USS Constellation demonstrates U.S. naval air
power to ROK Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff
NAVY WIRE SERVICE (NWS) - 29 July 1999
by Naval Forces Korea Public Affairs

     PUSAN, South Korean (NWS) -- USS Constellation (CV 64)
hosted Republic of Korea (ROK) Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff Gen. Kim Jin Ho recently after the ship visited
Pusan, South Korean.
     "There are several reasons why we ask people to come
aboard a carrier," said Rear Adm. Christopher W. Cole,
commander of U.S. Naval Forces in Korea.
     "It's very important for them to get to know us
personally rather than just to see it's a ship and a piece
of steel, because as impressive as all the hardware is, what
makes it all work is the people. It's also important to show
things like (carrier battle group operations) to ourallies."
     The at-sea embark gave the ROK Chairman Joint Chiefs of
Staff a first-hand account of what the U.S. Navy has to
offer in support of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific
region.
     "By visiting Constellation and seeing the fighting
capability demonstrations, I was deeply impressed at the
confidence they conveyed  in their role to suppress North
Korean threats when a crisis occurs," Gen. Kim said.
     "There's nothing like Constellation," Cole said of the
38-year-old ship built in New York. "The French operate a
couple carriers and operate them very well, but they're
smaller and with fewer aircraft. They really don't have the
kind of capabilities that the American aircraft carriershave."
     Constellation supports an airwing of nearly 80 aircraft
on a flight deck that is more than 1,000 feet long.
     After the ship tour, an airpower demonstration by the
embarked aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) TWO provided
guests with a clear and unmistakable understanding of the
ship's diverse capabilities.
     The aircraft demonstrated supersonic aerial maneuvers,
dog fighting skills and bombing runs. Navy divers conducted
a "fast rope" demonstration that showed how Special Forces
personnel are delivered to a ship from airborne helicopters.
The demonstration ended with an impressive diamond-shaped
flyover.
     The ships of the Constellation battle group, joined by
ships of the ROK Navy, paid a final salute to the Chairman
when they passed single-file along Constellation's port side
in a traditional "Pass-in-Review" formation.
     "The most impressive aspect of today's visit was seeing
all the components of this huge organization work together
to fulfill the mission," the Chairman said. "Seeing the
training operations successfully being done, with safety
always being considered, was remarkable. The visit was a
chance for me to once again confirm the strong coalition
between the United States and the Republic of Korea."
                            -USN-