Eisenhower relieves Nimitz in 5th Fleet - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Eisenhower relieves Nimitz in 5th Fleet

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group relieved the Nimitz group in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, the Navy announced.

“The Nimitz has done an amazing job, and the sailors aboard Ike are trained and ready to fill behind them,” said Capt. Dee Mewbourne, Eisenhower’s commanding officer. “Taking over from Nimitz, we will continue to improve the security and stability in this part of the world through the outstanding professionalism of our sailors.”

Nimitz has operated in the 5th Fleet area since Sept. 18, with Carrier Air Wing 11 aircraft flying more than 2,600 combat sorties and 15,296 cumulative flight hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Navy in September announced that the strike group’s deployment was to be extended to eight months, and that it would be coming home in March.

“I am very proud of the strike group’s support to coalition forces in Afghanistan, our aircraft launched and executed with thoughtful precision, fused to the directives of the supported commander,” said Rear Adm. John Miller, Nimitz strike group commander. “I am equally proud of our contribution to counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa, protecting critical Iraqi infrastructure in the North Arabian Gulf and the wide range of support provided to ensure maritime security here.”

Like Nimitz, Eisenhower will provide 30 percent of the close air support missions flown to protect coalition forces on the ground in Afghanistan.

The Ike group includes Carrier Air Wing 7, the cruiser Hue City and the destroyers Farragut, Carney and McFaul.