USS NIMITZ, At Sea – USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed Hong Kong Aug. 24 after a four-day port visit. The stop was the ship’s third port visit since departing its homeport of San Diego for a regularly-scheduled deployment April 2.

Nimitz, along with embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, was joined for the port visit by the five other ships in the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) -  the guided-missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Chafee (DDG 90), USS Pinckney (DDG 91) and USS Higgins (DDG 76); and the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59),

The crew of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines served as American ambassadors during their visit, participating in community relations (COMREL) projects, meeting local citizens, experiencing local customs and traditions and enjoying the many recreational activities offered in Hong Kong.

“I really liked the night life in Hong Kong,” said Machinist’s Mate Fireman Apprentice Bill Yang. “It was nice to sit back with my friends and enjoy a few laughs in a new and exciting place.”

More than 100 Sailors and Marines performed more than 500 man-hours of volunteer work during COMREL projects throughout the city Aug. 21. Projects included helping the elderly at the Po Leung Kuk-Siu Ming Memorial Home Care & Attention Unit and beautifying the grounds of the Hong Chi Pinehill Village.

“The projects were a great success for the volunteers and the organizations we assisted,” said Lt. Cmdr. David Bynum, a Protestant chaplain aboard Nimitz. “We had opportunities to do hundreds of hours of volunteer work that would have taken these sites days or weeks to accomplish.”

Commanded by Capt. Mike Manazir, Nimitz arrived in the U.S. 5^th Fleet (C5F) area of operations in May. While operating in C5F, CVW 11 flew more than 2,600 sorties and 7,332 hours in support of ground forces participating in Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq before leaving the Arabian Gulf in late July.

Nimitz and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 are now operating as a part of the U.S. 7^th Fleet (C7F). Operating in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, C7F is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets covering 52 million square miles, with approximately 50 ships, 120 aircraft and more than 22,000 Sailors and Marines assigned at any given time.

These forces are tangible proof of America’s commitment to peace and stability in Asia, and they directly support U.S. national goals of strengthening alliances, defeating global terrorism, preventing future terrorist attacks, defusing regional conflicts, and preserving the free flow of trade.

CVW-11’s squadrons include “Tophatters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, “Black Aces” of VFA-41, “Sunliners” of VFA-81, “Wallbangers” of Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 117, “Red Devils” of Marine Corps Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 232, “Black Ravens” of Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 135, “Providers” of Carrier Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 and the “Indians” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 6.

Commanded by Rear Adm. Terry Blake, the Nimitz CSG also includes embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23; Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 “Scorpions,” HSL-37 “Easy Riders,” and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, Det. 3.

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