USS George H.W. Bush Visits First Overseas Port
5/27/2011
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Timothy Walter, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs
PORTSMOUTH, England (NNS) -- The Norfolk, Va.-based USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) anchored off the coast of Portsmouth, England, May 26, marking the first ever overseas port call for the nation's newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.
ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 20, 2011) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) transits the Atlantic Ocean. George H.W. Bush is deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven B. King/Released)
Nearly 5,000 Sailors of George H.W. Bush and embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight will spend several days visiting the historic port and the capital city of London, as well as participating in the various tours offered to the crew through the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program.
Colton said the expectations are high for the crew as they show the Navy's newest aircraft carrier to a foreign nation, and he remained confident in their ability to represent their country and their ship.
"I expect that every George H.W. Bush Sailor will be great ambassadors and their conduct ashore will be exceptional," he said.
The scheduled port call follows George H.W. Bush's participation in the eight-day, multi-national military exercise Saxon Warrior 11, which was hosted by the U.K.-based Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST).
The guided missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103), assigned to the Goerge H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, also arrived in Portsmouth for its first foreign port call. Both ships departed Norfolk, Va., May 11 on their first combat deployment.
(c) NNS