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Reagan, 3 ships return to San Diego

SAN DIEGO — More than 5,000 sailors and Marines returned home Wednesday as the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan completed a scheduled five-month deployment that took it to the Persian Gulf.

Reagan arrived at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, Calif., as sailors aboard three other ships in its strike group also returned to their families and friends waiting at nearby San Diego Naval Base.

The strike group spent more than two months in the 5th Fleet region, and jets with Carrier Air Wing 14 flew more than 1,600 combat missions over Afghanistan, Navy officials said. Ships also conducted counterpiracy missions and other maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean, and sailors joined in community relations projects during several port visits, including Thailand.

Reagan’s deployment was its fourth in four years. The strike group “has been pretty busy the last few years, executing missions across the capabilities of our National Maritime Strategy — and answering the call with impressive results every time,” Rear Adm. Scott Hebner, who commands Carrier Strike Group 7 aboard Reagan, said in a news release.

Reagan’s deployment in late May was delayed for a day after problems with a voltage regulator. The carrier is expected to go into the shipyard next month for planned upgrades.

Squadrons with Reagan’s air wing began returning to their home bases Tuesday. Also returning home to San Diego Wednesday were guided missile cruiser Chancellorsville and guided missile destroyers Gridley and Howard. The guided missile frigate Thach and the guided missile destroyer Decatur were conducting maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf and will return home to San Diego next month, Navy officials said.