What is the interior of the US aircraft carrier that carries out military maneuvers with the Navy in the Argentine sea?

The entry of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington into the Argentine Sea, last Wednesday, became an important experience and a military adventure for authorities and journalists who were able to visit it between this Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, The Argentine and United States Navy (the US Navy) carried out historic joint activities known as PASSEX Gringo Gaucho II.

At a request from the United States ambassador, Marc Stanley, to the US Navy, journalistic media, including Clarion They were able to visit the “heart” of the gigantic aircraft carrier, the sixth nuclear-powered Nimitz class, and one of twenty massive ships that the United States can carry next-generation fighter aircraft, reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters for times of war and also as an instrument of geostrategic deterrence in times of peace. For that matter, one of his jewels is the F-35 fifth-generation multipurpose combat aircraft, which, for security reasons, cannot even be photographed.

Getting to the aircraft carrier this Friday took almost all day, on a low trip strict military rules. It involved a first transfer in a Embraer of the Argentine Air Force, from the Aeroparque Military Air Station to the Mar del Plata airport, at 7 a.m. The subsequent trip was in a US Navy helicopter, which left the spa city at 9 am, and which was under absolute control of the United States.

It was a Black Hawk, like the ones you only usually see in movies. He flew towards the open sea off Chapadmalal. And after an hour of flight, she landed on this massive ship that carries more troops than the population of some cities. She can carry up to 3,000 fixed marines and 2,400 airborne. At the time of the journalists’ visit, 4,000 men and women had boarded, including foreign delegations from 12 countries, two of them members of the Argentine Navy.

For that matter, it measures about three blocks in length (more than 330 meters) and 76 meters in width at the waterline.

When the Black Hawk’s wings slowed their rotation, Argentinians could already be seen on the floating runway coming and going with the United States sailors. Clarion He traveled this Friday with the Rear Admiral Marcelo Alejandro Dalle Nogare, deputy chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and with the secretary of the Malvinas Area, Paola Di Chiaro. Meanwhile, the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menem, was from the game but hit a foul at the last minute. And it was not explained why. On the contrary, Vice President Victoria Villarruel, who was specially invited to the aircraft carrier, excused herself with understandable reasons: since Milei was traveling, she was her replacement in the Presidency until her return. And although the aircraft carrier sails through Argentine waters – it may not enter the 12 miles of the Territorial Sea – the Foreign Ministry advised against leaving outside those 12 miles.

On the aircraft were the commander of the Sea Fleet, Rear Admiral, Gustavo Fabián Lioi Pombo; Navy Commodore Marcelo Paternostro (commander of the Atlantic Naval Area) and Navy Commodore Carlos Manuel Falcone (commander of Naval Aviation).

On Thursday, Ministers Luis Petri and Diana Mondino, and the official press they brought with them, visited the Aircraft. The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Xavier Isaac, and the head of the Navy, Carlos Allievi, were also present, observing especially the takeoff and landing of the impressive F-35 and F-18, in addition to the EA-18G Growler and the Grumman. E-2 Hawkeye.

This Friday Clarín and other media were allowed access to the heart of this giant. A tour of where the gigantic anchor and its ton chains are located; by the immense hangars where the aircraft are kept and repaired. Also in the area where maintenance is carried out on the aircraft turbines, and where once again the F35 turbines cannot be seen or photographed. The tour includes engine testing areas, the squadron leaders’ offices that are painted with their symbols like those of Elvis Presley. Also for the impressive dining rooms (there are at least eight) and up to five gyms. The military must train every day, and the women look as brave as the men. There are two large groups, which work night and day. They tell you, 24 by 7, in different shifts.

The USS George Washington left Norkfolk Naval Air Station in Virginia at the end of April after a long restoration due to a fire.

It comes with an international deployment called “Southern Seas 2024”, traveling throughout the Atlantic, doing exercises in the Caribbean and South America, and then, when it leaves the Argentine coast, going around the Strait of Magellan, doing exercises and a ceremony in Valparaíso Chile, and heading to San Diego California. But his destination is Japan. Thus, these Training Exercises carried out by Rear Admiral Allievi’s force between this Thursday and Friday with the US Navy not only mark Javier Milei’s alliance with Washington, but also the path of his request from the new government to be a global partner of NATO. . It is also a sign of Washington’s dominance of the Atlantic and Pacific seas, where it competes with China.

The PASSEX “Gringo-Gaucho II” took place this Thursday and Friday in Argentine jurisdictional waters, and during the USS “George Washington”, it is accompanied by USS “Porter” and the Logistics Ship USNS “John Lenthall”. Throughout this visit, Clarín was guided by Admiral Alexis “Lex” Walker, who, like all the aircraft carrier’s authorities, is a naval aviator.

Like the recent PASSEX with the ships of the French National Navy, and now, with the George W, Washington, the exercises allow the Argentine Navy to improve interoperability with another navy that has NATO standards, to practice procedures and articulate defenses (anti-surface , anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, etc.), within a possible formation of a Maritime Task Force.

Video

Admiral Alex “Lex” Walker, of the United States Navy, spoke with Clarín. He watches the video.

The Destroyers ARA “La Argentina” and ARA “Sarandí” participated; the ARA “Espora” and ARA “Rosales” corvettes; the Oceanic Patrol Vessels ARA “Contraalmirante Cordero”, ARA “Piedrabuena” and ARA “Storni”; two Sea King H3 helicopters; a Fennec helicopter, which will serve as an organic aircraft for a Destroyer; a B-200 maritime reconnaissance or surveillance aircraft; and two turbomentor aircraft.

With the objective of increasing the level of naval training and interoperability between both navies, the activities are aimed at carrying out tactical communications exercises; air transfers of personnel between units; maneuvers and tactical evolutions in navigation; fixed-wing aircraft launch; deck helicopter sightings; anti-aircraft and anti-submarine defense; and Visit, Registration and Capture practices among the participants.

The first joint exercise between the two navies was carried out in 1990 with the passage of the aircraft carrier USS “Abraham Lincoln”, and was repeated in 1991 with the aircraft carrier USS “Kitty Hawk”. In 1993 with the aircraft carrier USS “Constellation” they did another ; in 2004 with the aircraft carrier USS “Ronald Reagan”; in 2008 with the aircraft carrier USS “George Washington” and in 2010 with the aircraft carrier USS “Carl Vinson”.