On 8 September 2008, USS Theodore Roosevelt CVN 71 left Naval Station Norfolk (her home base) for a 6-7 month deployment to the Middle East.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) is currently at sea and sailing for Cape Town at this time, she will anchor here in Table Bay tomorrow, Saturday 4th October 2008.
This is the first time in South African history that an aircraft carrier of this size visits Table Bay; making her visit a truly historic event for any aviation or naval enthusiast or historian. The weather in Cape Town promises to be fine and CVN 71 will be clearly visible from shore.
CVN 71 has extensive combat experience from Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm flying more operational sorties than any other aircraft carrier of the US Navy.
Her Officer Commanding is Captain (USN) Ladd Wheeler who himself is a qualified Naval Flight Officer.
Capt.Wheeler assumed command of USS Theodore Roosevelt on 11 January 2008.
During his career he has accumulated more than 3300 flight hours in 28 different aircraft and has 750 carrier arrested landings to his name.
Construction of CVN 71 began on 31 October 1981. On 25 October 1986, the USS Theodore Roosevelt was placed in active service.
She is a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier with a displacement of approx 97000 short tons (88,000 MT) and she is longer than 3 rugby fields.
CVN 71's company: 3200 Air wing: 2480
She typically carries the following aircraft compliment:
90 fixed wing and helicopters
Carrier Air Wing 8:
Strike fighter squadrons:
VFA-15 Valions
VFA-31 Tomcatters
VFA-87 Golden Warriors
VFA-213 Black Lions
Tactical EW Squadron VAQ-141 Shadowhawks (EA6B Prowlers)
Carrier AEW Squadron VAW-124 Bear Aces flying the E-2Cs
Helicopter ASW Squadron HS-3 Tridents
A 2nm NO FLY zone (GND to 2500FT MSL) has been imposed around USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) for the duration of her stay.
Local pilots are encouraged to read their NOTAMS is this regard and avoid this no-fly zone. Contact Air Force ATC at AFB Ysterplaat on tel 021-5086151/6249 for more details.
She is accompanied in Table Bay by USS Monterey(CG 61)which has already docked in Cape Town harbour today.
The USS Monterey(CG 61) is the 15th Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser of the USN, similar to the USS Gettysburg (CG 64) which visited Cape Town in 1994. Her marked the first visit to South African ports in 27 years by a U.S. Navy warship.
Photo: SH-60 Seahawk no 494 from CG64 en-route to AFB Ysterplatt during her 1994 visit...the days before digital.
CVN 71 visit photos to follow tomorrow.
