NNS4803. USS Enterprise Battle Group, USS Nassau Amphibious 
Ready Group begin deployment

Navnews

by 2nd Fleet Public Affairs
     NORFOLK (NNS) -- The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Battle Group, 
with Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW 3) embarked, began a scheduled 
six-month deployment Nov. 6. Accompanying the aircraft carrier 
are two cruisers, four destroyers, two frigates, two submarines 
and a fast combat support ship.
     The USS Nassau (LHA 4) Amphibious Ready Group, with the 
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked, will begin their 
deployment Nov. 13.
     In all, more than 10,000 Sailors and Marines are departing 
their East Coast bases and home ports to relieve the USS Dwight 
D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Battle Group and the USS Saipan (LHA 2) 
Amphibious Ready Group.
     “The battle group and amphibious ready group are prepared 
to deploy, and serve the nation as instruments of our national 
policy,” said Vice Adm. William J. Fallon, Commander, 2nd Fleet.
	Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen on Tuesday announced 
that he had recommended to the president that the transit of USS 
Enterprise be accelerated to have the ship arrive in the Arabian 
Gulf by Nov. 23, instead of the planned arrival on Nov. 26. 
Secretary Cohen also recommended that the USS Belleau Wood (LHA 
3) Amphibious Ready Group deploy from the Western Pacific Ocean 
to join Enterprise in the Gulf by Nov. 26.
	“[The president] agreed that that was a wise course of 
action, and certainly designed to give him greater flexibility 
in the event that any military action is required [in the Gulf 
region],” said Cohen during a Tuesday news conference in 
Singapore. “So I will sign those deployment orders as soon as 
this meeting is over.”
     The Enterprise Battle Group includes USS Philippine Sea (CG 
58), USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Nicholson 
(DD 982), USS Klakring (FFG 42), USS Detroit (AOE 4), USS Miami 
(SSN 755) and USS Hampton (SSN 767).
     The Nassau Amphibious Ready Group includes USS Nashville 
(LPD 13) and USS Pensacola (LSD 38).
-USN-