mediterranean Sea, within a day's sailing of the Adriatic.
by CNB